The American Spectator : The New Welfare Swindle

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The New Welfare Swindle

By Christopher Orlet on 11.17.11 @ 6:08AM

SSI has replaced AFDC as the New Welfare.

Ever since I moved to the inner city one thing has puzzled me more than any other, and that is how my low-income neighbors get by. Assuming they aren’t doing anything illegal, how do they afford their homes, their meals, their gadgets, their cars?

Few seem to work, even part time, for they are home in the morning when I leave for work, home if I stop by for lunch, and home when I return in the evening. They can’t work the graveyard shift, for they keep me up half the night with their raucous music. I am left to conclude that they seldom, if ever work. Therefore, their funds must come from elsewhere. And none of them strike me as a trust fund baby.

The best I can figure is they make do with a patchwork of welfare programs. Besides, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which expires after five years, there is housing assistance, WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and Medicaid. There are food stamps, which also can be sold in parking lots for cash, and various lesser programs, such as heating assistance.

Beyond government subsidies, there is no shortage of help available from church and nonprofit groups. My mother volunteers at a pregnancy crisis center where the poor are given free diapers, clothing, and baby formula. Every day she has to turn away scammers who try to exceed their monthly allotment. Our parish sponsors a food pantry and local religious organizations provide free furniture. Meantime, nearly all of my neighbors have cable, big screen plasma TVs, and cell phones (I have none of these). From the smells that waft over our fence, many somehow afford illegal drugs.

But even with government subsidies, housing isn’t completely covered. By my reckoning my neighbors must still come up with a few hundred dollars a month for rent and miscellaneous expenses.

THEN A SOCIAL WORKER friend clued me in. Many of the poor also collect federal disability benefits in the form of Supplemental Security Insurance, or “crazy money” as it is known on the streets, since one must “act crazy” to receive it. Oftentimes several people in the same household — adults and children — collect checks. This surprised me, since I had never for a moment guessed that my neighbors were disabled.

SSI was enacted in 1974 to supplement the Social Security benefits of disabled low-income seniors, and, as an afterthought, to help pay for the care of severely disabled children from poor families. As with any federal program, SSI has ballooned to Hindenbergian proportions, and now covers virtually any low-income person with any long-term ailment. Not surprisingly, easy-to-fake learning, behavioral, and mental disorders are the most common complaints, especially among children, making up 55 percent of all cases.

Poor adults, who in pre-welfare reform days were offered incentives to be idle and proliferant, are again incentivized to be idle and proliferant. And what an incentive it’s been. Last year the Social Security Administration paid almost $50 billion in SSI benefits. More than $9 billion was paid to 1.2 million disabled children.

What’s more, recipients are not required to get treatment for their or their children’s maladies — although this may be a good thing, since it is doubtless harmful for kids to take powerful psychotropic drugs for counterfeit or exaggerated symptoms.

My friend visits one such family in which four members collect SSI checks, one adult and three children. One child suffers from asthma, which would probably clear up if the mother — who is unemployed — bothered to clean her house. However, she has a monetary incentive not to clean or to seek treatment for her child, for if the asthma cleared up, and this was found out (an unlikely event since SSA workers routinely fail to conduct follow up visits), that could mean one less check. Also, like the now defunct Aid to Families with Dependent Children, SSI encourages dependency and is cyclical in nature. More than half who go on SSI as a child, requalify as adults. And the cycle continues.

Economically speaking, it makes perfect sense for the poor to rely on SSI. Compared to the old welfare, SSI is a plump cash cow. Here in Missouri, one of the least generous states, TANF recipients receive a measly $136 per person per month, while each SSI recipient takes home about $674. A family of four could amass $32,352 annually, not counting other benefits. Besides, since most of my neighbors dropped out of high school, there is not much they could do to earn a living other than work in fast food for minimum wage. And why put yourself through that when you can watch television all day and collect more in aid? Why bother trying to raise yourself up?

In 1988, there were 4.46 million SSI recipients. Today, there are 8 million. It is impossible to know how many of these are fakers gaming the system, but SSI recipients know no color or geographic boundary. Federal data shows that roughly half are white, half black. Nor does the phenomenon apply to all of the poor. My social worker friend visits several severely mentally handicapped persons who work menial jobs rather than accept government largess. They take pride in going to work every day and in setting a good example for their children. My neighbors would think them crazy.

About the Author

Christopher Orlet writes from St. Louis.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (211) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Texas galga| 11.17.11 @ 6:46AM

I found out the same thing while working on a home in a black neighborhood in Houston. A nearby family had at least ten grandchildren living with them. The grandfather, also on disability, had a Harley, new truck etc. and had time to cheat on his wife. We heard all the arguments and in the meantime lost our ass on the house we flipped. They lived better than we did, the schmucks who went to work every day and tried make extra money.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:54AM

So as Herman Cain says " Blame yourself"

Aces and Eights| 11.17.11 @ 1:46PM

I blame you purp.

Damian| 11.18.11 @ 8:37AM

I would agree with Purp on this one, we do have to blame ourselves and elect the right leaders into office. That means getting rid of the "electable Maverick" the media is selling us and relook leaders like Herman Cain who OBVIOUSLY isn't a welfare king.

People need to understand there is a reason 4 women came out and made ridiculous claims about sexual harassment done 20 or so years ago. They were paid for by the people who fear a conservative black man coming off the plantation.

Ms Jones| 11.20.11 @ 2:11PM

4 women claimed sexual harassment? I have searched and searched, and the only specific claim I have been able to find is from Ms. Bialik, the Chicago woman whose claim, while detailed, doesn't pass the smell test, and whose character is very questionable. Of the first two women, so far as I can tell, one says he did something of a non-sexual nature that made her feel "uncomfortable", for which she received a sum of money described by lawyers as "go away and shut up" money, cheaper than actally showing up in court to prove innocence. The fourth woman is apparently ticked off that she had to pay for two expensive bottles of wine. Or have I missed something?

Jon B| 11.17.11 @ 12:41PM

Welfare fraud via SS is a huge problem, but not nearly as bad as the corporate control of government and the media which just made YOU responsible for $4.5 trillion in bank bailouts (mostly back door), which is more than we've spent of people welfare in our entire history.

Just simplifying the welfare and SS process by putting everything under one roof, rather than multiple agencies, would save boat loads of $s. I wish they would reform the whole thing, but again, the major concern is getting corporations out of politicians pockets so we CAN focus on common sense reforms instead of redistributing wealth to the top.

In other words, SS reform is an issue corporations want in the lime light to misdirect the attention away from their wealth redistribution policies via campaign donations that control policy.

David in MA| 11.17.11 @ 2:20PM

EVERYONE on SSI and such programs must be suspended and made to re-apply, and fully investigated to be sure they qualify.
The next comment will undoubtly be marked as racist (especially by those who are scamming the system) I bet that in agencies staffed by hispanics the "qualified" reciepiant is hispanic and in black staffed agencies, they be black.
Wanna know who the real minorities in America are? SINGLE WHITE MALES!!! DAT WHO!

Barb| 11.18.11 @ 9:45PM

No offense, but your math is wrong. To date, The Great Society poverty-fighting (proliferating) program has spent more than $10T with a T trillion dollars. Not that the corporate welfare is any better. I work in family practice and it sometimes really discourages me when these patients come in with fake complaints so they can continue to collect a very nice check. Here in PA they get cheap housing ($11 a month for a 3 br 2 ba townhouse, heating assistance, food stamps, "disability" probably half the time, free cell phones, etc etc etc. I know very well that they are capable of working. I have a policy of NEVER completing disability papers. I insist they go to a specialist in their complaint field for disability. As I say to them "I don't feel qualified as a family practitioner to tell you your productive life is essentially over." Sometimes they get quite upset with me. Tough.

RetAF| 11.22.11 @ 8:28AM

I also work in family practice and see this all the time. I see pumped up guys covered in gang tattoos that pump iron all day on SSI for ""back pain". When I ask how much they bench press they just laugh at me. Every high school dropout has a "learning disability" - which is a popular diagnosis because then they get free (for them) amphetamines paid for by your Medicaid dollars. Which they can then sell, or take if desired. One of the diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Disorder is interference with school or daily functioning. Yet they don't work or go to school. When I ask what their ADD is interfering with they just laugh at me, again.

Seek| 11.17.11 @ 1:06PM

For white people, at least, no good deed goes unpunished. SSI is a scam. By the way, it's a fact: Many elderly Chinese come to this country to exploit the program in much the same ways that the blacks exploit it -- as if the U.S. were some sort of subsidized Asian retirement village.

Jack in Wi| 11.17.11 @ 6:50AM

Where is Newt Gingrich's picture with Clinton at the signing ceremony? Has he been photo chopped out? Well Newt should be photo chopped out of the Republican party and the conservatve movement after his the exposure yesterday as a bailout recipient, of millions, from Fannie Mae and the the ethanol industry. Newt is just another welfare queen.

Everyone who knows anything about the Social Security issue knows that SSI and DSSI have replaced welfare in this country. It is one of the main reasons Social Security is insolvent. I am glad they are writing more about it. The end of welfare has been another fraud put out by both parties.

W| 11.17.11 @ 7:09AM

Some of the reasons for children collecting SSI are attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar, low intelligence, illeteracy, and related mental and behavioral disorders which result in poor school grades and attendance.

Usually there is only one parent in the house who has an economic incentive to not help the child improve and do better in school. There is a family income limit and a family asset limit (about 2,000) which is difficult to enforce.

The real crime is that the parent keeps the child in a dependent state, and when the child attains age 18 he is not qualified or able to work.

coal carrier| 11.17.11 @ 8:08AM

And when the child attains the age of 18 he will demand "Social Justice".

W| 11.17.11 @ 8:33AM

When the child attains age 18 the SSI is stopped and he applies for SSI for adults. Bacically the same.

SSI is a disability benefit where your monthly benefit is based on a formula that now gives you about $700 a month. Social Security Disability (SSDI) is the same benefit for disability but your monthly benefit is based on your earnings before you became disabled.
In both benefits you have to be disabled, which means unable to engage in substantial gainful activity because of physical and /or mental conditions. The main difference between the two is how much you get each month.

The original SSDI was to help disabled workers. It was then extended under SSI to help people who did not have earnings or never worked.

There are many older immigrants, especially, from the Soviet Union , collecting SSI even though they never worked in this country.

Jack in Wi| 11.17.11 @ 9:25AM

W: Boy you have that right. I lived in a neighborhood with a lot of Russian immigrants. Almost all of the older ones had never paid into Social Security, yet were on SSI.

Jack in Wi| 11.17.11 @ 9:29AM

Another huge welfare program is rent subsidies. I know several inner city landlords. You should see the profits they are making on that deal.

Sheila| 11.17.11 @ 9:57AM

Way back when, a few Republicans stripped out SSI benefits for immigrants (who obviously never paid a cent into Social Security). The Dems mounted a furious assault on the "haters" and restored the funding. Most Chinese and Indian families here in Texas utilize this scam, getting SSI for their parents (many of whom live with them on tourist visas and provide free baby sitting during the school year). Just another illegal and unconstitutional way in which the federal government picks your pocket. Decline and fall.

Seek| 11.17.11 @ 1:07PM

So much for Asians being our "model minority."

Seek and You Shall Find| 11.17.11 @ 4:37PM

They are far superior than the diseased gay community.

David in MA| 11.17.11 @ 2:27PM

Last I knew immigrant law required that the immigrants sponsor was to supply all the immigrant needed, from food & clothing to housing & medical. I wonder what changed?

W| 11.17.11 @ 3:22PM

David,
I believe the sponsor is responsible for only one year.

Flee| 11.17.11 @ 1:09PM

That is the irritating aspect of SSI. No contributions to the system yet still benefiting for years. The gravy train must stop or there will be no America left to enjoy.

W| 11.17.11 @ 3:35PM

The intent of SSI is noble, to help low income families who have severely disabled children. The problem, like any other program to help people, is that it started helping children who are blind, crippeld, IQ under 70, and severe physical problems, but the definition of severely disabled has been expanded to depression, bipolar, attention deficit disorder, and other problems that are not as clear cut as the physical disabilities. I have seen children who qualify under these mental problems, the parent receives the money, and there is an incentive to keep the child "dumb, crazy, and uneducated" to keep the check coming. So when the child attains age 18, he is not educated or qualified for any job, and remains in the cycle of dependency.
I have no issue with the children who are truly severely handicapped and disabled, but not others.
Social Security does screen these cases and deny claims. If the claim is denied one can appeal the denial to a Social Security judge for a hearing.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:37PM

I agree with your assessment...it is a lucid, cogent and factual argument. Very well done, Sir. How you truly filter out the fraudsters is a never ending issue though. Better we pay one fraudster than take away what the truly needy require.

W| 11.18.11 @ 8:13AM

Thanks, Purpleguy.
I would rather pay a poor family $700 a month than pay 500 million to Solyndra and the thugs in Iraq, Egypt, and Aghanistan stealing our money.

Ampleforth| 11.17.11 @ 9:08AM

School systems in my state are flooded with requests for former pupils' "Due Process" folders, which are their special education records. It used to be that these records, housed in accordian files sometimes a foot thick, moldered in store rooms and bus garages. Now, administrators are constantly accessing them and making mountains of photocopies from the folders. Why? It's because of adult disability benefits from SSI. Former special education students -- many of whom DID graduate high school -- use those records to establish a patern of mental illness or other intellectual defficiencies.

And conservatives wondered why the left went to the mat on George Bush's attempt to allow individuals to have more control over their Social Security funds.

Folks, just like with slavery, this nation has the wolf by the ears. My apologies to Mr. Jefferson.

Jon B| 11.17.11 @ 12:33PM

Social Security isn't insolvent. Using SS money to pay for unnecessary wars has made the US Government insolvent. Keeping lying to yourself or face the reality that blaming the poor isn't going to stop the bleeding.

In 1980, the National debt was $902 billion. After 12 years of Reaganomics, it rose to $4.5 TRILLION. The debt increased to $5.7 TRILLION by 2000 because of the interest on it despite that Clinton paid off $600 to $900 billion of it. Then doubled to $12 Trillion after 8 years of Bush the 2nd. $1.4 TRILLION of the 2009 deficit is directly attributed to Bush spending polices and mistakes with another 45% of the deficit last year coming from the same.
The simple truth that the Republican party is running away from as fast as they can via misdirection is that Reagan and both Bushes ran up 10 times more of the debt than all the rest of the Presidents combined. Rather than be an honest voice for conservatives such as myself, the American Spectator openly promotes this big lie.

Bob S| 11.17.11 @ 2:13PM

You're so silly.

The Bruce| 11.17.11 @ 2:14PM

Nobody here is going to deny that Reagan and Bush spent too much, but it's funny that you failed to point out that Obama has spent more in three years than the sixteen years of Reagan and Bush combined.

You're a dolt, Jon.

The Obama Timeline | 11.17.11 @ 6:00PM

Get over it. Reagan is dead and Bush is no longer in the White House. Whining about past errors does not help solve the current problem. Politicians in both parties are irresponsible big spenders. Grow up, face reality, and vote the bums out.

IzeHavitt| 11.17.11 @ 9:18PM

Pardon me, Jon, but your ideological bias is showing, and it's caused you to conveniently overlook that for decades we have had an absolutely intransigent cadre of Democrats who flatly refuse anything resembling fiscal and moral responsibility. Reagan began the effort to reverse this, but couldn't overcome the long standing Democratic Congress, and a whoring media. Let's face it: the Party of Slavery needs slaves and/or the chronically dependent in order to justify their re-elections. Newt Gingrich made some progress in '94 with the election of an all Republican Congress, but a lot of these Republicans were of the RINO type and they're still with us. So yes, one and all can expect them to cave on the above matters. We have yet to achieve the election of a genuinely conservative Congress as well as a genuinely conservative President. Until then, we'll continue to have the evils described in the above article.

Barb| 11.18.11 @ 9:48PM

Sorry, but I guess you missed the recent news where SS payments exceeded SS intake from the working public. Now what?

Fredrick Ward| 11.21.11 @ 1:13PM

Jon B., you are a complete moron. Even if the facts were right in front of you the next thing you would do is to deny their existence, or distort the truth to fit your twisted view of the world. Keep on puffing that pipe buddy.

Anita| 11.17.11 @ 1:07PM

Well, Jack in Wi, I will vote for Newt. At least the guy knows how to MAKE money. I'm all for it. Obama takes and takes and will drown all of us in un payable debt for our grandchildren's future. I would rather a real capitalist American than a muslim loving, America hating dick that we have now. Go after Frank and Dodd. Liars, cheats.

Quiche Lorraine| 11.18.11 @ 2:38AM

It's PhotoShop, not Photo chopped genius. Also,
Newt was contracted by Freddie Mac, not "Fannie
Mae". Give me your evidence on the ethanol dirt,
never heard of that before. Please advise and please
read a book now and again.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.17.11 @ 7:03AM

It's only impossible to determine the fakers because the entire system has no credibility.

Timothy L. Pennell| 11.17.11 @ 7:11AM

"When the people realize that they can vote themselves MONEY, then it's over." Thomas Jefferson.

"You can't do it. Your Parents did it, but you can't do it. All throughout the History of Civilization, your Ancestors did it, but you can't do it. They all grew up in the toughest times, dirt poor, with few chances for advancement, working 10, 12, 16 Hours a Day, just to get bye. But, not you. You can't do it. But, don't worry. I'll take care of you. All I ask in return, is for your Immortal Soul. I mean...You're Vote, every Election.

This is the World According To The LEFT. We used to think that they just thought that way, about BLACKS. (The soft Bigotry of Low Expectations.) But, not now. Not since Obama came to town. After all: He's the ONE they've been waiting for.

He's Lenin and Stalin. He's Castro and he's Mao. And, he's definitely Hugo Chavez. His goal is to turn as many people as he can, in to ACORN. He wants to take away any incentives there are, to work hard, and help move this Country forward, and instead, put those people on the Government Payroll (welfare/SSI/whatever) and send them out in to the Streets (OWS) whenever he needs to. He wants his own personal Street Gang, like Hugo has, and ASSAD has, and I'mahandajob has. I mean, c'mon. What Dictator, worth his salt, doesn't have a Street Gang?

Look how HE divides this Country. See him fan the flames of HATRED and RESENTMENT. If he really was a Christian (and he's NOT) he would know that "Thou Shalt Not Covet." But, COVET, is his #1 Talking Point. All those "Millionaires and Billionaires with their Corporate Jets, and their Mansions". "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness." Yet, there he is, with Talking Point #2: "Republicans want Dirty Air, Dirty Water, Dirty Food, and Dirty Diapers." And he's got his idiot Side-kick out there, telling the drones that "Republicans want more RAPES."

It took around 190 Years, thereabouts, to build a Wilderness, into the Preeminent Power for FREEDOM and Prosperity in the World. 190 Years to create the Greatest Country that GOD ever gave man. And, 50 Years, to bring it to the BRINK.

I've got one. How many Black Men does it take to destroy this Country?

Don't knock yourselves out. It was a Trick Question, because he's only Half Black. We are looking at the Ultimate Achievement of Affirmative Action. everything that everybody has WARNED about this idea, has come to pass. We have a Man in the White House, who was propelled in to that office, in large part, because of the Colour of his Skin. We were gonna PROVE, once and for all, that we were NOT a Racist Country. We would show the World that we were good. See what we have done.

If your Child needed a Crucial, Hyper-Complicated Surgery, you wouldn't use a Doctor who had gotten Extra Points, for his Race. Would you? You wouldn't want a Pilot, flying your Family around if he FAILED all of his Flight Tests, but got his Pilot's License anyway, because some Judge (like Sotomayor) decided that THE TEST was Racist. Would you? Yet, see what sits in the Oval Office. The LEAST QUALLIFIED MAN in any Room that he's in.

He's never had a job. (He was NOT a Professor. He was a GUEST SPEAKER) He's never run a Business, or made a Payroll. In fact, he has no Real Life Experience at all. All he knows how to do is AGITATE. To ORGANIZE the Rabble. To DIVIDE People along Race, and Creed, and Colour, and Income. His Core Beliefs come from a BOOK, with a Dedication to LUCIFER, on it's inside flap. He read this book. He studied this Book. He TAUGHT this Book in workshops, to his ACORN buddies.

He is EVIL. He SURROUNDS himself with EVIL. He's been surrounded by EVIL, his entire life.
"We have to take out this Son of a Bitch, and bring back an America where we can belong, again." (Hat Tip to Jimmy Hoffa Jr.)

c.j. acworth| 11.17.11 @ 7:28AM

Careful Tim, that Hoffa quote is gonna get you reported!

WRTolkas| 11.17.11 @ 8:11AM

Mr. Pennell,

I'm afraid that someone will turn you in to the obama website. And there your name will be listed among other patriots. Great writing. I am jealous but not covetous.

Josephine| 12.16.11 @ 2:16PM

You really pointed out something I have been frustrated for a long time. One thing you may not know is that, although they are on welfare, they may work for CASH, so they don't have to report. This I know happen quite a bit. Why don't government pay people to conduct review thoroughly review, like unannounced home visit for example.

Josephine| 12.16.11 @ 2:20PM

If that was me, I don't need anyone turn me in, even though they have a BIG BROTHER watching every thing we write about Obama. I don't' really care, I turn myself in by going straight to his website and tell it like it is. I've done it several times, and I think FBI, or secret service may be knocking on my door any day now.

Frank Drackman| 11.17.11 @ 9:37AM

and He throws like a girl..

loulou| 11.17.11 @ 11:16AM

and wears Mom jeans.

The Obama Timeline | 11.17.11 @ 6:02PM

...and spends more time with Reggie Love than with his wife - not that there isn't some logic to that.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:59AM

You feel better now ... none of it is true, but now it's time for your meds....

Timothy L. Pennell| 11.17.11 @ 11:28AM

Time for your meds.
None of it's true.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the STANDARD little 'comeback' of the LEFT, when they can't refute your argument. I've gotten a HUNDRED TIMES. From the Punks on Salon, to the Pukes at the National Journal. And, now, this IDIOT.

ALL OF IT'S TRUE, which is why you don't even try to refute it. Cause you're a little Punk, like everyone on the Left.

NOW, I feel better.

Bydand76| 11.17.11 @ 12:30PM

@ Mr. Pennell ,

Just ignore Purple..... He is nothing more than a left wing George Soros acolyte who likes nothing more than to post idiotic comments and left-wing hyperbole to get people riled up.

He is a troll.

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 12:44PM

And on "crazy money?"

Probably.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 9:50PM

Point to one actual fact - which you can't because you and your like are bald-faced liars to debase helpless people in need because you're a selfish, envious lazy b* who needs to get laid.

superbowl14| 11.19.11 @ 7:11AM

Purpleguy, you are a typical liberal. You can't see the forrest for the trees.
This SSI crap took years to develop into the monster it is today. Kind of like incubating an egg-it takes lot of time to hatch.
You liberals NEVER consider the long term effects of your actions-only what sounds good now and will produce votes by getting everyone all riled up at somebody.

Douglas Fletcher | 11.17.11 @ 11:27AM

"When the people realize that they can vote themselves MONEY, then it's over." Thomas Jefferson.

Yeah, that sounds like authentic Jeffersonian language, "it's over." But whatever. Like Thomas Acquinas said, "hey, it's all good, dude."

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 12:53PM

Douglas,

Your devotion to accuracy is admirable. But you seem to dismiss TLP's point on his paraphrasing of a quote he attributes to Thomas Jefferson.

Well, I agree with you that the quote is inaccurate in its language. I agree with you that it is mis-attributed to Jefferson instead of Ben Franklin.

But I categorically dismiss your dismissal of TLP's sentiment because of inconsequential errors.

According to http://econfaculty.gmu.edu/wew/quotes/wisdom.html

The quote is:

When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.
-- Benjamin Franklin

So maybe TLP had a few errors, but his point is correct and your detraction and dismissal of it needs clarification.

Were you exhorting to more accuracy in quotations and citations? Or were you dismissing an argument for non-fatal mistakes.

Or more simply, are you part of the solution or part of the problem?

Your turn, Doug.

P.S.

If you start in with Ad Hominem attacks (name calling, if you were unsure.), you are identifying yourself as part of the PROBLEM.

Riff Raff| 11.17.11 @ 1:53PM

Just a note: The US Constitution was written and ratified as the Supreme Law of the Land and the People voting themselves money from the Public Treasury is specifically NOT a power delegated to the United States. That means it is illegal. Federal welfare programs are all flatly unconstitutional and illegal. So, legally, the people CAN'T vote themselves other people's money. But politicians do it anyway and thus illegally buy the votes of the multi-generational sloth who take the money. Federal Welfare is a CRIME!

Brian Mc| 11.17.11 @ 2:59PM

Excellent observation, RR...couldn't have said it better! I wonder what would happen if the teat dried up tomorrow and suddenly, all these recipients were told, "If you don't work, neither will you eat!"...

If you have never put into the system, how do you sleep at night while in the throes of taking all you can swindle from it? By blaming...throwing guilt trips about and acting the victim, I suppose.

This country is in financial quick-sand. Can civil war between givers and takers be the only recourse?

Timothy L. Pennell| 11.17.11 @ 3:52PM

DTOM: Thanks for watching my back.

Fredrick Ward| 11.21.11 @ 1:37PM

Actually, it was not Thomas Jefferson; it was Benjamin Franklin who said, "When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."

Jesse JAckson JR| 11.17.11 @ 7:12AM

On the SouthSide of Chicago it is not uncommon for scammers to rent out newly built vacant condos to unsuspecting families. The families pay the scammer, whom they think is the property manager, in cash.

There are so many scams on the south side of Chicago that if exposed to the American people, it would seem fiction!

Seek| 11.17.11 @ 1:10PM

Blacks know more ways of separating "nice guy" whites from their money than whites know ways of making it. Message to Congress: Don't feed the beast.

Seek and You Shall Find| 11.17.11 @ 4:40PM

This must include health care costs for the gay community.

Seek| 11.18.11 @ 11:58AM

Well, apparently you found me. But you're not going to shut me up, Mr. Stalker.

Bob K.| 11.17.11 @ 7:43AM

Congratulations, Mr. Orlet, on finally getting a clue!

This crap has been going on for over 20 years! Please inform your editors.

You guys have been spending far too much time with the highly paid power broking welfare recipients in Washington DC who work for the Federal Government and are known as Bureaucrats!

Hell, the first thing that immigrants from India do is send back for uncle, have him to apply for SSI and then put him to work in the family donut shop or dry cleaning establishment or corner lottery outlet helping out. Throw in the immigrants from every other country too.

SSI has always been the Federal Welfare Program which is administered by the states and they use it to get people off State Welfare. I thought everybody knew that by now!

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:02AM

OMG the whole world is collapsing because some poor people learned how to game the system. Meantime, at Freddie and Fannie, millions upon millions in bonuses are being paid out with tax payer dollars .... to house and feed them? I think not. Get your priorities straight folks. Go after the Big Fish, the little ones don't eat much .

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 12:56PM

No, not much. Other than respect for the law and basic values such as hard work, truthfulness, honesty, and morality.

No, they don't eat much, just the foundation of our system of government.

So who paid for your purple shirt? Did you eat that, too? Or did some school teacher involuntarily pay for it with their confiscated union dues.

Riff Raff| 11.17.11 @ 1:58PM

Purple-Sloth, you are wrong. People did not learn how to game the system. The system was created by politicians specifically to enslave others into a welfare system from which there is little hope of escape. This is how your heroes in the Democrat Party buy votes and they do it over multiple generations, thus CREATING the social ills we suffer from today. This is intentional. And by the way, Freddie-Mac and Fannie Mae are government programs, created by Democrats. Every time YOU vote, you vote for the very corruption you claim to object to. The "big fish" are all in government and they are almost exclusively Democrats. My goodness, you're stupid.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:02PM

What a stupid comment. Maybe YOU would create a system like that, but every government program is meant to help someone or something to start. The problem is that some people always try to game the system, whether poor or wealthy (Wall Street for example, AIG in particular). Rather than throw everything away, fix it, make it better to serve what the intended purpose is. If you screw up at work, they don't generally fire you (they could), they try to fix what you didn't know or couldn't do and help you get better. At least a good company would.
And are you all less than the managers of a good company? You wouldn't help fix what is not working?
Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are government programs created by Democrats? Really? The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), known as Freddie Mac was created in 1970 during the Nixon Administration. A Democrat? Really? On September 7, 2008, Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) director James B. Lockhart III announced he had put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the conservatorship of the FHFA under the Bush Administration. Democrat? Really? Fannie Mae was created in 1938 during the Depression, but
in 1970, the federal government authorized Fannie Mae to purchase private mortgages, i.e. those not insured by the FHA, VA, or FmHA, and created the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC), colloquially known as Freddie Mac, to compete with Fannie Mae and thus facilitate a more robust and efficient secondary mortgage market during Nixon's Administration. Democrat? Really?
And, finally, in 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992. The Act amended the charter of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to reflect Congress' view that the GSEs "... have an affirmative obligation to facilitate the financing of affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families in a manner consistent with their overall public purposes. Another Democrat? Really?
Go learn something and stop listening to Fixed News and Rush Loudmouth. They are lying to you for a political agenda.

Riff Raff| 11.18.11 @ 12:56AM

Actually the Romans created a system like that 2000 years ago. And it has been copied by every dictator and dictator wannabe since. Listen stupid, the US Government has absolutely ZERO legal authority to run housing and mortgage subsidies, as well as welfare programs and food stamp programs and a department of education. Democrats have been pushing the Welfare State since Woodrow Wilson. And by the way, the Great Depression was created by the government and dragged out to 10 years by the government. It was exploited by FDR to buy votes. Check it out. New Deal money was doled out in States where FDR needed votes and those States where he was electorally secure were passed over. Plus the money was doled out slowly to maximize propaganda effect. Not to mention, FDR was buying and hoarding dairy products to bolster dairy prices. Mountains of food were bought, stored, and eventually destroyed just to keep dairy prices up, all the while there was REAL hunger in America. More vote buying in America's Dairy Heartland. You are a damned fool, a worshipper of government, and a useful idiot for the power mongers in the Democrat Party.

Tired Taxpayer PRM| 11.17.11 @ 3:05PM

But there are so many of them!!

Rob Schapiro| 11.17.11 @ 7:43AM

"It is impossible to know how many of these are fakers gaming the system, but SSI recipients know no color or geographic boundary. Federal data shows that roughly half are white, half black."

Yes, but blacks are only 10% of the US population so they are hugely over represented as SSI recipients.

Intelligent Design| 11.17.11 @ 7:55AM

Rob Schapiro: You beat me to it. I was just about to point out the same obvious statistic, although I think blacks are closer to 12%. It's the same with crime. Young black males account for 50% or more of all violent crime in the U.S.. The politicians dare not talk about it.

Sheila| 11.17.11 @ 9:59AM

Careful, or Occam's Tool, in his tolerant, conservative way, will label you a racist! Facts are racist! Statistics are racist! Disagreeing with right PC standards is hateful!

Intelligent Design| 11.17.11 @ 12:20PM

What percentage of black children live in a household with only one parent, or no parent? It's very high.

Diane | 11.17.11 @ 1:50PM

Here is what I discovered - Sixty-three percent of black children, 35% of Hispanic children, and 28% of white children are living in homes absent their biological father.

Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005.

Intelligent Design| 11.17.11 @ 9:46PM

And this problem is self-perpetuating, since the children have no role model, no example of "normal". I think it is very fair to say that a majority of black parents (and too many white/Hispanic parents) fail to meet their responsibilities to raise their own children. No amount of legislation or federal funding (taxpayers' money) can make up for the parents' failures.

Lev Tolstoy| 11.17.11 @ 10:01AM

In fact in Canada and many European countries, it's a hate crime to even point this fact out. Ask Mark Steyn

Melvin| 11.17.11 @ 7:50AM

!Holy Moley! This crap just wants me to throw up my arms and say the hell with it. During the work week I arise or at least a close rendition of it @ 5:00, and sit on the edge of my bed, my brain pleading for the rest of the body to wake up.
The rest of the body telling the brain, "Nah, just give us a couple of more minutes. Heck, the knees are still sleeping."
The I read stories like Christopher's. Makes me want to become a Rabbi. Just joking people, behavior caused by a morning energy drink. !Hey, maybe that is a disability, I'll call it, "Tired Butt Syndrome," That's it, I'll convince a doctor that it is a legitimate malady, go to my local SSI office, thrust my doctor's before them and promptly demand my share."
Whata ya think guys, then I can blog American Spectator all night? Hmm one small problem. Almost every one who blogs here regularly works during the day, well maybe except Alan Brooks and his silly German posts.
I can see it now. New Truck, buy the Misses fancy baubles, (no mistress) love the Misses too much to do that. And listen to Justin Bieber all night. Wake up around noon, and let the cycle repeat itself.
Ahh, the life of a Social Services Lord. "Grandpa, what do you do for a living?" "Well, son, I'm a Social Security Baron." "A Social Security Baron???" "Thats right, one day if you play your cards right, you can be just like me. Now let me grab my government credit card and we'll go to Best Buy and buy you that 60" Plasma for dropping out of school." "Gee, Grandpa whata life."

Jobe| 11.17.11 @ 8:56AM

You have to understand liberals. No matter how you earn your living, you aren't as good a person as they are. You are, to quote Clinton, "a winner of life's lottery".
I've risen at 5:00 am for 45 years to go to work so that my family could have the things that they need, and some of the things that they want. All along, I have been saddled with the responsibility of supporting those who choose to not support themselves. They would have to support themselves if it weren't for liberals - liberals who will be charitable until all of MY money is gone.

albert constantine jr.| 11.17.11 @ 7:54AM

Now that the SSI scam has received some exposure, when does the wealth redistribution scam known as the Earned Income Tax Credit get its due, where tax "refunds" are given that exceed the amount of all taxes paid.

Willis| 11.17.11 @ 8:17AM

This is a head shaker all right. But imagine how the left would paint any politician who tried to change the system. It's not going to happen.

richard ryan| 11.17.11 @ 8:33AM

I patients every day during the course of my work. This disability situation drives my nuts. Here is a list of the top scams: depression, chronic headaches, bipolar disorder, and that mother of all disability claims-Low Back Pain. Most of them are heavy smokers, and almost all of them are capable of working based on their ability to function physically. We are at the tipping point with entitlements with the Boomers retiring anyway. It's time to put a stop to this nonsense.

Renaissance Nerd | 11.17.11 @ 10:46AM

Wow I've got chronic headaches and lower back pain! Does that mean I can quit my job and go on disability!! Woo-hooo! After all I've been paying 25%+ of my income in taxes for many years as a single man...we got nobody pulling for us in Washington. Let's see, it would take a bit over 13 years to go through all the Federal income taxes I've paid in the last 10 years...13 year vacation at half my present take-home...tempting, but...NO!

flanneryct| 11.17.11 @ 11:57AM

I guess it would all depend on whether you were white or black, My daughter, a neonatal RN, had a brain tumor removed by two surgeries and was subject to seizures., When she went to apply for SS disability she was denied and told that she had had a good education and could find a job. Since she could not work as a nurse any longer she did. She has a job as a receptionist and is now living with me and we get by with my social security check.

Aiken_Bob| 11.17.11 @ 10:26PM

I don't understand either -- My sons were out of work for several month due to the Obama recession - they had nothing and applied for some of the benefits and were told the same thing - you have a degree - get lost. There is going to be a major clash between the makers and takers I hope it can be resolve but I fear it is going to be ugly.

Louis Jenkins| 11.17.11 @ 9:10AM

With tax sources over stretched, and SS income over stretched, and the Feds borrowing money like a windmill, it will eventually come down around their ears in flames. Yes, you can keep printing money, but guess what? It is called inflation or de-valuation of the dollar. Rumor has it that a new currency is in the making, and the old dollar will be out on its keester. (No wonder Obama is playing kissy lips with the dictators of the world. He's just like them.) In other words, our money will be worth nothing, and our pensions that we've saved for retirement will be worth zero. That's when I'll get mad(der). Time to stop giving away money people!! Thou shall not covet! Thou shall not steal!! Thou shall not covet they neighbor's wife!! (Had to throw that one in.) All good rules to live by. Too bad someone didn't tell the SSI crowd about those rules. Make those people work. Sweep streets, pick up garbage, do something for the amounts of our hard earned money they're receiving.

Will| 11.17.11 @ 9:10AM

As a former "human services" employee of both State and Municipal governments, I can assure you, this is a tame assessment. I could write paragraphs of anecdotal evidence as to what I saw before disgust and disillusionment led me in a different direction. The indignant rage and hysteria following the emergence of the ACORN undercover operation, is what happens when this lifeline is threatend. The useful idiots (college students) clogging the streets today will have their epiphany soon when they realize those who they advocate for now, will be calling for their heads in the not-to-distant future. Oh, and by the way, the dope dealers that moved in next door, they just got a brand new Camaro. They usually only work the afternoon and evening shift, but it's not too bad, the customers come right up to the door, if it's chilly, they have to throw on a jacket...usually, they'll just run out in their slippers...Hope n' Change!

Christopher Manion| 11.17.11 @ 9:42AM

You don't have to go to the ghetto, Mr. Orlett. In rural Virginia, the "disabled" deliver for the car parts store, the "needy" sell their food stamps or cards for drug cash (going discount: 40%), and my always-drunk neighbor wails that "I've been trying to get on disability for two years!" (Hint: there are a lot of out-of-work lawyers who will be glad to help her).

Charity by definition has to be voluntary.

Volunteers at our soup kitchen can easily inform the lady with a car who is not disabled that she can come to our church to eat for free, but we will no longer deliver. That's because we deliver the same food we eat at home.

Folks here appear to dislike (or worse) Ron Paul, but he's right on this: we're out of money. The welfare state will collapse. We private individuals are going to have to rise to the occasion and give of our time and substance as never before, because "the poor we will always have with us."

No longer will we be able to say, "I gave at the office last April 15th." Charity will be up to us -- just like the good old days.

Country'll grow.

Jack in Wi| 11.17.11 @ 11:12AM

I have a friend who had to go on food stamps for several reasons. He and his wife were experts at working coupons and had a very small food budget. They still shop that way now but have hundreds of dollars left in their food stamp accounts now at the end of the month.

Now on the other hand, I work at food pantries and soup kitchens several times a week. The kitchens are full and the pantries empty fast. There is a lot of suffering out there and budgets are streached among the poor and middle class. There is a depression going on, especially for the young who can't get jobs. The jobs they get pay peanuts.

How anyone can justify the waste of the needless wars we have been in for the last decade is beyond me. Foreign aid is nothing but welfare for plutocrats and kleptocrats. The warmongers here would rather see granny thrown off dialysis then cut one penny from the lavish military and foreign aid budgets. American money should be spent in America for Americans. Let the world pay for it's own defenes. We are subsidizing the welfare budgets of Europe, Israel, the Arabs, Japan, and Korea.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:10PM

How about the waste of entitlements, programs and subsidies that do nothing but waste our money and KEEP poor people poor and dependent? Those cost us more than any and all wars. Defense spending is at least specifically mandated in the Constitution to be provided by the government. Entitlements are not.

Diane | 11.17.11 @ 1:56PM

Our church started a food bank - because we'd get calls asking for money for food, or people coming by asking for money for food - Instead of money that can be used for whatever, they get food. My husband makes good money, however, when I'm at the store, I buy store brand, and shop carefully to save some $, but I'm often behind people with Lone Star cards buying lots of junk (the lady with the 4 giant packs of pop-tarts was one); and I seriously felt like kicking the woman who was arguing with the cashier at the register that her card covered the margarita in a bag that contained alcohol. I'm not saying that everyone that is on welfare/SSI/SSDI wastes their money, but quite a few do.

laura| 11.19.11 @ 4:51PM

In some cases, people have problems that aren't visible from the grocery store check-out lane. They may not have a fully functioning kitchen to cook in, or they may have problems with their hands that make it difficult to prepare foods. Lots of people on food stamps are cheating the system, but not all of them. And these days, a LOT of people on food stamps actually HAD a decent job until recently.

creeper| 11.17.11 @ 10:06AM

Friends of my son have two children collecting SSI. One will never walk because of spina bifida. The other will be on a feeding tube his entire life. Early prenatal testing exposed both fetuses as flawed. But the parents never considered terminating either pregnancy. Why should they? They collect $1,200/month in SSI. Plus food stamps. Plus full payment of the children's massive medical bills.

Of course the SSI payments are nothing more than a way to hasten the bankruptcy of Social Security.

Dmac| 11.17.11 @ 10:54AM

creeper,
Your comment is a poor example of abuse of the SSI system. Those folks chose life. They didn't chose to scam the system. If you think $1200.00 a month even begins to cover the cost those folk are having to deal with you are wrong.
Keep your attention on the scammers. They are the ones who take money from those that truly need the help, like you son's neighbors.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:06AM

You're right, just make sure you keep you eye on the Big Scammers on Wall Street and the Banksters that are flying high on taxpayer funding also.

Riff Raff| 11.17.11 @ 2:02PM

The "Big Scammers" are not on Wall Street. They are in Washington DC and they call themselves "Democrats."

Harry the Horrible| 11.17.11 @ 2:47PM

Actually, I'd say they call themselves "Politicians."

Face it, whatever the differences are between parties, when you get up on the hill, its all one big party.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:04PM

A hedge fund manager that takes home 1.2 Billion dollars for the year, betting on failure of the economy - you call that ethical behavior and good for America? Really? Are you an idiot?

Riff Raff| 11.18.11 @ 1:02AM

And the Government taxes people and business in a recession and spends like there is no tomorrow, indebting generations not even born yet. They ruin the economy just so they can blame the taxpayers while they take our money and spend it ON THEMSELVES! Politicians live high on the hog at TAXPAYER expense, with throngs of cretins like you to worship them. You call THAT ethical behavior? You ARE an idiot. Case closed.

George Soros| 11.18.11 @ 12:26PM

Shhh...please keep me out of this discussion...otherwise PG you're doing a great job keeping it real on this nutball website, where do I send your check this month? Occupy DC? Occupy Wall Street? Occupy Somewhere? Occupied Elsewhere?

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:10PM

Is that one of the FACTS you love so much? Just asking.

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 1:03PM

Creeper,

You have named yourself well!

My son was diagnosed in utero as potentially spina bifida. They promoted termination.

My response was I was not going cause the murder of my child in his mother's womb because of their wobbly test. That test was notorious for its high rate of false positives.

This spring he graduates from law school with a serious dedication to a career as a prosecutor.

You value human life so little, it is not surprising that you would suggest abortion. Hope you never find yourself struggling to avoid euthanasia when some greedy, distant relative decides that he needs your wealth and not you. Good luck with that!

Trish| 11.17.11 @ 7:17PM

Thank you for posting this DTOM.

David W| 11.17.11 @ 10:11AM

Geez, why even bother to work.

Not long ago I was watching a reality TV show called "Jail". One of the arrestees was brought in for being under the influence. In the morning, after coming down from his high, he was released. Someone asked how much pot he smoked a day. He said about 12 blunts. The person then asked how he paid for it. He said "I 'borrow' money from my grandmother and I have SSI".

If you think things are bad now, wait until they fully legalize pot (and decriminalize the other drugs). More of our cities will look like the occupy wall street camping areas.

At some point those who are paying taxes will not be able to support the leeches anymore (or there will be some crises that the government can't react to). Then millions of people will die from starvation OR will die as they try to take sustenance from those who are armed (liberal elites won't care, since many who die will be poor and poor minorities).

skedaddle| 11.17.11 @ 10:15AM

My drug-addled cousin moved to California because it was so much easier to get SSI benefits. He was given enough money every month so that he could stay wasted and never have to work. He died at age 54 under some shrubbery surrounded by liquor bottles. Before SSI he was a healthier, better person because he would run out of money and have to dry out and work for awhile. Giving money to some people is the worst thing you can do but do-gooders only care about themselves, not the people they're harming like my cousin.

Petronius| 11.17.11 @ 10:18AM

Careful Chris. This one might just net you a blind side concussion from the SSI recipient's feral offspring.

Merlin| 11.17.11 @ 10:22AM

Socialism invites abuse.

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 1:05PM

Or how about:

Socialism IS abuse.

OR better,
Socialism is state plunder of working citizens!

Ground Control| 11.17.11 @ 2:03PM

Socialism is a crime against humanity. Just look at its record of genocide and oppression from the 2oth century. Socialism is indefensible.

Dagny Taggert| 11.17.11 @ 3:35PM

DTOM, I see you got the Bastiat book from Ross K. I've been thinking daily about all the "legal plunder" in our system--SSI fraud is theft.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:46AM

"The best I can figure is they make do with a patchwork of welfare programs." - Who knows what is true, but one thing is clear, you don't. You go off ranting and raving and you have no real evidence, no facts, but yet you have all these conclusions.
"SSI ... now covers virtually any low-income person with any long-term ailment. Not surprisingly, easy-to-fake learning, behavioral, and mental disorders are the most common complaints, especially among children, making up 55 percent of all cases." - once again you have no facts, oh except a friend in Social Work. That's an official source is it?
What this all sounds like to me is that you were put up to this screed, paid for im sure, to detract from Social Security that the righties want to dismantle anyway. So connect it with the poor, who after all are good for nothings anyway, make outrageous claims, innuendo and hyperbole to a receptive crowd and WHAM ! - a nice myth like the Welfare Queens from Ronald Reagan's day. This is as untruthful as was the Welfare Queen story. But no matter, people will believe this tripe, because they want to, they have to ... otherwise how could they keep villainizing the poor while at the same time supporting the corporate pigs and their minions in the government?
You wanna clean house - start with Congress, D and R and I and shut down lobbyists. Organizations do not have the right under the Constitution to "redress grievances to the government", people do. Break up the lobbying, stop the money trough and our country will be better for it. It isn't the poor that's the problem, that's for sure. We cleaned up Welfare - so? We're still in debt ... it's not the poor that cost us - it's the wealthy.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 1:51PM

Facts? You wouldn't know facts if they bit you. All you have are lib talking points. You run away from every debate when someone challenges you. You don't present any facts. You trot out liberal cliches, sneer and ridicule and then run away. I'm still waiting for you to present some sort of cogent argument for why it is morally right for the wealthy and successful to pay a higher percentage of their hard-earned money in taxes than everyone else. But I don't expect anything from you but another cliche, another straw man, and another insult before you run away.

Stop the money trough? LOL. Which one? Try using the FACTS you claim others don't have and specifically say what money trough you're talking about. The Chris Dodd-Barney Frank Fannie-Freddie money trough? How about the Corzine we can't find those millions oops money trough? How about Nancy Pelosi's husband's money trough? How about Solyndra? I could go on all day with liberal theft and money wasting ventures, but I'll stop there. Even you may get the point.

And the poor aren't villains. They are victims. Victims of the liberal entitlement, we'll take care of you because you're just too helpless to take care of yourself, we care about you so vote for us bullcrap. As I posted on another thread:

Liberals love entitlements like a drug pusher loves crack. Slip the money out of people's paychecks to sugarcoat the drug and they'll never notice how we're getting them hooked. Now we have generations that are absolutely dependent on the government and when we suggest weaning society off this opiate, liberals scream, "You want the drugs, too!" and blame the addicts, not the pushers. Thanks, liberals for perpetrating the immoral, despicable myth that other people "deserve their fair share" of my earnings. You have succeeded in putting us in insurmountable debt to NO purpose. Poor people are still poor, all the public housing projects you made me pay for are slums and ghettos, and you have created generations of dependent, entitlement addicts. Your good intentions are paving the road to America's eternal hell. Thanks a lot.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:11PM

So you like the politicians in Washington? You support them? Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were created in their current form under Republican Presidents, so go check your own "facts" since you know nothing.
Your opinions mean nothing, it's clear you don't like anyone or thing on the left, fine. But you still know nothing about facts.
If this was one long conspiracy to make the public dependent on the government, do you really think it would take that long to accomplish? There are plenty of hard-working American patriots on the left, just as there are plenty of lazy, good for nothings on the right. But you apparently are too dumb or blind to see it.
Before you blame the left for all your woes, since you seem to have many, remember what one of your own warned you about "the military-industrial complex" which spent us into oblivion during Bush's term... Republicans have added over 10 Trillion to the debt of the nation, but you ignore that "fact" dont you?

idalily| 11.18.11 @ 2:40PM

Right on target. Another straw man argument. Where did I say I like politicians? Freddie and Fannie are what they are because of mistakes and corruption on both sides, but the lion's share is due to Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, and if you don't know that, you know nothing about it.

It's not that you liberals are in a conspiracy. It's just that you absolutely flat out refuse to face the CONSEQUENCES of the philosophies you espouse. 40 years of liberal controlled government has controlled Detroit. The fact that it's a cesspool is a direct RESULT of your mandate that we "help" everyone with government funds and make things "fair."

Did I call you lazy? No. A good for nothing? No. And I am not blaming the left for MY problems. I'm blaming you for the malaise of our whole country: entitlement dependency addiction. That is the fault of those who think handing people other people's money will cure poverty. And the spending was going on long before Bush. FDR and Obama make Bush look like a piker. BTW, I have not talked about Republicans here. I'm talking about liberal thought vs. conservative thought. Your world view is morally wrong. You think you're helping people. You're not. You're getting them addicted. You're a pusher.

And again, just as I predicted, you hurl insults about the intelligence of your opponents, yet you can't answer one simple question: why is it morally right to take a higher percentage of money from rich people than from everyone else? How is fair to punish the successful?

Dave| 11.17.11 @ 10:57AM

Ok, while some of this is vaguely "truthful", it has been overlooked at how most of these programs only are attainable by certain groups, namely minorities.

Ok, first thing is that there is a double standard in the government. I am sorry to report to anyone who thinks otherwise but reverse descrimination exists and thrives in these programs.

I didn't believe it was so rampant until I had to apply for TANF years ago. While we were denied, a family in a much better position than we (financially) got it. We were both out of work, they were both employed making a combined income nearly 30% more than what we had been making. The excuse from the government? Well while my wife had been in insurance as a CSR, I was employed as a project manager which to the government was a professional level job which meant I had a better means to get re-hired. Ignoring the fact that I had worked my way up over 10 years from a draftsman, had learned the skills needed over that 10 years, and had gone to school to learn what I could (trade school) - the government said I was better off. Yes, I had complained and that was their rebuke.

Food stamps? Well you can get them, but again the double standard. When I got them, it was for one month. (And it's a card these days. The reasons it can't be sold are pretty numerous. Only the temporary card can be sold since it's a one shot thing). Since I became disabled, I re-applied (this is years later). Double standard walks in and says - No. You make too much and your bills are not high enough. Really? Then why is the guy across the way, who makes more than me on disability, drives a new Chrysler 300, and eats out all the time getting them? Oh yeah... He's not white.

Housing assistance? Please. Meet double standard. While I can't get assistance to pay $580 a month for my 1br apartment because of the 1300 per month I get on disability, the guy right there gets a voucher that pays $800 of the $980 he pays for his 2-story townhouse with jacuzzi... while he collects more on disability.

And disability itself has the double standard. I have to constantly get re-evaluated every year (was told it was every two years, but it's been every year) because they don't think that having your foot crushed and needing $280,000.00 in surgeries (thank God I had insurance then) to get you to where you can at least move around (if nothing else, to put up my leg so the swelling goes down and the pain numbs) qualifies you for disability when you're white and 46. However, here's my neighbor who is 48 and walks fine, drives a nice new car, lives in a 2 story, has a wife (like myself) and in 7 years has NEVER had to be re-qualified for his back pain that seems to not bother him at all by the way he plays basketball twice a week with friends.

Some people need help. Some don't. Some abuse it. While I try to find work where I am allowed to sit (because I can't stand for more than a mere few minutes without high fatigue due to my knees being messed up), here's people who are fat and lazy milking the system every day and they get away with it solely due to the color of their skin. It's not right.

I've got a lot of anger at anyone who challenges the system and knows nothing about it, such as Orlet. He knows only a portion of what he writes about and that portion is grossly imbalanced and came by way of a friend. He didn't experience it. He doesn't know it.

I'd love to expose the real horrors of the system, but the race war that would surely follow would destroy America faster than Obama will bankrupt it.

Truth, in your face. Walk away. It's bad. It makes me sad for our future.

Kingofthenet| 11.17.11 @ 2:19PM

Dave, I am sorry to hear your issues, might I recommend you lose the 'attitude' and learn what to say and not to say. For example MANY programs require near ZERO income or resources. So guess what you don't have a bank account, no job, you have no stocks or retirement accounts, even if you do. They won't check. After that be nice, a case worker who LIKES you can do wonders, try to look sad and despondent, but NOT desperate and not angry. Good Luck

Dave| 11.17.11 @ 5:33PM

Truth is not attitude.

Many programs want bank info. Tried being nice. Been there. Done that. Tired of the double standard.

Renaissance Nerd | 11.17.11 @ 11:01AM

An unmentioned pack of scoundrels in this case are the medical professionals who simply give anybody who wants it a fake excuse to stay on SSI forever. I know several people on SSI who really have no other recourse--really can't work, and don't have any family wealthy enough to take care of them, and even with SSI they can barely make a shift to live. And yet with real mental disorders and serious physical handicaps they had to jump through major hoops to get SSI. Some docs obviously aren't quite honest. The rule of the experts is fine so long as the experts are honest, but since we see docs and psychs on both sides of every court case, it's becoming clear that like pioneering lawyers, experts have become a simple mercenaries.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:02AM

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 1:06PM

Nice cut and post, you are too lazy to bother original words! Typical for socialists - any work is too hard!

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:13PM

You really got a burr up your a* dontcha? Must be making your day you lazy good for nothing.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 1:55PM

And who was responsible for Fanny and Freddie, hmm? Paging Chris Dodd (D) and Barney Frank (D)...

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:15PM

See a post above if you really care ... Freddie was created by Nixon and Freddie and Fannie were chartered with helping the poor under Papa Bush and Freddie/Fannie were taken over by the government under Baby Bush. Your right wing journalistas are lying to you - but you can go find out for yourself... if you care to edumacate yourself Sunshine.

idalily| 11.18.11 @ 2:49PM

I have educated myself, Sunshine. It is you who understands nothing. Every Congress and President has contributed to the problem, directly or indirectly. But it is LIBERALS and their demand that we take care of people that spearheaded every government feel-good program, including Fannie and Freddie. Your insistence upon citing a President (and always a Republican President at that) as the one responsible for bad policies shows a complete lack of understand about how our government works. We are not a dictatorship (yet). And yet ANOTHER straw man from you: where have I said what journalists I read? You continually extrapolate faulty conclusions from the trite liberal cliches grab bag about me, my reading material, what I listen to, and how I was educated. Your arguments are facile at best and toxic at worst. You are the problem, liberal. You and your do-gooder interference philosophy of life.

Redstateboy| 11.17.11 @ 11:33AM

One can see (even for the likes of that Liber-ul doofuss "Purpleguy") this piece struck a nerve judged by the number of posts.
It strikes those of us who refuse, because of deep down core beliefs, to accept handouts.
Not only am I expected to pay MY Rent, Insurance(s), Utility bills, phone bills, food, gas, entertainment, etc. but I am compelled to provide a portion of my earnings to those who could do the exact same thing but chose to remain on the Democrat Plantation. It disgusts me.

Redstateboy| 11.17.11 @ 11:57AM

How else do you expect the Slave (Democrat) Party to continue to exist? In the old Slave South (Say 156 years ago - 1855) what did they do on the Plantation? Kept the Slaves purposely ignorant (look at the results of inner city school "drop-out factories"), they'd break up families if it meant profit (dependent families in Amer. since inception of the "War on Poverty" coupled w/subsequent voting of the poor for the Democrat (Slave) Party)
I see nothing has changed - except this time the Slaves are willing and voluntarily staying on the Plantation.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:14PM

That's why it's called Pork Barrel Politics. and it's despicable.

Seek| 11.18.11 @ 11:59AM

How many times must it be said? Southern Democrats were the antithesis of liberalism. It was Northern Democrats, more than anyone else, who cranked up the modern welfare state and racial set-asides. Slave owners were Democrats, but it was not political party that mobilized them to own slaves -- it was economics. Bad economics.

Pete| 11.17.11 @ 11:58AM

Sure, what's a few billion here and there to buy Dem votes? Nothing to see here....

Perhaps if we simplify the tax code they can repurpose the legions of IRS stooges to investigate fraud in these kinds of programs.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:17PM

Oh, as if the Medicare Part D Drug Benefit passed under Bush by a Republican Congress was not meant to garner Senior's votes. Riiiigggghhhhtttt....

Poboi| 11.19.11 @ 10:40PM

I thought you were all about the downtrodden.
Don't the elderly count?
So it's only a sincere gesture toward those in need if Repubs have nothing to do with passing it?

shipley130| 11.17.11 @ 12:16PM

Maybe every Caucasian should show up to the Social Security Administration with an ailment. Let's get our crazy on.

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 1:07PM

Only problem is the system consumes your brain, starting with your ethics and principles first.

Jon B| 11.17.11 @ 12:18PM

Gee, for a second I thought this might be about the banks taking $4.5 TRILLION, and how the corporate media effectively blamed it on public sector unions making the working class bail out the banks, which is w/o any doubt the biggest problem we have in regards to policy and how corporations use the media they own to control the message. But no, it's another trivial aside designed to make people hate each other effectively misdirecting the problem to the poor, the people least able to affect change in America.

rigdum funidos| 11.17.11 @ 6:12PM

what 4.5 trillion? the banks have basically paid back their TARP loans. where we are short is AIG, GM, and especially Fannie and Freddie. And of course the almost $1 trillion of so-called "stimulus" that did nothing.

Colleen| 11.17.11 @ 12:24PM

People that work in the ER are very familiar with this scam. Drug dealers/gang members that come in with gunshots and stabbings etc. they are on medicare. Then soon after the ambulance arrives, multiple women show up and start fighting--referred to as "Baby Mama Drama" and of course all of the offspring are and baby mama's are on Welfare/disability etc. We are doomed.

Work at home lady | 11.17.11 @ 12:30PM

While I understand your message, never assume all people who live in lower income areas are on assistance. Some of them do actually work from home in legit businesses or for legit companies. Please take that into consideration the next time you write an article and assume others don't work only because you have to leave the house to work.

I don't make a ton of money, but I do pay my bills and taxes. I do not receive government assistance and I am home 24 hours a day because I do work from home. In fact, there are a lot of telecommuters out there making ends meet by not living in expensive areas and not paying a fortune for gas. Also, because my house payments are low I can afford gadgets and nicer things.

J F 2011 | 11.17.11 @ 12:45PM

I don't think the author was assuming anything. His initial observations - that the people are home all day - may be due to those people loitering on streetcorners and in front of apartment buildings. And there is a definite difference in attitude between the person who lives below their means and telecommutes and the person who lives off of other people.

Bob Gren Jrw | 11.17.11 @ 12:33PM

Yet, nobody is will to organize and do something about this. So, here comes a Great Depression which has already hit 16 million unemployed people. The Republicans are rinos, the political process is beyond corruption. Only a Solidarity Movement can force reforms by striking against employers to force them to stop paying our Federal Taxes. When you're on the bread line only you will be to blame for your apathy.

J F 2011 | 11.17.11 @ 12:42PM

Is it any wonder that "disability" lawyers advertise prolifically on daytime TV programs like Jerry Springer? They know who their best clients are, and they are as much part of the problem as the people who claim disabilities and live off the system.

Aiken_Bob| 11.17.11 @ 10:56PM

while what you say is true -- I also hear a lot of "tax layers" being pushed on Rush and Glenn.. Not sure what it says but it isn't pretty.

Mike| 11.17.11 @ 12:48PM

In Obama's welfare state, no freedom, no democracy, no prosperity, only anarchy(the OWS mobs),unionism(the SEIU thugs), and despair (recession, $15 trillion national debt). Yes, we can defeat Obama and elect Gov. rick Perry.

Mare| 11.17.11 @ 12:49PM

I worked at a food bank in Washington state. A woman brought in receipts of income assistance she received as proof of Washington state residency. I added up the amounts and found she was already getting $63,000 as year in assistance and now wanted to use the food bank. My son is working and supporting himself on $37,000 a year. Maybe I should tell him to quit.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 1:59PM

Welcome to liberal utopia, where hard work, entrepreneurship and thrift are punished and sitting on one's ass collecting government checks (my money) is profitable. I'm waiting for liberals to start caring about the real workers of this world: the taxpayers.

duck| 11.18.11 @ 1:55PM

AMERICANS WITH NO ABILITIES ACT PASSES CONGRESS May 23, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC (APC) - Congress approved sweeping legislation,whichprovides new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No
Abilities Act (AWNAA), signed into law by President Obama shortly after its passage, is being hailed as a major victory by advocates of
the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.

"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said Obama, a longtime AWNA supporter.

"This is why many of them voted for me. We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they do a better job, or have some idea of what they are doing", said Obama.

Obama pointed to the success of Government Civil Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 80 percent of civil employees lack job skills, making the government the single largest US employer of Persons of Inability.

Private sector industries with good records of nondiscrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%), airline security industry (99%),and home improvement "warehouse" stores (65%). President Obama has also set an example, personally selecting hundreds of Non-abled people for top government positions, including many cabinet-level jobs.

Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million "middle man" positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.

Mandatory non-performance-based raises and promotions will be given, to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations which maintain a significant level of Persons of Inability in top positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every talented hire.

Finally, the AWNAA contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning discriminatory interview questions such as "Do you have any goals for the future?" or "Do you
have any skills or experience which relate to this job?" and "Are you awake?"

"As a Non-abled person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them," said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint, MI due to her lack of notable job skills! . "This new law should really help people like me, this is the only fair way to insure equality."

With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Said Obama, "It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of space to occupy in this great nation." He added that, "We also have a multitude of social programs that can adequately help the inadequate."

So finally, we've come full circle in the world according to Obama. A world in which the know-nothings have convinced the do-nothings that the have-nothings will somehow miraculously lead us down the primrose path of wonderful nothingness.

Timothy Birdnow | 11.17.11 @ 12:49PM

Do not misunderstand, Chris; this is purposeful. Government does not give this out of charity, or even out of bureacratic madness, but to enforce integration of neighborhoods for the purpose of social engineering. Since few landlords participate in the Section 8 program the government came up with this way of funnelling enough money into the hands of the underclass to push them into a higher standard of living. Since it is illegal to deny a scum bum a place if they have the money and can pass minimal background checks they end up living in middle class neighborhoods - well beyond their means. They then destroy that neighborhood, and move on to the next. Liberals see this as fairness.

Oh, and welfare cannot be challenged by the caseworkers; if a client makes a claim they have to take their word for it. I used to date a woman who worked for the welfare office, and she said their clients would drive up in new cars with thousands of dollars worth of jewelry - all of which they claimed belonged to their boyfriends. Since it wasn't theirs, the caseworkers had to give them the money.

It's no accident; it's social engineering.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:02PM

No, no, it's less thoughtful than that. Acadamics may be that deep, but for most liberals it's just about feeling good knowing you helped your fellow man. They can pat themselves on the head for being so much smarter and more compassionate than the rest of us, without ever examining just what horrific results ensue from their efforts for the ones they're trying to help and the ones who pay for it. Liberals are all about good intentions, but they ignore the hell that results.

J Baustian| 11.17.11 @ 12:50PM

I have a friend, someone I've known for more than 40 years, who's been on SSI for the last 20 years. There is nothing really wrong with him, but long ago he was a pedestrian hit by a car and was disabled for nearly a year. During that time he was put on SSI; since then, if he was ever employed in a job, then he would have lost the SSI and never been able to requalify. So he has avoided employment and continues to live rent-free in government housing, with a monthly check and probably free medical and food stamps. He's old enough to be collecting regular SS now, so that covers nearly every expense he might possibly incur.

Sandy| 11.17.11 @ 12:52PM

Wow. Just wow. To address just a couple of things. A child on disability qualiies when the child becomes an adult. Uh. DUH. That would be because the child is - DUH - DISABLED. My husband has degenerative disc disease, 3 ruptured discs, nerve damage, and arthritis -- and doesn't qualify for SSI. We're white, just to appease your obvious racist biases. Also, you can't trade food stamps in a parking lot because they are dumped onto one card with the rest of your benefits, which I don't have, just know because I READ. And the reason low income people have things is because we WORK for them. Just because someone doesn't have a job today, doesn't mean he/she didn't have one six months ago - BEFORE the disability.

Goldman| 11.17.11 @ 12:54PM

The idea that welfare for the poor is a major problem for the country right now is ludicrous. Any honest assessment of the numbers shows that the biggest problem is welfare for the rich as well as corporate welfare, which is more or less the same thing.

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 1:15PM

Right, let's eat the rich. That way we'll be rich and then they can eat us!

Yeah, that'll work - in Hell.

Taxing the rich removes their incentive to create wealth which is how jobs are created, there is NO other way. Corporate welfare is the favoring one industry over another, like subsidizing farmers and not oil producers. It is the result of lobbying by special interests in their own self interest. So yes, ending special interest tax breaks make sense. But expropriating the profits of all wealth creators destroys jobs and YOUR future.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:21PM

Wrong - high taxation gives the wealthy more incentive to invest, not the other way around. Not to take all their wealth, but enough to incent them to invest to make big gains or big losses (deductions). When will you idiots learn from history - not Glenn Beck's or Bill O'Reilly's American history - the real American history. Dopes.

Poboi| 11.19.11 @ 10:01PM

Invest in what?
I want to be in on the investment
that allows me to escape taxes on my income
(not postponing it IE; IRA, 401K etc).
Or are you referring to the plan to tax the rich on the money that has been stuffed in their mattresses or buried in their backyards for generations (in coffee cans).
They are sinister, hording schemers and we deserve what is theirs... right?

Aces and Eights| 11.20.11 @ 10:29AM

"Wrong - high taxation gives the wealthy more incentive to invest..."

If you really believe this, then you also really believe in pixie dust and fairy tales. Someone once said that some ideas are so absurd that only an intellectual is capable of believing in them. The idea that high taxes spurs investment is just such an idea.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:22PM

What welfare for the rich are you talking about? Please be specific.

Also, please find a source that shows how many poor people hired workers for jobs this month. Oh, wait, that would be NONE. God, this class warfare, eat the rich crap really pisses me off. When did "the rich" become the de facto villains? Jeez, who do liberals think hire people for jobs. No one poor ever hired me for any job. Rich people did. Get a clue.

rigdum funidos| 11.17.11 @ 6:15PM

in 2009 the top 10% of income [over about $120,000 per hear] paid 70+% of the taxes and got very little back in benefits. what more do you want from them?

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:23PM

You need to do some more studying .. that's a bumper sticker math for low information voters to remember - that is all.

Ron| 11.17.11 @ 12:59PM

Purpleguy...you, sir are moronic and a complete idiot.

I worked in my State's H&SS; office at one point an an eligibility technician for State benefits. I was to review applications and interview applicants for State benefits. Let me tell you exactly what I saw in the parking lot every day...And bear in mind, that 90% of my clients were repeats, meaning not first time applicants.

Brand new (I drove a beat up 1990 Ford Ranger pickup) pulling up in the parking lot, women who had multiple children by dead beats males who only worked at jobs until the State started garnishing their wages, at which point they would quit and try to draw UI, or go on Public Assistance themselves...

Oh, and then there was the young lady who came in and asked how she could "become disabled" (her exact words)...She later came back in when she was pregnant again (the 3rd child I think) with her ex-boyfriend, whom she left because she was abused by him...

I was called on the carpet because my approval rates were too low...I examined everything, every dollar, every resource, and if an applicant was over, they got a denial letter, which of course they could appeal to the higher staff, who told me I needed to look at ways to help those people get on assistance.

I believed I had a fiduciary duty to the State Of Alaska to ensure that only the truly needy received assistance, not the ones trying to milk the system.

one of the best cases I had was a mother (in her 60's) and her son (in his 40s) who were both getting benefits of food stamps...Their applications came up for review and I had an in-person interview (required yearly, unless health reasons interrupted, then it could be telephonic, or if they were in a remote location.) The son looked familiar, and I realized after the interview why..He worked as a unionized grocery checker at the local Safeway store, and had been there for at least 4 months that I could recall...Neither he nor his mother claimed it as income.

They appealed their repayment claim against the State that I instituted for fraud. I transferred to a different department, so I do not know the outcome of the case.

DTOM| 11.17.11 @ 1:19PM

It's about brotherhood!

I don't work and am hungry, and you do work and have bread. Brother, can you give me some bread? Now? Got any butter, or gravy to go with this bread, it's a little dry. Boy it's cold in here. Can you give me a ride home-oh, can I borrow your car, I'll need it for a couple of days, mind if I hang on to it? Got a couple of bucks for diapers?

That is how it is done.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:21PM

So you've had practice? I thought you protested a bit too loudly.... Look in the mirror and clean up your own act Chuckles.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 10:20PM

So you report some deadbeats and stopped them from gaming the system I hope... Good for you. that was my point. Some do it, but not all, and his article makes is seem as if all the poor are scam artists and worse.
And your point is? People are Angels? All people are rotten? Only people on the right are angels? What's your point?

KC| 11.17.11 @ 12:59PM

I work for an eligibility firm. We take referrals from the hospitals we work with to file SSDI/SSI/Medicaid claims for self-pay patients.

The patients are screened for possible disability before we take the claim.

$674/month is the most anyone can get per month for SSI. However, anything else that is provided to that claimant, such as food stamps, free shelter, etc, is deducted. So if someone is receiving $200/month in food stamps, their SSI benefits are reduced to $474.

In many states, Medicaid is awarded automatically if SSI is approved. The claimants I work with are screened ahead of time based on their medical conditions and are probably not good representatives, but I can tell you that the vast majority of them just want the Medicaid. Without a qualifying child in the household, the only way to get it in some states is to be found disabled. And those same states rely on the SSA decision, they do not make an independent determination.
My company only gets paid when Medicaid covers the accounts at our hospital for these claimants so it is in our best interest to get approvals. But all we can do is keep the claimant updated and in the loop on the claims process, in particular, assisting with getting medical records to SSA. Approvals are mostly based on medical records and documentation from the physicians. I have never yet seen a claimant whose primary allegations were "depression, back pain, insomnia" etc (who somehow slipped through the screening process) get approved.

As for the alcoholics, if a claimant is still drinking, its an automatic denial if the allegations are based on drinking (cirrhosis of the liver, for example). And after several denials, and the claims are referred out to attorneys, I have yet to meet an attorney who will accept a claim like this if the claimant is drinking.

Just wanted to clear up a lot of misconceptions about the program that are found in the above comments.

Lila| 11.17.11 @ 6:06PM

I understand your point....it is so easy to point to what is broken and want to trash the whole effort than it is to sort out the real need from the 'scammers'.....I have worked for the welfare system and the tragedy that some folks are forced to live in is paralyzing....while the stronger, manipulative people get the press and the damning judgment....I have seen that those in real need are helped to prevent starvation....tell me about where the job is....what state allows a welfare recipient to have a car I have never worked in any state that would allow that ....thus no way to get to a job if one were available.....there are many problems...but being so 'righteous' about how 'rich' the 'poor' are....yep we want them crawling in the streets, begging bread and homeless....right? No ofcourse not.....we want them working at those 'magical' jobs that aren't there for even those of us who have worked all our lives...... lots of yelling and screaming, little listening, blaming everyone else for our own frustration...is the poorest way I can think of to make things better......for us all. I don't know where the folks live whose SSI benefits can be so easily obtained....I've seen terrible medical cases go years, and years, barely surviving...and never get accepted into any assistance program...this 'get a job' and stop milking system are easy statements...but not so easy to accomplish......some of you have never worked with real poverty nor have you experienced it, I gather......and yes there are users...in every level of society.....Please come up with real doable answers......yea...it isn't so easy to really get involved in changing things for the 'better'...much easier to scream, and blame, and criticize from a safe distance.

Loir Jorstad| 11.17.11 @ 1:15PM

This is pathetic...wonder why paying Americans are fed up !!! Get jobs and stop milking the system

Covert Tax Payer| 11.17.11 @ 1:20PM

Excellent article by Mr. Orlet. The sad fact about this is that these folks are allowed to vote on elected officials; votes that have essentially been bought by taxpayers. The hard truth that the touchy-feely types can't stand is that the taxpayers should be rewarded for their contribution to our nation by being allowed to voted while disallowing the "recipients" the right to vote. There would be an uproar, but more folks would magically find a way to work because the Jacksons, Sharptons, Franks and Pelosis would do an incredible job of motivating their constituents to work in order to have any hope for re-election of the "compassionate" big spenders of our government.

Tag| 11.17.11 @ 1:28PM

IF a politician would come in and revamp the SSI system, have the 'recipients medically diagnosed' instead of them going to corrupt physicians (and I use the word physician loosely) then maybe those 'benefits' would reduce dramatically. I do know there are tons of people pleading 'bad backs', 'bad nerves' etc just to be put on disability and as someone stated, the employees that are supposed to follow up these claims, don't! They are as guilty as those that rip the system. If you aren't going to do your job, and, general public, research just WHO are the 'employee's and that will tell you a TON, then get the heck out of Dodge! Has anyone actually bothered to visit any of these offices? Take a look around and you will see visually just HOW that SSI system gets ripped! You do NOT have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out either! Duh!!

Don Carlson| 11.17.11 @ 1:49PM

Americans enslaved by the dole are in desperate need of help. They need to know that they and their descendants are being destroyed by liberal "love". But how do we wake these victims to the dangers of the century-old progressive agenda that Obama and his party have in mind for them? That may not be possible.

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:06PM

This problem will solve itself eventually. As soon as they run out of other people's money. When our economy utterly collapses under the weight of our debt, the problem will be solved. Of course, our country will be destroyed, but liberals don't care about that. Can't make an omelet without breaking eggs, ya know!

Kingofthenet| 11.17.11 @ 2:08PM

50 Billion a year? that's 'chump change' for NeoCons, they can spend that in less than 6 months on some 'sand war'

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 2:23PM

Yeah. Wonder how much Obama has spent in Libya so far?

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:23PM

1.5 Billion for regime change - and how much did BushBaby spend? Hmmmm?

idalily| 11.19.11 @ 5:49PM

Just pointing out the leftist hypocrisy is all. You all being the "smart, educated" ones, and all, you'd think you'd be smart enough to avoid getting into another war after 8 years of screaming about the ones we had. And how come The One hasn't closed that evil Gitmo place? Hmm? Must be 'cause he's got the most transparent administration evah!

Dale on left coast| 11.17.11 @ 2:34PM

King . . . as the national debt crosses the 15 TRILLION mark . . . 1/3 of that amount added by your hero the "usurper in chief" in less than 3 years . . . you talk about wars??? Doesn't the "0" have 3 going on now???

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:24PM

1.4 Trillion of that "5 Trillion" was handed to him by BushieBoy... let's keep our facts straight, hmmm?

rigdum funidos| 11.17.11 @ 6:17PM

like Libya?

David in MA| 11.17.11 @ 2:15PM

After reading the article it came to mind the author forgot to add:~~~ and they vote!

Dale on left coast| 11.17.11 @ 2:29PM

One day there will be a large popping sound all over the US . . . it will be all the lieberals/progressives pulling their collective heads out of their rears . . .
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." Thomas Jefferson

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:25PM

No one wants Big Government .. problem for you is you want no Government. There's a long way from None to Big, Chuckles.

James Lee| 11.17.11 @ 2:35PM

Dang Orlet, you know the people that live around me.

Except that some of them spend a few days every so often in the county lock up, where again they get room and board free of charge.

Kingofthenet| 11.17.11 @ 2:39PM

You know I have a hard time getting mad at this, even if EVERY dollar of that $50 billion was fraud at least it's being spent to help Americans and to prop up American businesses. How much 'Foreign Aid' have we given this year to either people who hate us or to people whose goals are NOT Americas? Pakistan, Egypt, Israel

idalily| 11.17.11 @ 6:03PM

Fraud helps NO ONE.

I agree with you about foreign aid to some extent. However, it's really just pacifier money. Problem is, like every other entitlement, the backlash when we withdraw it will be horrific.

rigdum funidos| 11.17.11 @ 6:19PM

almost all foreign aid should be ended [what's pacifier money? like these dipsh*t countries are going to invade us or something?], and the UN moved to Paris, so they can all have better three-hour lunches.

Stan Redmond| 11.17.11 @ 2:41PM

I owned a rental house for a while and rented to low income people. It was a program that eventually phased them out of welfare by phasing out rent subsidies. After 2 years the rental assistant dried up and the people moved. One woman had SIX BASTARD CHILDREN and made a good deal of money collecting the checks for each of them. The rent, gas, electricity, and food bills were all picked up by chump taxpayers like me. When i did frequent inspections they had a HUGE television with premium cable. Each of the children's rooms had televisions. They had video game consoles.

Being poor sure does pay well.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:27PM

You would prefer to see them in rags, panhandling on the street? You want to go back to 1880?

idalily| 11.19.11 @ 5:53PM

That's the best response you got, lib? Don't want to speak for Stan, but I suspect that NO, he doesn't want them peddling in the street. I venture to guess he'd like them to put on their grown-up pants, go find a job, use birth control and stop scamming the system to give their kids tv's. Just guessin'.

Bill| 11.17.11 @ 3:04PM

The concept of welfare state is flawed and will never work because this government mandated programs are counter productive and hurts the economy, encouraging people to be dependent and to remain unemployed, living on food stump and unemployment checks causes recession and degradation of the free enterprise, while unions and bureaucrats remain immune to the recession and people (the 99% of the population) despair.

Kingofthenet| 11.17.11 @ 3:27PM

Yet it's OK that one of your leading Presidential Candidates all but admitted he stole money from Freddie and Fanny.This 'Fox' you want to put in charge of the 'hen house'?

Peter M| 11.17.11 @ 6:22PM

It is evident for all to see from your diatribe devoid of factsthat you get your news from MSLSD. Surely you have something more than this to get you through the day. Ignorance is bliss...

Bill| 11.17.11 @ 3:31PM

Obama stole our taxpayers money and gave it to his loyal constituents; SEIU, ACLU, ACORN, CAIR, etc, and now that's an abuse of power and grand theft.

Jane A.| 11.17.11 @ 3:57PM

If you don't pay taxes or are on gov. assistance, you don't have a vote. You must have a picture ID to vote and be 21.

A seemingly nice caucasian lady moved in to my neighborhood. She drives a nice car and dresses well but dosen't have a job. Long story short: She gets $1500 monthy from SSI. $175 from food stamps, and received a $1700 a month from her mothers trust fund, which the gov. doesn't know about.

After loosing my job and having a heart attached, for a living, I am a pet sittier and dog walker. Finanically, I do better than you would expect. The neighbor doesn't understand why I don't apply for food stamps and SSI. This working things is just way over her head.

Conservatives, we've got a lot of work a head of us. Hopefully our government electives are up to the task, or we are toast.

rigdum funidos| 11.17.11 @ 6:20PM

i wish everybody had to have a picture ID to vote, but not in most states

Peter M| 11.17.11 @ 6:29PM

I wish we on the right had transportation provided to take us from polling place to polling place so that we too could vote early and often as do our brethren on the left.

Carlos| 11.17.11 @ 4:17PM

I live a very short distance from one of Los Angeles county's housing projects. I've noticed lately, an explosion of motorized chairs and carts rolling past my home. Seems, ever since Dion Sanders had that reality show, in which he tools around his mansion on one of those things, it's become the haut accessory, with the welfare set. I've seen kids using them to travel the short distance, to school.
All one has to do is fein some sort of "mobility" issue, and SSI will buy you one. There are doctors around, that will write you anything, you want. Their names get passed around the projects. My disabled Viet Nam vet brother has one. It cost me over a grand, as the VA would not give him one, despite his near total inability to walk more than 20'.
When we went to the mobility dealer to get it, the salesman said "the mistake you made, was walking in the door". Seems that if we had rolled in, in a wheelchair, he could have gotten him into one free. Maybe next time.....
Everyday, there are ads on television stating "if we can't qualify you, we'll give you the chair, for free"... What a load!

Peter M| 11.17.11 @ 6:35PM

Hey Carlos, go back to the store but this time scream out "Viva Zapata", burn an American flag, wear sandals with black socks, and tell the clerk you have no social security number. All things being equal, your whole family will get chairs as well as food stamps...LOL

bobmontgomery| 11.17.11 @ 5:01PM

What?? You mean it's not old people who workd all their lives and paid into SS that's the problem? The meme has been that they're greedy. If the money had been invested like is in the private sector, they'd all be millionaires. Instead, they've been supporting cluless babymommas with cellphones and flatscreens and that bipolar cert. and why is this just now being discussed?

Trish| 11.17.11 @ 7:05PM

The ADD cert. will qualify as well. The babymommas can also get their own apartments or condos rent free. One of my students was bragging to my 60 yr. old teacher aide about the parties she throws in her condo. My aide was full support for her disabled husband and was so furious. They all need to be kicked off the dole and reapply under stringent oversight.....dream on.

diviz| 11.17.11 @ 5:40PM

Sure, shut off the spigot, but be prepared for a bit of chaos to follow.

Peter M| 11.17.11 @ 5:46PM

I ran a business in Newark,NJ, for nine years. Most of the stories of this sub-culture which I could retell are beyond belief. Kuddos to the federal, state, county and municipal governments for making the destruction of the family, our culture and our society as a whole possible. Thanks to all these august institutions for creating and sustaining this cradle to grave intergenerational dependency, this albatross hanging from our collective necks; this burden which we the working and productive taxpayers must support under the most extreme duress.

Trish| 11.17.11 @ 6:59PM

Bravo.

The Obama Timeline | 11.17.11 @ 5:55PM

I have a neighbor who is divorced and who I never see going to work. (I do see her walking her dogs.) Eventually someone told me she is collecting disability benefits - even though she is clearly not physically disabled. Her "disability" is allegedly depression, but she has been overheard saying she is getting bored and may consider going back to work.

In the meantime, the rest of us are paying for her to do nothing. I've written a "snitch" letter but do not expect the feds to take any action.

Of course, she thinks Obama is the greatest thing to happen to the country.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:28PM

Sour grapes, nothing else..."if you are not rich, blame yourself, no one else" - Herman Cain

Trish| 11.17.11 @ 6:57PM

Another scam with SSI is the ADD or ADHD diagnosis. As a veteran teacher, I can tell you this goes on all the time. Its not hard to qualify as ADD. Whole families do it all the time. As the guardian for my handicapped sister, and as a special education teacher I would like to see these parasites jailed for stealing from our truly needy.

Purpleguy| 11.17.11 @ 11:29PM

Agreed, but it is not ALL people on disability.

POST American| 11.17.11 @ 11:04PM

---------------------BOTTOM LINE---------------------

Speaking of 'swindles'
----who's going to be the first
to bring up the now BILLION dollar plus
--LOCAL-- city budgets earmarked for
'sick--cure--IT--he' (cctv, spy-wear and
eavesdropping gear aimed at ordinary
American people).

Always remember kiddies, we're the ITs.

WE REALLY ARE

Goldman| 11.18.11 @ 12:05PM

idalily,

Examples of corporate welfare include: direct payments from the Federal Treasury to corporations, special tax breaks and loopholes, the provision of public services, goods, or resources to corporations from the people without adequate compensation, subsidized research assistance without any future claim on profits, Federal purchases from companies of goods and services at more than market value, stadium blackmail, and a host of other farcical programs like no bid contracts from Defense and DHS to industry, also of course the Food bill is a blatant example of corporate welfare.

Now that you're brought up to speed... a very larges share of the corporations that receive these handouts don't actually employ Americans or are actively pursuing the outsourcing of American jobs. They don't produce anything and they don't provide jobs. If, on the other hand, business do create American jobs that pay a decent wage then there is a benefit to corporate welfare just as there is a benefit to 'welfare' programs like Food Stamps which actually creates more money in the economy than tax breaks for the wealthy 'investors' you speak of. It's amusing to see right wingers who gush about the glories of capitalism defend the merits of corporate welfare - it really speaks volumes about the true nature American 'capitalism.'

Mistral| 11.18.11 @ 12:51PM

Billions wasted on making people learned helpless - extraordinary!

The 13th.Apostle| 11.19.11 @ 4:25PM

Within the last year, I have written to my representatives Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Senators Sherrod Brown (D) and Rob Portman (R),
as well as local illuminary Cong. Dennis Kucinich, regarding the absolute crazy squandering of our dollars on BS payments of SSI funds. I have specific examples. None of the above even had the courage to respond on the issue! I will no longer
register as Democrat or Republican. They are both, collectively, destroying our beloved nation.
Thomas Jefferson had it right when he said, "The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Or, how about Winston Churchill? "When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation."
God bless, and help, the USA.

Diane| 11.19.11 @ 9:51PM

The answer is workfare. The government should give them all jobs, in return for the welfare cheques.

Oh, I'm sure you people would rather they just starve, but that's stupid.

Aces and Eights| 11.20.11 @ 10:34AM

The answer is to get the Federal Government completely out of walfare, food stamps, AFDC, and all other subsidy programs. They are all unconstitutional anyway. Let State and local governments deal with such things. This alone will eliminate most of the government corruption and the scamming of the system that goes on. The farther removed the administration of a program is from those who pay for it and benefit from it, the easier it is to mask the corruoption.

Sue| 11.20.11 @ 12:14AM

It's interesting to see a column on this as I found out a few years ago the same thing when we needed to get a copy of my son's social security card. We walked in to the SS office and found about 30 people waiting (29 were minorities). This is in marked contrast to when I was 16 and applied for my SS card in an empty office. It's big business now to get SS Disability. Free money. And must be shut down.

birge miller| 11.20.11 @ 8:59AM

typical 'bama socialism and welfare state. when the whole country is on govt handouts (waste), then he will be named defacto king, just like he planned....with rahm emmanuel following right behind him to extend the misery.

The 13th.Apostle| 11.20.11 @ 1:59PM

Re: Diane of 11/19
No, I do not want to see anyone starve.
Jobs, as you suggest, ARE the answer. Not, however, bogus, invented for the purpose government paid jobs.
The reality is, there ARE jobs out there, even in this pathetic economic time. Problem is, our elected idiots on Capitol Hill use our tax dollars to pay the SSI recipients more than they could earn in the private sector jobs that are available for the unskilled. Why would anybody want to take an income cut to work over hangin' out?
Our problem is not the hurting of society. It's the shameful pandering liberalism of our government.

Jon| 11.21.11 @ 12:22AM

I know of at least 4 families doing this shit and able bodied at that ! I;m sooo glad after 35 years of paying federal and state taxes ,I dont pay them any more

Sandra| 11.28.11 @ 1:02PM

my daughter works to support her son who has a deadbeat dad. The boy is severly autistic. She could not make it financially without the SSI she gets for him. At $600+ a month, it doesnt even pay for all the day care! I know several SS "cheaters", but call the SSA and see what you get. Zilch, nada. Because they are on their own government handout.!!!

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Texas galga| 11.17.11 @ 6:46AM

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