Tell me what you really think.
You said it. I get sick of seeing people wearing $1000 worth of clothing getting free lunch. Or having satellite tv.
I once had to deal with an unemployed mother who had completely lazy progeny-- 10 of them, in fact-- and came in for a conference about the four of them that were in our middle school. I was getting ready to go home sick, but my principal begged me to stay long enough to meet with all the other counselors and social workers and special ed teachers and whatnot since none of the other members of my team could get off and my sub was already there.
You know what she wanted? She wanted to have us fill out forms so she could get "crazy money" from the govt for one of her kids who was just a little punk.
So. Untold minutes of blabbing, blahblahblah, and she sniffled and cried, until she finally blurted out, in a wail, "It's hard! It's hard to have 10 CHILDREN!" And I, sick with the flu, thought, "One, why is it hard, since you make no attempt to clothe, feed, educate, or control said children? And two, then why did you have them? I mean, after the first two or three, you should have figured out how it works and how the stork kept finding you no matter how many times you moved. You coulda just kept your knees together..." And I was so sick, I sat up, afraid I had actually said it aloud.
Maybe I should have. But I have a job to make sure my kids are fed, so discretion and valor, and all that.
You, Mamacita, are a strong woman. And I hope you have a good new batch of students and a wonderful year.
It's a nice bit of writing, but it was done by an assistant law professor at George Mason University. I checked it out on Snopes.
I agree with your points, too.
I agree about the permanent lifestyle part. But I'm afraid I disagree about the steak and ice cream part.
When I was a kid in Russia, I had a friend from a dirt poor family. She used to come over to our place and eat cooked meat straight out of the fridge. I guess there was never any meat in her home.
Later, when I had kids of my own, there was a 10yo girl in our apartment building (again, in Russia) that liked to play with my baby and my 3yo. She had three siblings, all from different Dads; neither of the dads was around, mom didn't work, and was a heavy drinker. The girl used to come to our apartment and ask for food. We were struggling ourselves, but she wasn't picky. She'd eat anything we gave her. And she looked really undernourished and scrawny.
This was sad. You know what else was sad? The first girl grew up to be a highly-paid, professional... hooker. Last I heard, she had a car and designer clothes and probably good steak in her fridge. Don't know what became of girl #2, but, last time we saw her, she'd just turned 11 and my husband caught her making out with a guy in the basement of our apartment building. I can easily see her servicing men in exchange for food. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what happened.
I don't mind it that kids from poor families have access to steak and ice cream and other luxury items like candy. It's not their fault that their parents are poor. I'd rather have my tax money fund that than a never-ending war (oops, did I say that out loud?) I don't think it's fair to let kids from poor families fend for themselves. And I am glad that we have come from a country that does make them fend for themselves, to a country that doesn't.
I have a great recipe for 17 bean soup that will feed a family of 13 for two days. Nutritious, economical, and delicious - it probably evolves into great sarma, too!
I'm a former SSI Claims Rep. Many people have invisible disabilities. Should they be stigmatized because you can't see what's wrong with them?
That said many people do try to work the system, and many people who could benefit from services and resources are too proud. Yes many such people still do exist.
While I might not like seeing people with food stamps buying candy; it is their choice.
I hate to think that were I ever dependent on the "system" people would judge me on my food choices
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