Welfare Reform Extension Act

[TeePee4Prez]

It is hilarious that the right-wingers claim to be very concerned about the feeding of Terry Schiavo and yet are determined to prevent the feeding of the poor.

How does a time limit on welfare benefits make any sense?  As if one magically becomes non-poor after a period of time on the dole.

The purpose of the time limit is to provide people enough time to get back on their feet, but prevent welfare from becoming a lifestyle, which it had for some.  An 8 or 10 month time limit is more than adequate to find employment.

Not so.  The majority of people on welfare will never be able to find jobs that pay enough to support them and their offspring.  They typically find jobs paying $6 or 7 per hour, which is inadequate to support an individual, much less a single mother with children.

I'm going to have to question you on that one.  I don't think you can substantiate that a majority, or even a large minority, make only $6 an hour when they get off welfare.

What the devil do you think they make?  That is what most lower level jobs pay in America.  Heck the median is only $15 an hour.  Do you think they leap from welfare up to or above the median?  No they're forced into working as maids and suchlike for starvation wages.

I do think welfare has become a way of life for some people.  However, I feel there should be more done regarding post-secondary education to lift people out of poverty.  Such jobs as housekeping or Wal-Mart should be for teenagers, college kids, and 2nd income housewives, not the breadwinner.

[TeePee4Prez]

Migrendel,

No one is exploiting race here, or gender.  You're the only one to bring either up in this thread.

Opebo,

Your defense has become strained, particularly by your refusal to support your claims with evidence.

I'm not going to sit there and say migrendel made a bad post.  In fact some of it I agree with despite the fact I lived in an area where lazy welfare recipients took advantage of an otherwise good program and decided to smoke crack on taxpayer dollars.  Granted good paying jobs are hard to come by even for college grads. 

However, you must realize that there are people that are on welfare for large amounts of time and don't even bother looking for work or to improve their standing in life.  This is not a race issue either because I have seen plenty of whites abuse the system as well.  I can sit here and say I am for a strong safety net and welfare reform at the same time. 

Here's what we need to address- good paying jobs relative to education.  It is quite sad that even with a college degree one only starts at $40,000 per year and is asked to work 60+ hours per week.  Granted, it only starting out, but that's outright cruel considering the cost of living and exorbitant student loans.  Compared to about 30-50 years ago a college degree paid MUCH more now WITHOUT the heavy student loan burden.  Also, a high school diploma could easily support a family back then even with one income.  It can't anymore.  We are heading back toward the turn of last century.