The iPhone and Foodstamps.

muciti said:

Source of those numbers is

Welfare Pays Better Than Work, Study Finds

And those numbers posted are from 1995. People got far less back then than they do today.

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Hmm - 1995, eh?

Around that time they put through legislation that cut back on how much people received in assistance - and it cut back on how many years. Right now - per federal terms (states can have different things going on) but federally you're limited to 3 consecutive years - 5 in total.

muciti said:

For a family of 4 you can get a house or apt rent free. In many states, a 3 bedroom house or apt is going to go for at least $600 (and that is low) x 12 months a year is $7200. family of 4 foodstamps can get $700/mo. x 12 months is $8400 Every state gives them cash up to $500/mo x 12 months for other expenses. $6000

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I think the only moral of the story here is that many working people can't afford to support four kids, whereas "welfare mothers" who abuse the system are free to have as many kids as they like.

Instead of tarring everyone jobless with the same brush by complaining about welfare itself, why not focus on the specific problem, which is irresponsible mothers not getting abortions that they should? Of course, it doesn't help that most of you who are so vocal about welfare-families are also anti-abortion.

I read Sangha's chart, and the other one, and I gotta say, they are essentially saying the same thing, guys.

Look, I have just GONE through this, right here in CT, one of the top ten high payers for benefits.

Food stamps are 200 bucks, per week, per person. Section 8 housing is a real thing, it exists, and while it's not usually the NICEST places, in the NICEST areas (MADE so by the people LIVING there, I might add), average cost for rent is STILL in the 800-1200 per month range. I mean, come on folks, that already puts someone, receiving just those 2 things, above the average wage of a teacher starting out, or a mechanic, or line/grill cook, or something. And we haven't gotten into Care for Kids, CTs child care services, or Birth to Three, or anything like that. A single person with one kid, working minimum wage, can EASILY live the lifestyle of a family of 4 which brings in a combined gross income of 75K per year.

This is not mere gum flapping...you want to call me a liar, by all means, look up the average costs for rent, and food, and utilities, etc, and then calculate their value in dollars. Don't be so blindly obstinate just so you can avoid being wrong. A little honest debate for a change of pace would be nice. Especially from YOU, Sangha.

Aunt Spiker said:

Hmm - 1995, eh?

Around that time they put through legislation that cut back on how much people received in assistance - and it cut back on how many years. Right now - per federal terms (states can have different things going on) but federally you're limited to 3 consecutive years - 5 in total.

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Right, and then the benes can go to the other parent.

It's why a lot of people with kids remain unmarried.

UppityProle said:

I think the only moral of the story here is that many working people can't afford to support four kids, whereas "welfare mothers" who abuse the system are free to have as many kids as they like.

Instead of tarring everyone jobless with the same brush by complaining about welfare itself, why not focus on the specific problem, which is irresponsible mothers not getting abortions that they should? Of course, it doesn't help that most of you who are so vocal about welfare-families are also anti-abortion.

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But it's not abuse. Well, some of the things I listed last week or so, were, yes.


But the stuff we are talking about now? Not abuse. It's just what is available.

its the American disease, a lot of Americans I know love to overspend and live beyond their means. Friend asked me the other day what I was doing with my Tax refund I replied that it went into my Money market account, he seemed confused and replied " why are you doing that its free money, im buying a new grill". I even saw a walmart commercial encouraging people do buy a new TV with their tax refund and it seems like I cant shop anywhere in the states without a credit card offer being shoved down my throat.

UppityProle said:

I've already discussed the example of information technology in other threads. Computers were developed largely in the public sector based on scientific principles which were also largely the work of the public sector. The few inventors unaffiliated with public institutions -- people like Steve Wozniac, who was instrumental to the rise of Apple in the 70s - were almost always motivated by intellectual interest rather than money. Even in the 50s everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before this technology was applied in everyday life. All people like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates did was expedite the spread of technology which hardly could have been contained in any economy. An economy that didn't allow individual people to become billionaires would still have felt the information revoluition.

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I'm not suggesting we shouldn't technologically advance and I'm not talking about private sector driving it vs. public sector, I'm simply stating the undeniable reality that technological advancement makes jobs easier or excuses people from having to do them.

Is there any EVIDENCE that wealth inequality is so useful that we shouldn't seek to reduce it? I see no such evidence.

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Who is making any claim that wealth inequality is "useful?" Maybe someone around here is, but I'm certainly not. I'm suggesting wealth inequality is a result of our cumulative choices and preferences.

We should seek to reduce it. And we can. Not via Federal Government, of course, but by any of various other means.

JohnWOlin said:

You bring up a lot of great points, but if you are broke and have an iPhone that cost a little under a $100 a month how are you affording it? You make sacrifices. You unlock that phone, and sell it for $400 so you can feed the kids. Got that SUV? Well you need to choose, your children have what they need or you have a gas guzzling machine. I've been through the ****. Probably far harder than you. You bring up great points, but in the end they are void.

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ya you have a point in that... after getting the Iphone unlocked from any vendors online like Mobileunlocksolutions.com where they use remote unlocking method which serves best and cheapest mean to unlock,you can sell your Iphone at good cost...

"The best way to reduce the federal deficit is through a combination of higher taxes and spending cuts, says a group of economists.