I'm perplexed...

[357]

Originally Posted by the nub

I'm sure there is abuse in any system. I've learned over the last little while that it's best not to judge someone without knowing their situation. It's easy to misinterpret what you see.

For example- not sure what the requirements are in the US- but in Canada you're not expected to sell off your material possessions when you are on welfare. So if you have leased a brand new car, lose your job and 1 year later you are on welfare...guess what? You still have a pretty much brand new car. Same goes for you clothes and everything else.

I used to have the same opinion about people who wore designer clothes to the food bank. Until you listen to their story you don't know. And if you think you do, then you really have no clue.

While true, we can't judge a book by its cover, it appears that there are so many of these books and all have SCAM written on the cover in capital letters.

I saw similar things before I moved to the country. It was the stereotypical situation. Family behind us in line at the grocery store. Mom has cart full of steaks, ribs, along with other groceries and she pays with EBT/Bridge card (welfare). Dad has a second cart full of beer, booze, and cartons of cigarettes. He pays with cash. Both roll out and get into dad's brand new $60,000+ Cadillac Escalade.

I later learned how they do it. Mom and Dad hook up and have some kids but never get married. Dad keeps his legal address at his mom's or other relative's house. Mom doesn't work or works under the table, claims the kids have no father to support them and files for gov assisted housing, WIC, welfare, food stamps, the whole shebang. Dad lives with them like any normal family but his normal job doesn't have to cover food, shelter, or basics for mom and kids. So, he can spend legit money on fancy rides, designer clothes, etc.

The problem is people who are not trying to take advantage of the system are barely getting by. Most Americans live check to check, me included. I go without most luxuries to get by. I've never bought a new car. I rent the house I live in. My wife's care is 12 years old, has 180K miles, and I can't fit my entire family (4 kids) in either one of our vehicles. I can't afford nice cars, nice clothes, or most luxuries. I'm not complaining because I consider myself blessed. I am very happy, but I know many people who live on less and struggle more than I ever have. When they see this kind of scamming going on it rubs them the wrong way because it's OUR money they are stealing. The real truth is the government has no money of its own. All gov money is really OUR money; the tax payers.

I get you're not expected to sell off possesions prior to receiving gov assistance but if you have a new car, you likely have a new car payment that you shouldn't be able to maintain on gov assistance. So, it shouldn't be common to see people with new cars using gov money to buy things.

Similarly, in Michigan, they recently found it necessary to force the owners of the ATMs in Detroit's 3 casinos, NOT to accept EBT/Bridge cards. All too often the bridge card sits next to the casino frequent "flyer" card in people's wallet.

Sorry for the long rant. I tried not to be political either. I know the rules here and I'm trying to obey them. I guess the big issue is a lack of personal accountability in our country.