Houstonians one of least tax burdened cities in the country! (Spring: crimes, house)

[jek74]

Originally Posted by jeremy2788

I will agree with this point, welfare programs are not meant to be long-term, they were meant to help people for short periods of time. Unfortunately, there are those out there (the exception to the rule) that take great advantage of the system, which have ruined it for a lot of people that actually honestly need it.

Because of such people there is such a huge stigma for people that need to use these programs. It is not arguable that there are loop-holes and inefficiency in the system that need to be looked at and fixed, it's just a matter of getting people to agree on WHAT these issues are.

Let me be clear about my position. I am not worried about the people abusing the system. The amount of abuse adds up to a small pittance compared to the damage done by a corrupt government. I never did get the argument about being mad that some guy out there is scamming the gov't for $70 a month in food stamps. I care far more about the 15 billion we send over seas in foreign aid to corrupt dictators.

[nana053]

Originally Posted by 14Bricks

This country has never had universal health care, and it's not like there are mass people dying in streets from a lack of health. Just like if they got rid of food stamps I seriously doubt there would be mass starvation in streets.

Not having health care means disease and death even though you don't *see* it because people are not keeling over in the streets.

http://familiesusa2.org/assets/pdfs/...r-Coverage.pdf

Across the nation, 26,100 people between the ages of 25 and 64 died prematurely due
to a lack of health coverage in 2010 (Table 1). That works out to:

„ 2,175 people who died prematurely every month;
„ 502 people who died prematurely every week;
„ 72 people who died prematurely every day; or
„ Three every hour.

The five states with the most premature deaths due to uninsurance in 2010 were
California (3,164 deaths), Texas (2,955 deaths), Florida (2,272 deaths), New York (1,247
deaths), and Georgia (1,161 deaths)

As for hunger, you don't have a clue. While people in the United States are not starving to death, they are often poorly nourished which affects their health and their ability to learn (when we are talking about children). We have a free breakfast and lunch program, but these are not as good as they should be.

Hunger Statistics, Hunger Facts & Poverty Facts | Feeding America

These seven states have statistically higher food insecurity rates than the US national average (14.7%):

Mississippi (19.2%)
Texas (18.5%)
Arkansas (19.2%)
Alabama (17.4%)
Georgia (17.4%)
Florida (16.2%)
North Carolina (17.1%)

[14Bricks]

Originally Posted by nana053

Not having health care means disease and death even though you don't *see* it because people are not keeling over in the streets.

http://familiesusa2.org/assets/pdfs/...r-Coverage.pdf





As for hunger, you don't have a clue. While people in the United States are not starving to death, they are often poorly nourished which affects their health and their ability to learn (when we are talking about children). We have a free breakfast and lunch program, but these are not as good as they should be.

Hunger Statistics, Hunger Facts & Poverty Facts | Feeding America

Spare me your Michael Moore reporting of exaggerating one or two cases and acting like its a epidemic. Also which one is it, I thought we were the fattest nation, but then liberals turn around and say there is mass starvation in the country. There are tons of private charities that help people out there. You have catholic charities, christian charities, You have doctors who donate free medical care. See unlike liberals who just talk a good game and there answer is for more government spending, christians are actually putting there money with there mouths is. Like I said if the goverment were to do away with food stamps/welfare I seriously doubt people would be starving on the streets. People would either be highly, highly motivated to get off their ass and get any job they could get to put food on the table and not stick their nose up at jobs that are "beneath them" or two private local charities would help those truly in need, and not the free loaders like the government does.

Free Clinics Houston TX | Free Health Clinics Houston TX | Houston Free Clinics

Home - Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston

Christian Community Service Center

Star of Hope Mission: For Houston's Homeless - Star of Hope Mission - For Houston's Homeless

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...n_1810425.html

http://therooftopblog.wordpress.com/...rity-abc-says/

[jeremy2788]

Originally Posted by jek74

Let me be clear about my position. I am not worried about the people abusing the system. The amount of abuse adds up to a small pittance compared to the damage done by a corrupt government. I never did get the argument about being mad that some guy out there is scamming the gov't for $70 a month in food stamps. I care far more about the 15 billion we send over seas in foreign aid to corrupt dictators.

I agree, I never understood why we sent/send tons of money to people that hate us. I say screw 'em and cut off the tap.

[Freeminds]

Originally Posted by 14Bricks

Spare me your Michael Moore reporting of exaggerating one or two cases and acting like its a epidemic. Also which one is it, I thought we were the fattest nation, but then liberals turn around and say there is mass starvation in the country. There are tons of private charities that help people out there. You have catholic charities, christian charities, You have doctors who donate free medical care. See unlike liberals who just talk a good game and there answer is for more government spending, christians are actually putting there money with there mouths is. Like I said if the goverment were to do away with food stamps/welfare I seriously doubt people would be starving on the streets. People would either be highly, highly motivated to get off their ass and get any job they could get to put food on the table and not stick their nose up at jobs that are "beneath them" or two private local charities would help those truly in need, and not the free loaders like the government does.

Free Clinics Houston TX | Free Health Clinics Houston TX | Houston Free Clinics

Home - Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston

Christian Community Service Center

Star of Hope Mission: For Houston's Homeless - Star of Hope Mission - For Houston's Homeless

Religion And Giving: More Religious States Give More To Charity

Christians and Conservatives Give More to Charity, ABC Says | rooftop

You can easily be fat and malnourished. Poor people often don't have access to healthy food because on average high calorie junk is cheaper then fresh fruits and vegetables.

The cost we pay for food stamps isn't what is putting us in debt so I don't know why people focus on this vs the trillion dollar bail outs and military spending.

[fnh]

I would love to see a breakdown of federal funding flowing into the Houston area in the form of research dollars to universities and medical center, corporate subsidies, defense spending, transportation, etc. I remember reading that Texas is a 'taker' state - i.e. receives more federal funding than it pays out. I know the original article looked at tax burden aside from federal taxes, but it is shortsighted to think that huge amounts of federal dollars flowing in doesn't subsidize Houston to some degree. Large or small, it would be nice to have some transparency. I don't think people realize the extent they benefit from taxes.

Also, did anyone else notice in the article the OP posted that the lowest income bracket has the highest tax burden relative to other Houstonians?

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by Dopo

I bet anything that San Antonio has more homeless people than San Francisco.
At least in San Francisco housing is expensive and there's no land for more housing, I don't know what's the excuse in San Antonio.

Do you ever get anything right?

Thrive DC

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by nana053

Not having health care means disease and death even though you don't *see* it because people are not keeling over in the streets.

http://familiesusa2.org/assets/pdfs/...r-Coverage.pdf





As for hunger, you don't have a clue. While people in the United States are not starving to death, they are often poorly nourished which affects their health and their ability to learn (when we are talking about children). We have a free breakfast and lunch program, but these are not as good as they should be.

Hunger Statistics, Hunger Facts & Poverty Facts | Feeding America

You do realize the top four states in uninsured deaths (not sure how to prove that's why they died when you get treatment for FREE) are top four states by population in the country don't you?

[chuckd83]

Originally Posted by 14Bricks

Spare me your Michael Moore reporting of exaggerating one or two cases and acting like its a epidemic. Also which one is it, I thought we were the fattest nation, but then liberals turn around and say there is mass starvation in the country. There are tons of private charities that help people out there. You have catholic charities, christian charities, You have doctors who donate free medical care. See unlike liberals who just talk a good game and there answer is for more government spending, christians are actually putting there money with there mouths is. Like I said if the goverment were to do away with food stamps/welfare I seriously doubt people would be starving on the streets. People would either be highly, highly motivated to get off their ass and get any job they could get to put food on the table and not stick their nose up at jobs that are "beneath them" or two private local charities would help those truly in need, and not the free loaders like the government does.

Free Clinics Houston TX | Free Health Clinics Houston TX | Houston Free Clinics

Home - Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston

Christian Community Service Center

Star of Hope Mission: For Houston's Homeless - Star of Hope Mission - For Houston's Homeless

Religion And Giving: More Religious States Give More To Charity

Christians and Conservatives Give More to Charity, ABC Says | rooftop

Some of the homeless missions such as 1000 Hills were shut down because of the new government "don't feed the homeless law." Apparently they would rather them eat out of the garbage than from people not licensed to prepare food.

http://blog.chron.com/houstonpolitic...asses-council/
http://blog.chron.com/pastorrudy/201...-the-question/

[crbcrbrgv]

[quote=14Bricks;29160533]Spare me your Michael Moore reporting of exaggerating one or two cases and acting like its a epidemic. Also which one is it, I thought we were the fattest nation, but then liberals turn around and say there is mass starvation in the country. There are tons of private charities that help people out there. You have catholic charities, christian charities, You have doctors who donate free medical care. See unlike liberals who just talk a good game and there answer is for more government spending, christians are actually putting there money with there mouths is. Like I said if the goverment were to do away with food stamps/welfare I seriously doubt people would be starving on the streets. People would either be highly, highly motivated to get off their ass and get any job they could get to put food on the table and not stick their nose up at jobs that are "beneath them" or two private local charities would help those truly in need, and not the free loaders like the government does.[quote]

And what do we do when the motivation for men becomes crime and women becomes prostitution? This is happening already.