Income Tax and Reform

[VolAgent]

Something that always gets me is the guy you see driving a beater of a car, with dirty, torn clothing, but has the latest smartphone with text plan, data plan, apps, ringtones, etc.

Now, it is his money and he is free to spend it however he wishes, but when you then see this person using WIC, Food Stamps, the Health Department for health care, etc. something is wrong. If you want to count on me to pay for your lifestyle, then I get to say how you spend your money.

 

[Norwayguy]

The government is going to take a portion of Tom's hard-earned $400 and give it to Bill. Bill's on SSD as a heroine addict and needs his daily dose of methadone - plus Bill need a six pack every day and his cigs.

In my area these people have to travel about 1 hour each way to get their methadone...If you speak to them they mention their "job". They get paid to travel to the methadone clinic. They lie about the address they live in so that even though 3 people live in the same apartment we pay this mileage 3 times for 1 vehicle to drive down.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Nice. In Baltimore they sell their independence cards to buy booze, cigs and drugs.

 

[Norwayguy]

Nice. In Baltimore they sell their independence cards to buy booze, cigs and drugs.

I'm all for giving a helping hand up to those in need but the current system is more designed to keep them in place...Increase your income and lose all your benefits.....The newspapers broke a story here about 2 years ago people coming in and buying glass bottles of milk lots of them on food stamps (glass bottles had a higher redemption) walking out to the parking lot dumping the milk and coming right back in the store and getting the redemption money to buy booze and cigarettes.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

It's simple. All social programs are temporary unless you're disabled.

 

[Norwayguy]

It's simple. All social programs are temporary unless you're disabled.

Its not that simple Maine did not enact the 5 year lifetime limit on welfare....But what really bothers me is it doesn't encourage improving yourself I;ve had people tell me full benefits is equal to a $12-15 per hour job. So unless these uneducated people can somehow skip from Minimum wage to that number they stay on the system forever.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I just got a quick education on MD welfare while discussing it yesterday.

Apparently in MD it's near impossible to actually get "welfare" per se. Every applicant gets an individual assessment which includes a drug/alcohol screening. Substance abuse automatically nullifies them. They also must be actively seeking employment. (There are programs for substance abuse but they cannot get financial assistance.)

What they're more prone to get is temporary assistance - either cash or food stamps but I'm told they constantly have to re-qualify monthly and even then those programs end quickly.

There's a 5 year or 60 month cumulative limit. No more generational welfare. Women currently on welfare with one child do not get anything additional if they have a second.

Since implementation there has been a 74% drop in welfare caseloads. I guess when people have to work, they tend to work.

I was basically told that due to welfare reform no one just "sits back and collects welfare" in MD.

Too many articles to post but the liberals in MD are going bat-s**t crazy. They state as welfare or temporary programs end they are forced to take low income jobs. Really - is that a tear running down my eye?

 

[Norwayguy]

I just got a quick education on MD welfare while discussing it yesterday.

Apparently in MD it's near impossible to actually get "welfare" per se. Every applicant gets an individual assessment which includes a drug/alcohol screening. Substance abuse automatically nullifies them. They also must be actively seeking employment. (There are programs for substance abuse but they cannot get financial assistance.)

What they're more prone to get is temporary assistance - either cash or food stamps but I'm told they constantly have to re-qualify monthly and even then those programs end quickly.

There's a 5 year or 60 month cumulative limit. No more generational welfare. Women currently on welfare with one child do not get anything additional if they have a second.

Since implementation there has been a 74% drop in welfare caseloads. I guess when people have to work, they tend to work.

I was basically told that due to welfare reform no one just "sits back and collects welfare" in MD.

Too many articles to post but the liberals in MD are going bat-s**t crazy. They state as welfare or temporary programs end they are forced to take low income jobs. Really - is that a tear running down my eye?

Dang sounds like MD is on the right track...Could you send some of your common sense up to Maine...Maine was one of the few states not to enact the 60 month limit. We have programs here to help welfare people to get a car pay the insurance, food stamps, heat assistance you name it....The part that drives me nuts though is the program punishes those who try to improve themselves, you increase your income a little bit and your off the program and then right back on as you drop the job because you can't provide for the family.....

Once again it sounds like common sense in MD you guys even have a high risk pool and not the stupidity of GI like Maine.

 

[insurancewebservice.com]

The only income tax reform I would want is a flat 15% tax on new goods and 10% tax on used goods. This way 100% of the American people pay taxes.

 

[Norwayguy]

The only income tax reform I would want is a flat 15% tax on new goods and 10% tax on used goods. This way 100% of the American people pay taxes.

Not to mention the savings in government jobs...no more IRS, but what about all the out of work tax preparers?