Pisses me Off

I basically put myself through college with some help from my parents spending 10 years and getting two graduate degrees in doing it. I then worked for 12.5 years as a scientist and lived frugally and saved over 20% of my income each year. So when I was laid off 21 years ago, I never took a single penny of unemployment but have lived off of my investments. I have bought two houses during those 21 years and still have one, never missed a mortgage payment, never had any credit card debt since I always pay in full each month. I do drive a 22 year old car but that is more because I really like it and it is still in very good condition than for any other reason. I have bought four cars in my driving life and paid for them in full never having had a loan on a car. So if people live withing their means when they are working and save and invest relatively carefully, they can survive unemployment just fine with absolutely no government help. In fact my taxes are being given to other people who live financially careless lives.

I'm fairly sure that most people on welfare would gladly work, as they sure would make far more at a job than on welfare. My husband and I were on welfare for over a year, there was no work after he'd lost his job. We were looking daily for jobs for him, but no one wanted him. He had employment insurance, and welfare deducted dollar for dollar each payment he received, and we got far less than we really needed. I couldn't work in the winter as my job was seasonal, and almost non-existent during the winter months, and our welfare check was for a total of $1000. That's what couples got, if we'd applied as singles, there would have been a little more. My husband, used to bringing in about $1500/month, and myself bringing in $2000+/month were hard up during the time we had our welfare. We paid our rent, bought food, and there was nothing left over for us, we had no extra money to fool around with. But now, over a year later, we both work, not making a whole lot, but certainly more than welfare would have provided, and at the same time, we are grateful that we had welfare when we did, otherwise we'd never have had a roof over our heads.

Yes angelface23, the welfare controversy continues to annoy many. I have two college degrees and cannot find work in my fields of study. The employment i have been able to find will simply not meet my needs and so I have to work on my own. Generate my own income. Fortunatly I have done quite well with it over the last 8 years. In the beginning i was tempted to seek government assistence but i did not want to take a chance of becoming content with the little the government provides. Besides one of the best health insurances (Medicaid), becoming content with cash assistance or food stamps simply will not do for me. I believe in my case that becoming content would hamper my progress and so I will continue to fend for myself in the hopes of gaining and maintaining financial security.

As sad as you have told it, there are really people who are happy being freeloaders and are satisfied and contented with the way their government are taking care of them. So instead of trying hard to make themselves useful, they just continue to abuse the welfare of the government, not thinking how unfair it maybe for those who are struggling hard just to survive on difficult times like this. Aside from the obviously poor situation of the economy of almost every countries, the attitude of its countrymen still has a resounding effect as to how the economy, even in their own lives, is fairing as of today.