Urban/Suburban/Rural breakdown of 1988-2008 election

[fishbones]

TDF, who can't love a guy who has Archie Bunker as his avatar?

I agree that everyone shouldn't be lumped in together. Almost all social service programs need to be overhauled so they can work the way they were initially meant to be. Unfortunately, politicians don't want to upset the apple cart and lose out on a very large demographic of voters. The more people who rely on the government, the better for the politicians. They can use the social service programs as leverage to get elected or stay in office.

And did you notice that I used the general term "politicians" instead of "Democrats" which is what I was really thinking? I must be getting swept up in the whole new administration and all the CHANGE it's going to bring!

[TheSpecialist]

Let me ask you guys something. Should someone on public assistance, or chronically on public assistance, like living in tenements be allowed to own luxury vehicles?

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Let me ask you guys something. Should someone on public assistance, or chronically on public assistance, like living in tenements be allowed to own luxury vehicles?

Do I think it's right?
No, but it is a fine line and a slippery slope to say what people can/can't do... so you get food stamps, no Flatscreen TV for you.

Somehow the system needs tweaking, but how? takes someone smarter than me to figure out

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

Let me ask you guys something. Should someone on public assistance, or chronically on public assistance, like living in tenements be allowed to own luxury vehicles?

How could they be? I'm not saying there probably aren't some extreme cases - inheritance, gift, contest winnings - but how can someone who's supposedly poor even afford to pay the excise tax on the vehicle?

A system of Checks & Balances needs to be put into place. Random audits of those on public assistance should be done to evaluate the need. I'm not talking about the BS meetings where they call the person in to some state building and put on a show, I'm talking about in-home meetings - a state employee going to the home and having a quick look around and asking some questions.

Now, people might say that this is an invasion of privacy, but I disagree. I pay my taxes to the government and get pissed when the funds are not being used appropriately or are blatantly being wasted. I go to town meetings to be aware of what's going on in the town. Now, flip that coin: the government is paying for me to live, then the government should be allowed to come in and make sure I am not wasting that money - be it on big screen TVs, a luxury car, the casino or drugs.

As terrible as it is to say, someone that is on government assistance should not be afforded the same luxuries as someone that is not. Big screen TVs, pool tables, Lincoln Navigators and BMWs are called luxury items for a reason. They are for those that have the excess funds to afford them. I know I can't afford a BMW and I'd like to think I make a healthy living. If a person on welfare can afford a BMW, then they're getting far too much money. If I can't afford one, how could a person on welfare afford one?

/end rant

[sokinwet]

"How could they be? I'm not saying there probably aren't some extreme cases - inheritance, gift, contest winnings - but how can someone who's supposedly poor even afford to pay the excise tax on the vehicle?"

I challenge anyone to show me a welfare mother driving a BMW! This is just the same old tired arguement from those who feel that any type of social safety net is their $$ being spent for "lowlifes". Are there crooks? Sure...just like on Wall Street. You steal; you should be in jail.

I think I commented on a similar thread a while ago so I'll just say this. Do a search on Welfare to Work laws; then check out the rates of payment under welfare; then look at the trend in welfare as opposed to what it was in the 90's. I have worked in the housing field for 30 years and serve on the Board of Directors for a MA South Shore homeless Continuum of Care. The clients of these social service agencies barely have money for housing and food and public assistance does not provide for any excesses. I imagine that with the economic turmoil we're in there will be a lot more lowlifes around...and one of them might be you...and some people will hate you for it!

[PaulS]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

"How could they be? I'm not saying there probably aren't some extreme cases - inheritance, gift, contest winnings - but how can someone who's supposedly poor even afford to pay the excise tax on the vehicle?"

I challenge anyone to show me a welfare mother driving a BMW! This is just the same old tired arguement from those who feel that any type of social safety net is their $$ being spent for "lowlifes". Are there crooks? Sure...just like on Wall Street. You steal; you should be in jail.

I think I commented on a similar thread a while ago so I'll just say this. Do a search on Welfare to Work laws; then check out the rates of payment under welfare; then look at the trend in welfare as opposed to what it was in the 90's. I have worked in the housing field for 30 years and serve on the Board of Directors for a MA South Shore homeless Continuum of Care. The clients of these social service agencies barely have money for housing and food and public assistance does not provide for any excesses. I imagine that with the economic turmoil we're in there will be a lot more lowlifes around...and one of them might be you...and some people will hate you for it!

Great point - my dad has a few apartments he rents to mostly to people on section 8. Many of them have some sort of job or jobs but they have no skills. Some are better people than others. But the common thread is that they have NOTHING - we give them our old furniture, cloths (rarely - as long as they don't look used), have them do work like paint or rack leaves for extra money, etc.

RIJimmy - that's mostly in Ansonia. I know someone who has many (could be 50 units) in the Anson street area of Derby who will tell you the same thing.

[TheSpecialist]

I challenge anyone to show me a welfare mother driving a BMW! This is just the same old tired arguement from those who feel that any type of social safety net is their $$ being spent for "lowlifes". Are there crooks? Sure...just like on Wall Street. You steal; you should be in jail.

11/02/2006 03:13 PM ID: 58062 Permalink
Judge Allows Convicted Welfare Fraud to Keep Mercedes

Massachusetts: A judge has allowed a woman convicted of welfare fraud to keep a Mercedes SUV. The vehicle is leased and the dealership refused to cancel the lease unless she paid several thousand dollars in fees.

The judge ruled that forcing the woman to return the vehicle and pay the fees would make it less likely that she would make restitution for her criminal actions.

The woman, Jennifer Stevanovich, was convicted after she stole $14,422 worth of lingerie from Victoria's Secret and sold it on eBay. She is paying that debt off at $100 per month.


Ask and you shall receive. If you think there aren't others like her out there then you should get your head out of the sand. In my line of work we are routinely in "ghettos" and many of these people drive nicer cars, better a/v equipment etc than the average person.

Here is another more detailed story about her:

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2006/...ecret-no-m.php


Jennifer's Secret a secret no more
Posted by Jay Tea
Published: May 25, 2006 - 2:00 PM
Back in the 80's, Ronald Reagan used to tell the apocryphal story of the "welfare queens" who would pull up in Cadillacs to collect their monthly checks. Once more, we find that the Gipper was a true visionary, because in Andover, Massachusetts, that is pretty much what was happening.

According to police reports, Jennifer Stevanovich was living the high life. She banked over $280,000 over five years, bought a Range Rover, and leased a Mercedes SUV while living in a gated community in Andover.

At the same time, she reported her income as maybe a few thousand a year, far less than she needed to support herself and her two children. Accordingly, the state gave her over the same time frame $117,000 in "assistance."

One can't blame her for underreporting her income -- she allegedly made all that money shoplifting. She would steal lingerie from Victoria's Secret and other places, carrying it out in foil-lined bags to defeat security measures, and sell it on EBay and through other outlets.

She was finally busted not by state officials, but by officials of Victoria's Secret's parent company, who noticed that one seller was offering a LOT of their merchandise for sale. They set up a "sting" operation, then turned the information to police.

Well, this week Ms. Stevanovich was brought to justice. And the sentence? Restitution and 15 years probation. No jail time, said Judge Peter Agnes, who said the state has already spent enough money on her.

I'm not a Massachusetts resident (thank god), but if I were, I'd disagree with the judge. I would consider locking her up for a good, long time money well spent.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by TheSpecialist

I'm not a Massachusetts resident (thank god), but if I were, I'd disagree with the judge. I would consider locking her up for a good, long time money well spent.

Just like all those potheads should be locked away? Waste of taxpayer's money.

I'll put money on her parole requiring her to be escorted to shop anywhere now along with the ankle collar.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

"How could they be? I'm not saying there probably aren't some extreme cases - inheritance, gift, contest winnings - but how can someone who's supposedly poor even afford to pay the excise tax on the vehicle?"

I challenge anyone to show me a welfare mother driving a BMW!

I've seen it while working as an EMT in Hartford. State Health, no job, yet the unemployed wife drove their BMW to the hospital behind us. I've been in other homes, same situation with a big screen TV in the living room.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

"How could they be? I'm not saying there probably aren't some extreme cases - inheritance, gift, contest winnings - but how can someone who's supposedly poor even afford to pay the excise tax on the vehicle?"

That's very naive. It happens in your own town for cryin out loud. People who earn money from dealing drugs, shoplifting and selling goods on ebay, selling fraudulent citizenship documents, etc... are not reporting wages, yet they have plenty of income in many cases. These people can still collect welfare or food stamps. It's more widespread than you would like to believe. Talk to any police officer in a big city and they'll explain things to you.