The Big WHAMMY

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   gmwilliamsposted 6 years ago

   
   Subject: The American Culture & Social Climate
   
   Do you contend that America is getting out of control in terms of social entitlements?  Have American morality sank to a new all-time low?  Do you feel that the lower socioeconomic class & underclass are that way because of the lifestyle choices they make & their particular mindset?  Do you feel that the government should be responsible for people or that people should be responsible for themselves?

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      promisemposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      People should be responsible for themselves except for the people who are incapable of being responsible for themselves (such as the developmentally disabled, mentally ill and certain other categories).

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         gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         In total agreement.   What I am addressing are the mentally & physically ABLE!

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         Readmikenowposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         I agree with you.  The only problem is that every program designed to help those in need is often taken advantage of by those not in need.  I once did work for an attorney who helped prosecute welfare fraud.  You would not believe the way people take advantage of federal programs.  On the other hand, you either provide a federal program that will be hit with fraud so some needy get help.  Faud will be part of it.  I suppose there is no other way. You have a program so some of those in need get something or you provide nothing and nobody gets anything
         
         Here is information about it from the government accounting office (GAO).
         
         "False statements were made in obtaining Federal assistance or benefits under many different Federal programs. About 55 percent of the known fraud cases occurred in the civil agencies."   
         
         https://www.gao.gov/products/AFMD-81-73

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            Credence2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Mike, everybody is favor of removing fraud and abuse, but let's not confuse the baby with the bathwater....

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               Readmikenowposted 6 years agoin reply to this

               I believe if a review was done of many federal programs and how they are designed, there are many made to be open to fraud.  Also, what do you do when people refuse to be responsible for themselves?  I've met these people.  What do you do in that case?  I've had people in their 20s say "I just can't handle a job." What do you do in this case?

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               1. 83

                  gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  I would say WORK or STARVE.  Yes, welfare & other social programs are open to fraud.  There are those are welfare who commit fraud.  There is such a thing as welfare kings & queens who game the system w/my hard earned tax dollars!

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                     Readmikenowposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     I would have to say the pendulum also swings the other way.  I worked at a bank that hired single mothers who were on public assistance.  They started as temps and those that worked hard were kept.  Four of the five girls in my department on this program I hired.  They really wanted a job and to work.  All of them were so proud to work at a bank.  They struggled in their mind to leave public assistance.  I have seen success stories.  So, what is to be done?  FYI - one of the single mothers on public assistance I hired years ago recently got her MBA and is now an assistant VP at the bank.

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                  Credence2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  Like Grace, Mike, I can get tough too.
                  
                  If an able bodied someone absolutely refuses to work, they starve. There is nothing I can do to save a lazy man or woman who refuses to help them selves.
                  
                  I afford everyone in society an opportunity to acquire job trading toward the goal of work. If they are of the aggressively lazy class, they will be subject to arrest for theft, or can have children removed from their families based on negligence and non support.
                  
                  The only difference between me and conservatives in this matter is that I would promote greater public resources in expanding opportunities to get people off from the dole and keep them off, and consider it an investment

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                     gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     +10000000000000000000.

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                        Miebakagh57posted 6 years agoin reply to this

                        Hello GM, I work in the Nigerian civil service (RSG) and retired after 23 years 7 months as a Chief Administrative Officer. I can here take note of some relationship in my Nigerian civil service. Fraud also occurs.
                        Politicians too can take advantage of many things. In Nigeria, it is not only money but ignorance. The present pensions issues going on can be better described as advantages being taken by politicians. Why steal from pensions money ( the Paris AND London Fund) to benefit themselves? Talk of "lack of morality." And for all who are contributing to this thread, I say a big thank you for all your comments.

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      hard sunposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      People should certainly be responsible for themselves.
      
      American morality problems are definitely not exclusive to any one socioeconomic class. Maybe we should discuss so many Americans mimic the upper and ruling classes after seeing them on TV/Twitter daily.
      
      The question's wording itself can be seen as a reflection of the lack of morality. There's enough blame to go around, but it's easier to blame one subset of people and say "it's them" as opposed to stating it's us.

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   Readmikenowposted 6 years ago

   That is a good philosophy and I agree with it.  Now, I know reality.  People who don't work become homeless.  Many government agencies make these people out to be victims of society.  They then give people who don't want to work taxpayer money.  I've seen how making these people out to be victims has done everything from providing them food to free cell phones and more.  I was in a city where barbershops had homeless haircut day.  In New York, they have even more benefits.  So, that's what happens.  The reality in our compassionate society is people who don't want to work will get fed, medical care and more.  I don't like it, but that is reality.  I spoke with a homeless guy who traveled from city to city to get the best possible government handouts.  Homeless communicate and go to where the benefits are being given.  Ever try and stop people who want to feed the homeless? There will be a huge wave of complaints.  So, what to do?  Not a philosophical approach, but a realistic approach that acknowledges the reality of the situation.

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