@Kris - He had a job, and he quit. How is that not
refusing to work? I’m all for government programs to provide for those who are not physically or temporarily capable of providing for themselves. Government aide should
not be “so good” that people choose it over work. This gentleman was making $14/hr, working 56 hrs/wk. I’m sure more working than he made from welfare benefits, but obviously not enough that it was worth him choosing work over doing nothing.
I’m especially fond of government benefits for the disabled, mentally ill, those temporarily out of work, etc. However, our government programs shouldn’t be “so good” that people turn down jobs they are physically and mentally capable of doing otherwise.
@Scandium - I feel like this whole conversation has been more productive because the “left view vs right view” had been left out. We should leave it that way, as it always turns conversations into a very different tone.
@JLee - Wasn’t it just under the last few years that the standard deduction
doubled? That is a HUGE advantage, in terms of percentage savings, for the lower and middle class. Not to mention, they removed a TON of deductions that people were taking advantage of during that process. I’d assume most of those itemized deductions are primarily taken by higher income people. I work in Oil & Gas, and the changes to write offs impacted a lot of people that work on the road full time.
@PDXTabs - this happened in Alabama. A very quick google search (I have no idea of the validity of this source, but at least I searched something and have information to further discussion) said this of Alabama’s social programs:
https://yellowhammernews.com/fourth-annual-end-heroin-bham-walk-set-for-february-we-want-to-continue-helping-those-who-are-suffering-from-substance-use-disorders/“ According to the Cato study, welfare recipients in Alabama can receive benefits that are the equivalent of a $23,310 yearly salary, which is what they would receive for making $11.21 an hour at a full-time job.
...
Welfare currently pays more than a minimum wage job in 35 states. In 12 more states, an individual leaving welfare for a job paying the same amount would see a decline in actual income. Welfare pays more than $15 an hour in 13 states. In 11 states, welfare pays more than the average pre-tax first year wage for a teacher. In 39 states it pays more than the starting wage for a secretary. In 3 states welfare recipients can take home more money than an entry-level computer programmer.
The median salary in Alabama is $29,848. That means a person on welfare can make 78.1 percent of the state’s median salary and live at 136 percent of the federal poverty level.
In short, the Cato study suggests that the current level of welfare benefits discourages recipients from going out and getting an entry-level job. Alabama’s current minimum wage is $7.50, and even President Obama’s proposal to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 pales in comparison to what an individual could receive by participating in the various welfare programs available to them.”