Why is it that we look down on middle class people?

Well, I don't think WIC is for everyone. But WIC is made available to help insure that women and children are getting something healthy to eat. Anyways, I think state assistance is OK. Think about it. A couple decides to get married. Each have 2 children from a previous relationship. 1 child has serious medical issues that would cost a fortune even with insurance. That child would still qualify for medicaid under certain restrictions. Or for instance, a woman gets pregnant, has complicated pregnancy can't work and delivers premature. And still can't work. And father is no where to be found. Hell yes, she should be on all sorts of states assistance until she can get on her feet. Assistance is to help people survive and get on their feet. It is a shame that others look down on those who need the help

First off, public assistance is generally targeting the underprivileged, which means that many look down on the poor. The reason why your co-workers said such things was simply because of the time we live in. In the United States, we are educational elitists. The idea of social mobility still exists, a concept that existed from the very beginning of the country. The argument against public assistance is that people are lazy and sponging off the government. Look at the change in government policies. The United States, like other countries mentioned by responses, provided governmental aid to the needy, a legitimate group. For example, the government initially created a policy to help single mothers in the early 1900s because of wars, because of widows losing husbands with no means to support their children and themselves. Today, however, it's a different story. Americans see this program as a costly expenditure of the government. The reason behind it? Because there are mothers who bore children out of wedlock. It's this change in perspective of what constitutes a legitimate beneficiary. But it's not all their fault. There are, definitely, MANY people who take advantage of the government. These people make the lives of those who do need it, who do deserve it, much harder. I remember a story one of my teachers told me long ago. There was a high school senior who decided to get a girl pregnant so they could get government assistance - a free ride they believed.

I live in a low employment area so being on benefits (welfare) is fairly common. There are more and more people having to claim benefits in some form or other and the main reason for this is that the cost of living is so high. My grandfather said years ago that a man who was working a full time job shold not have to claim any government assistance and I agree with that but many people do because more people are earning less and spending more. Anyway, if people need to use these services then they shouldn't be looked down upon. It is their if it is necessary. The problem I have is when people abuse the system. I know of a lot of people who are capable of work but choose not to bother because they are better off on benefits. Now, the criteria are more strict but there are still plenty of people who can find the loopholes. Right now, my partner is working full time but we get tax credits so that we have enough money to live on. What makes me angry is when working mums complain about the money they have to pay in childcare because they not only get the tax credits if they need them but they also get extra money from the government to help them pay for childcare. I chose to look after my own children and a couple of years ago, we could have lived on my partner's wage. Now, because of the ever-rising costs of everything, we have had to have government assistance. Even with the extra money we get, I am still having to look for work because we are still only just getting by. I know there are people in worse situations than us and I don't see why people should have a problem with them being helped. I do however have a problem with those not willing to do anything for themselves and for people who abuse the system. These are the people who give everyone else a bad name and, because it's usually only negative situations which get into the media, it makes it look as if everyone on any kind of benefit is lazy and doesn't need it when the reality is that this only applies to a minority. And even so, if the government were willing to do something about rising costs of everything, they would not be paying out so much in benefits because more people could afford to live without them.

The middle class people form part of the mainstream of any society. They should never be looked down or undermined for they are the cream of the society you dwell upon.

I make probably about $15K a year. I work two jobs, keep up a couple of hustles to make extra money, and I get food stamps as well, although like i mentioned in another post, that food stamps is decreasing with each passing year. I wish I made more money because I have a daughter that is a senior in high school and I'm struggling to pay her senior fees, pictures etc when her father is only paying for one thing. Now, I have recently read in Donald Trump's and Robert Kiyoski's book, "Why We Want You To Be Rich"and according to them, there is barely a middle class in America. It's shrinking and basically messing up the economical balance in this country. I suggest you get a copy of the book to read for yourself. Now back to the subject at hand, there will be times when we may not be making enough to keep your head above water. That is the way of the world. Especially with jobs downsizing or moving to other countries thanks to NAFTA. I don't care who don't like it, but if you got to survive and get them, then get them. Pride will ALWAYS go before the fall.

Its just basic human nature to compete like that for the better pay without assitance.