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Post by Connie on Mar 28, 2008 18:50:59 GMT -5
I've been thinking about this for years. I hate the fact that the govt says they have no money for things we NEED.. Lets start a list of real places the govt could cut costs. If you run a household you KNOW it's the little things that often add up to be a lot. 1: Govt vehicles and gas: Im not talking about forest service vehicles, or military vehicles. Im talking about the car and gas allowances for politicians. The "company" cars for people who work in govt offices. 2: Free lunch... no more expensed meals for govt employees and politicians, they can take their lunch just like we do. 3: Free housing... same people.. they don't need a housing allowance.. they can live like the rest of us. 4; Low income housing.. Now I don't have a problem with the section 8 program itself but if you can't afford to pay your own rent, WHY do you need an apartment with a pool, business office and workout room? 5: Disability... yes some people are really disabled but we need to start cracking down.. Is alcoholism REALLY a disability or is that something you got yourself into and should be getting yourself out of? How long should someone suffering from PTSD because of a bad marriage be considered disabled? While we are at it.. lets start cracking down to make sure none of these people are working under the table. 6: Immigration... What is WRONG with requiring every company to show proof of their employees citizenship? Isn't that what an I-9 is for? Go ahead and start shutting down these businesses! That should get it started and while you are at it take a look at this video: www.truemajorityaction.org/oreos/
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Post by eileen on Aug 31, 2008 2:56:25 GMT -5
I have always admired the ice cream man. I want to take all those cookie from contractors that charge too much and do to little.
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Post by gringo on Sept 2, 2008 11:10:17 GMT -5
What about when people run for president they should take a pay cut from their current job. If there job is so important how can they take 18 mo. off to go campaign? Who is doing their job while they are campaigning? Things that make you say hummm..
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Post by tara on Sept 2, 2008 20:00:23 GMT -5
welfare welfare welfare!!!!!!! Not all but the ones cheating teh system, not the ones struggling to survive but the millions that are sitting on their asses getting a free ride simply because they can. I agree with all those above.... the sheer amount of money that has been spent on campaigns (including those no longer in the race) is sickening, can you imagine how much good have been done with that money?
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Post by audrey on Sept 3, 2008 7:57:46 GMT -5
The disability one is the one that really bothers me. I see tons and tons of people who collect and say they can't work, yet they can sit all day long in front of the computer. Sorry, but someone who can sit for 8 hours in front of a computer can work doing a job where yep, they sit all day and work infront of a computer.
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Post by tara on Sept 3, 2008 9:56:06 GMT -5
absolutely. another one (and this one gets people angry... I apologize ahead of time) fat people on food stamps. (this is from a slightly overweight woman NOT on food stamps) I think in addition to only allowing food items with food stamps- only healthy food items should be allowed. Not only do my taxes buy them their doritos and doughnuts, but my tax money has to pay for their healthcare when they suffer obesity related diseases and illnesses from the doughnuts and doritos we had to pay for. Junk food should go way of beer and cigarettes and they should find their own way to pay for it. I think medicaid and medicare should be denied to smokers.... quit if you want us to pay for your healthcare, again I don't think we should have to pay for people who CHOSE to be unhealthy.
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Post by Connie on Sept 3, 2008 18:33:22 GMT -5
Thats a tough one as a smoker Tara. Take my dad.. he is on medicaid and has smoked heavily for as long as I can remember. His medical issues are NOT smoking related. He has prostate cancer. Why should he be denied medical care if it's NOT smoking related?
Secondly.. the states were all awarded a HUGE settlement to put towards helping people quit smoking. You know what we have around here from that money? Classes you can go to so you can learn why smoking is bad and you can join a support group.
We are talking millions of dollars that each state was awarded. Chantix has been shown to be very effective, so has wellbutrin... both those medications cost an outrageous amount.. yep, compared to the cost of cigarettes.. it's about the same.. however I don't go out and spend $200 at one time for cigarettes.. you can't buy the medicine without paying the total upfront cost.
WHY aren't the states using the money to REALLY help people quit? My guess.. they don't want to lose the tax dollars they get from the sale of tobacco.
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Post by tara on Sept 3, 2008 19:36:42 GMT -5
I can see that, but I felt the same when I did smoke. I agree 100% on the tax money, truth is they don't want you to quit. Chantix did it for me, thankfully covered by my insurance but I have already saved what it would have cost without in the past 6 months. It should be offered free to the public and should be covered by all insurance. You would think the amount that would be saved on smoking related illness would be worth it alone.
I totally admit I am a bit biased though. I kinda think if I could do it anyone can. I swore I would not be one of those ex smokers who whined and complained about others but I am afraid I have become just that person. I keep the complaints in my head but I can't help it.The smell of my husband turns my stomach, it's disgusting, and all I can think is oh my god I use to smell like that. I make him shower before getting in bed or sleep on the couch.
I guess I think that if you expect the tax payers to provide for you, the least that you can do is avoid things that are PROVEN detrimental to your health. My grandmother has throat cancer, still smokes 2 packs a day. It IS what is killing her and yet she wont stop and medicare foots the bill. I love my grandma but I think it's absolutely pathetic.
It's one of the many reasons I am for universal healthcare. I pi$$es me off that sue (not a real person) sits on her butt watching soap operas munching and smoking, nothing stops her from getting a job excpet herself, she gets welfare so why bother? taxes pay for her insurance. Jane across the street does her best to live a healthy lifestyle works two minimum wage jobs trying to feed her two kids yet they make too much too get medicaid but not enough to insure herself. At least it would be equal. That situation is far too common and it is just not fair.
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Post by eileen on Sept 3, 2008 20:41:10 GMT -5
This is one that is hard to tackle, but I think it should be taken on like trimming a tree, top down. Whenever anyone says welfare they think of the cheats not the mom struggling to take in under the table money cutting hair. You see, if her income goes up just a bit she loses her health benefits and those of her kids. All for working. It is all screwed up. I know people cheat but why start with the small fries. Why not review all the contracts given to the large companies to work in Iraq, help the victims of Katrina, and so many others. It has been shown over and over again these contracts are wasteful, unfair, and many times not even completed to spec. Do these companies pay or lose contracts? No they get more contracts as seen with Halibuton, and others of their type. Whistle blowers help catch fraud and waste. Congress passed a law to protecte 'whistle blower' from retribution. Then President Bush inactive a signature addendum that says the President can decide what happens to whistle blowers. How do you fight that kind of arragance. It is so much easier to go after small fries,(and they should be held accountable) It just seems no one goes after the real big wasters. Democrats and Republicans alike just seem to yell about the problems and just turn around and do nothing about it. I have gaurded hopes that Obama might, if elected, get someone like Al Gore back who went through contracts and budgets and cut as much as he did. One can only hope.
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Post by Connie on Sept 3, 2008 20:45:30 GMT -5
I get it all too well Tara.. I can personally say, if I did quit, I WOULD be one of those people saying, "if I can do it so can you".. that's just who I am...
I understand what you are saying but believe there is a much bigger problem with healthcare. I have personally had to (more than once) "weigh" the financial consequences of taking my child to the doctor or ER. No parent should be in that position. Our children depend on us and to have us sit back and say "let's see if it gets worse by tomorrow" (all the while fearing the worst) while they are suffering is NOT acceptable. We shouldn't have to worry about the fact that if we take our child to the doctor we won't have the money for food or rent.
I also get VERY angry when I see people sitting around living off the "system" and all the while they are sitting in front of their large screen tv playing Wii and smoking cigarettes and drinking soda and ordering pizza and claiming they are "entitled" for whatever reason.
My adult dd asked me yesterday if she could buy a pack of cigarettes from me for her last $1.56... umm no.. Im not going to encourage your smoking, especially while you are pregnant. I GET to smoke because I work.. Not the best message to send but one that I hope has larger repurcussions in the long run.
My point is.. I REALLY don't care whether I get to go to the doctor or not but I DO care whether or not my child gets to go who has no say in how large our income is.
Which brings me to Chelles point from another thread (I think)... Obama says $150000 a year is rich.. Chelle says it's not.
While I understand that if you are making $150000 a year and driving a $40,000 vehicle and living in a $300,000 home and paying health insurance and trying to take care of your family, you don't "feel" rich. (and I don't mean you personally Chelle)...
If you are making under $40,000 a year, can't afford insurance and are paying rent when you really want to buy a home... $150,000 a year DOES seem rich.... I don't like Obama, but I totally respect him for seeing this part of life as far as most of the country is concerned and acknowledging it.
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Post by tara on Sept 3, 2008 21:49:01 GMT -5
I didn't mean it to say I think that is the biggest problem in healthcare, just one of so very many. I agree 100% that NO child should be denied healthcare... not a single one. I am not overly thrilled with Obama, I had a lot of choices ahead of him, but I like McCain even less. But I am one who falls in the category that sees 150,000 a year as a hell of a lot closer to rich then what I have to work with, lol. I also see him (Obama) as the best option to seeing that every child has access to healthcare.
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eire
Hero in training
Posts: 14
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Post by eire on Sept 13, 2008 15:56:14 GMT -5
I'd like to weigh in on Chantix because I almost took it myself. I have a history of depression and Chantix is a hell of a crap shoot for healthy people. Those with depression, well, it's scary. It can work and it does work, but not for everybody. I took Zyban and I quit for 6 months. Why I ever picked up another cigarette after that is beyond me, but I did. My own fault, my own stupidity. But, I had to fight with my insurance company to get it covered. My doc lied and said it was for depression because he thought it was stupid that I could take it for one and not the other. I'd love to quit smoking and have it "stick" this time, I really would. It would be nice is quit smoking programs and medications were covered under insurance.
PTSD is a tricky one. I study psychology and I can tell you that it leaves lasting issues. I'm no fan of what seems like a truly messed up disability system, but I know a hell of a lot about the mental health care system and if it wasn't so messed up, we probably wouldn't have people with mental health issues on disability unless they were severe. Fix the mental health system and your disability will drop.
I also wish they'd actually look in to reports of people on disability doing heavy manual labor under the table. There's a difference between a disabled person maybe running some errands for the person next door for a few extra dollars and somebody on complete disability tearing down car engines in his garage for money. One is almost a necessity to make ends meet, the other is cheating.
What Eileen said is true. We worry so much about the mother who works to feed her kids cutting hair or doing an odd job here and there while getting assistance, but we don't worry nearly as much about those hefty government welfare packages businesses get. Let me tell you, when you follow the law and the rules, you get royally screwed if you make $1 more than they think you should. My ex sister in law learned that the hard way. I'm all for having people on welfare work, I don't see any reason at all for people to be career welfare families. But, I'm also all for making the rules a bit easier to understand. Taking a woman's food stamps away because she made $2 more last month than the month before seems like punishing somebody who really is trying. Take them away from the people who don't even look for work, oh yes. But give the ones who try a bit of slack.
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Post by eileen on Sept 15, 2008 1:09:40 GMT -5
absolutely. another one (and this one gets people angry... I apologize ahead of time) fat people on food stamps. (this is from a slightly overweight woman NOT on food stamps) I think in addition to only allowing food items with food stamps- only healthy food items should be allowed. Not only do my taxes buy them their doritos and doughnuts, but my tax money has to pay for their healthcare when they suffer obesity related diseases and illnesses from the doughnuts and doritos we had to pay for. Junk food should go way of beer and cigarettes and they should find their own way to pay for it. I think medicaid and medicare should be denied to smokers.... quit if you want us to pay for your healthcare, again I don't think we should have to pay for people who CHOSE either but it is a kind of screwed up system. My dato be unhealthy. I'm not on food stamps either but my daughter's friend is on WIC and food stamps, her husband is in Iraq, and she can't get juicy juice. seems silly but it is the only 100% fruit juice, she is only allowed to buy the crap with tons of sugar. Also she has notice d that the good for you foods are always much more expensive than the junk food. Again I say we would be better aimed at corporate welfare that costs us all much more than any WIC or food stamp program. I can only imagine what it will cost to bail out all those banks that made bad mortgages.
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Post by Connie on Sept 15, 2008 14:23:19 GMT -5
Eileen I don't know where your friend is but I was on WIC when all my kids were little. We were ONLY allowed to buy 100% fruit juice. No juicy juice because it is more expensive. Most of the juices came in the big cans and were plain ole juice.
I love wic because they don't just give you food, they teach parents what is healthy and only allow healthy foods and specific brands to be purchased.
Eire, the lady I am referring to who has PTSD is able and does work under the table cleaning houses. In fact when she had to go to court over a custody issue the judge asked her if she could work and she stated yes.. her mom had a fit because she was worried the dd would lose her disability. I've known her for years and years and she could work in many many different areas.
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eire
Hero in training
Posts: 14
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Post by eire on Sept 20, 2008 10:28:04 GMT -5
That woman should be made to get work. No buts about it. There are plenty of house cleaning companies where she could work. Hopefully, she's also getting therapy and some meds. Like I said before, a lot of our disability due to mental health issues could be eliminated if we combined therapy and meds to treat patients. Insurance company policies on that need to be fixed.
WIC must be very different in each state. When I got it Juicy Juice was allowed. We used that and Donald Duck brand mostly when DD was little. I loved WIC because I got circulars with recipes, meal planning tips and suggestions on how to stretch my food budget.
I see what Eileen is saying though. Fresh fruit, veggies and other healthy foods are more expensive than garbage, over processed foods are. When you're on a tight budget, it's not always easy to buy healthy.
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