What do we really have to complain about????

[Troutfisher]

Speedbead...

My dad is a Private Investigator, who works on welfare fraud cases as well as workers compensation fraud and other types of program abuse. Yes, I have been to government offices at the first of the month, out with my dad on business, and I saw a large line of recipients getting their check.

You seem to think that people are getting rich off of welfare programs. This is not the case. As far as people "loading up on lottery tickets, cigarettes, beer and snacks" you got one right out of four guesses. Snacks are the only thing that you are able to buy with food stamps because they are FOOD. If you try to use your card to buy those other items, the cashier will ask you for another form of payment.

I do not believe that welfare recipients are getting rich off of what they receieve monthly. I just believe that the abusers, which is West Virginia is very high, are getting paid to sit around all day doing what they please, while my parents work hard to get their money.

As far as welfare recipients buying beer, cigarettes, and lottery tickets, I should have specified that I meant with their welfare check, not the food stamps.

The "faulty intellegence" you mention came from sources all over the world and from all political parties... calling it lies and deception by our President is ludacris. The same bipartisan group you are so fond of for declaring the war unwinable is the exact same type of group that voted to give the President the green light to go there in the first place. So pick one side and stay there... arguing with a moving target isn't "intelligent discussion." Do you not understand that if we cut and run now we will be in much worse shape very shortly? I don't like us losing soldiers either but I can also tell you that living down the street from Ft. Hood, the soldiers and families believe in what they are doing and don't want to cut and run either.

Remember that "we the people" were behind the President when this started.

How about we take the "handcuffs" off of our soldiers and let them win a few battles. If people are shooting at the from a mosque, blow it up. They will quit hiding in places like that once a few of them are destroyed. Schools and hospitals also.

I agree whole-heartedly your point their, Flechero.  What some people (not necessarily you, Avid) don't understand is that when soldiers are called to kill terrorists, that the terrorists are cowards. They duck and hide amidst honest civilians and won't show themselves, they blow themselves up with others, and one of the hardest parts is that you don't know who is a terrorist and who isn't.

[Keithscatch]

1. complete religeous freedom?   Do you think Muslim Americans believe that?

What about the Branch Davidians?

Don, lest we forget the Christian is the group who has lost more freedoms in these United States then any or all of those other groups. We are unable to pray in school like we used to, unable to have the 10 commandments posted as we used to, unable to put up Nativity Scene's like we used to, Unable to say the name Jesus in school like we used to. Unable to leave statues that have been erected and that stood in public places for decades and are forced to remove them because ONE person complains. Shall I go on?

Just thought I would toss that in as somehow the media has glamorized the plight of Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, and just about every other religion yet casts a blind eye to the loss of freedoms that the majority of us (Christians) have lost.

Just seems kinda funny.

[timmyswetarded]

The right to bear arms is in the constitution, not for hunting,  

whoooaaa buddy your treading on thin ice there  

[Troutfisher]

That's another valid point, Keithscatch.

And Timmyswetarded is right as well.

[fishbear]

The right to bear arms is in the constitution, not for hunting,  

whoooaaa buddy your treading on thin ice there  

No he is right, it was not about hunting, it was about self defense and defending your country against both internal and external threats.  However,  the government can not regulate the use of said firearms as long as it is a legal use.  Hunting is as much a part of our American heritage as apple pie, but, it is not guaranteed in the constitution.  The right to bear arms is what is guaranteed.

of course i also fight for the right to arm bears.. .but that is another story   ;D ;D

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Speedbead...

My dad is a Private Investigator, who works on welfare fraud cases as well as workers compensation fraud and other types of program abuse. Yes, I have been to government offices at the first of the month, out with my dad on business, and I saw a large line of recipients getting their check.

If you compare the number of welfare fraud cases prosecuted with the number of people on welfare, you would see that it is a relatively small portion of the population. Of course your view of the welfare system will be skewed, you are seeing those people that are abusing the system. What you must not do is generalize and assume that all those people in line are fraudulent welfare abusers.

I may actually agree with you on the Cash programs, namely the Federal TANF program. This is when people, mostly women with children, receive money for having kids with absent parents (either mother, father, or both). This is probably the most widely abused program. Conversly, it is also the program with the least amount of people enrolled in it.

What you fail to realize is that in order to receive cash every month (without having children), people must have a verified temporary or permanent disability as stated by a licensed physician. Kind of hard to get a job when you have been designated "disabled."

I can appreciate that your parents work hard for their money. I work two different jobs, so I know exactly how they feel. I just want you to realize that there are people out there that actually NEED these programs and they do, in fact, outnumber the people who are just looking for a free ride. I had the same opinions as you when I first started working here. But opinions can change through experience....which I hope yours may change somewhat as well through your own experiences.

Wayne

[timmyswetarded]

I just hope that both of you know that most of these programs were instituted by FDR to ensure that we would not fall into another depression as deep as in the '20s and '30s, and not to provide a support system for those who plainly choose not to work but for people who are incapable of earning their own keep.  im not taking either side; many people need these programs, but on the other hand they are being abused. :-/

[Troutfisher]

I understand and accept your point, Speedbead.  Several people do need these programs to help htem get back on their feet, and as for disability, I know several people who readily deserve disability.

The thing that gets me is when people just use the Government to get money for themselves without having to work for it.  Apparently, there are more people who need welfare and other programs that outnumber the ones who abuse it.  I personally believe they should have a "check-up" of sorts, to monitor people who receive welfare each month, and see how they do for several months.  If they see abuse, put them off the list.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Already in place in PA...

[fishbear]

Wow, we have almost solved one of the biggest social problems for this country .....  Keep it going guys, I love this exchange of ideas....

Now, if we could just get the "people in Washington" to listen....    hahahahahahhahahahahahahha

Like that will ever happen!

[boondocks]

About Fishbear's original post:  AWSOME!!!

We definately take life for granted here in the good ole US of A.