Maine Most Welfare Dependent State (Portland, Lewiston: rent, how much, employment)

[Maineah]

From the Portland Press Herald today:

Maine most welfare-dependent state, think tank says | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram


I read the article and many of the comments. I'm not sure what to believe but I know the social porograms in Maine are breaking the bank and something has to be done.

[dmyankee]

I'm shocked, I tell ya, absolutely shocked!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

And it's multi-generational. The system depends on recruitment.

[roadrat]

I'll tell if Maine is #1 in the country then Lewiston must be #1 in the state, I swear they are outright trying to get rid of the last working tax payer in this town so they can finally have there socialist utopia.

bill

[wabanaki]

you would have though states with higher percentage of minority would have more welfare recipients.

[cebdark]

Welfare is up? This is shocking why?

Hmmmm...jobs down, welfare up.

Be a little more "business friendly" more jobs come up, welfare goes down.

Require work to "earn" benefits? Work experience gained, a hand up not a hand out, employment up, welfare down.

Cull the abusers, reward the motivated? Welfare down.

It's really not rocket science.

Poverty most prevalent in Maine (http://www.bangordailynews.com/story/Greater-Bangor/Poverty-most-prevalent-in-Maines-rural-rim-counties,153376 - broken link)

[BrokenTap]

I know how to stop the cycle and put an end to the madness...and it would not cost a penny. Simply do what they do to farmers...post the names on the internet of all those that take welfare! Period.

You would be surprised who takes a free handout in your town!!

It is silly anyway because they call the Farm Bill the Farm Bill, but 70% of the money goes to welfare! 20% of the money goes to the administration of the USDA. The final 10% of the FARM BILL goes to the farmers. YET, the 10% who do take the money (myself I admit) have our names posted on the internet, how much money we took, and in what years.

I say fair is fair...post the names of the lame and lazy. At least I am feeding people in my county and not just on the take. I bet if people had to be accontable to friends and neighbors, welfare rates would drop!

[cebdark]

Originally Posted by BrokenTap

I know how to stop the cycle and put an end to the madness...and it would not cost a penny. Simply do what they do to farmers...post the names on the internet of all those that take welfare! Period.

You would be surprised who takes a free handout in your town!!

It is silly anyway because they call the Farm Bill the Farm Bill, but 70% of the money goes to welfare! 20% of the money goes to the administration of the USDA. The final 10% of the FARM BILL goes to the farmers. YET, the 10% who do take the money (myself I admit) have our names posted on the internet, how much money we took, and in what years.

I say fair is fair...post the names of the lame and lazy. At least I am feeding people in my county and not just on the take. I bet if people had to be accontable to friends and neighbors, welfare rates would drop!

No, BrokenTap, I seriously wouldn't be surprised. I also wouldn't be the slightest bit surprised to see the names of those who take free handouts complaining about "lazy welfare cheats" the loudest either.

That's no slight to you at all - I commend you for working hard.

That little "confidential" scenario is what it is, and it's name is "hypocrisy"

[Zarathu]

Originally Posted by roadrat

I'll tell if Maine is #1 in the country then Lewiston must be #1 in the state, I swear they are outright trying to get rid of the last working tax payer in this town so they can finally have there socialist utopia.

bill

What makes you think that a socialist utopia is one where no one works?

In a real socialist utopia, it is more equal so that there are no rich people and no poor people, and while everyone works, everyone's wage is the same. There is much theory and discussion about this, but none of it involves people not working. It involves the loss of wealth from the rich to the poor so that everyone is the same. All rent is standard, all food prices are regulated to be the same. Equity is the key in every aspect. Work a 16 hour day? You get the same as they guy who worked a standard day of 8 hours.

The only problem is that humans are not mature enough to handle that. Most people want the opportunity, if working hard, to make more money than the person next to them.

But as a theory, utopian socialism has nothing to do with the talking heads discussions today in political circles that are trying to find a way to take out the current administration.

Be that as it may, I am no fan of utopian socialism. IT JUST DOESN'T WORK IN PRACTICAL TERMS, NO MATTER HOW HIGH FALUTIN THE THEORY. There is no real incentive to do anything.

But I wish that people who are bandying the term would take the time to learn a little about what it is and what is not, and not just tag along with more of the media sound bytes dumped out by the talking heads.

Z

[Zarathu]

Originally Posted by BrokenTap

I know how to stop the cycle and put an end to the madness...and it would not cost a penny. Simply do what they do to farmers...post the names on the internet of all those that take welfare! Period.

You would be surprised who takes a free handout in your town!!

And you would be surprised how many people on welfare don't really give a d@mn if you post their names. I had a family one time who the rotary chose them to receive a T-giving turkey, and I asked them if it would be ok. They responded in complete seriousness(they were a third generation welfare family), "Of course, like the Good Book says, 'Its better to receive than to give.' " I started to explain that they had it upside down, but they were clueless.

The real problem is over time we have developed whole groups that exist on welfare, and believe that they deserve this. Posting their names won't make much difference to them.