Forum Post: America's Safety Net Under Attack
Posted 12 years ago on April 15, 2012, 4:17 p.m. EST by GirlFriday
(17435)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
If you’ve never heard of state-funded General Assistance (GA) programs, you’re hardly alone. A “safety net of last resort” for very poor people—often childless adults—who don’t qualify for other forms of public assistance, there aren’t too many of them still in existence. Not too long ago most states offered them, but in recent decades they have been eliminated or severely restricted. Now, only thirty states maintain GA programs, and the benefit level for most falls below one-quarter of the poverty line, or less than $2,750 per year.
...“Poor, childless adults are becoming even more vulnerable to severe hardship than in the past and are doing so in greater numbers,” write the authors.
One state that still maintains a GA program is Pennsylvania where 68,000 people—or just about one in every 200 residents—receive about $205 per month (five counties offer a little more, twenty-eight counties a little less). But when Republican Governor Tom Corbett released his budget in February he proposed eliminating the program entirely as of July 1. A final budget must be passed and signed by that date, and with Republican majorities in the House and Senate, legal aid lawyer Michael Froehlich of Community Legal Services in Philadelphia says, “It’s not looking good.”
READ the REST HERE: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/04/14-3
We know the game. Hunger as a WMD. In our own fucking country! Keep up the good posts GF.
Thanks.
Hunger as a WMD. I likes it. I'm stealing it.
It's yours. Can I still use it? ;-)
Absolutely! :D
Like sanctions?
Another good example. Unless you're asking if I personally like sanctions, but I'm pretty sure that's not how you meant it.
Rob from the poor and give to the rich.
America, the land where the greedy take all.
Yes it is.
"new media term: Suicide by economic crisis" http://www.alternet.org/economy/155012/crisis_to_suicide:_how_many_have_to_die_before_we_kill_the_false_religion_of_austerity?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=alternet
So, the rich get richer... Nothing new in that. I don't believe replacing politicians will help a bit. The idea should be to replace the government.
It's a shame that safety net programs like these are being cut, while lavish programs like Obamacare and Medicate part D are being pushed through. It seems like America needs to get her priorities straight.
Nationlize every thing,electric compnies,oil companies,eduction, heath care and big to fail banks,let`s get those fat monkey out
[Removed]
So do something to solve the problem, like discuss Article V!
We knew that these kinds of problems were going to expand. Did people reasonably discuss solutions? No, they bought into the sensationalism of social failure like the flock in fear.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/occupy-the-sheep-keep-them-busy-discussing-endless/
Here is strategy that will work.
http://articlevconvention.org/showthread.php?33-Amendment-By-Layers-Of-Priority-Amendment-Package-Making-CONST.-Intent
No, but thanks.
Do you prefer the problem?
I am not interested in the Article V convention. But, thanks-so-much.
If you really care about the poor and those that will suffer, there really shoud be interest in methods that will protect them.
Through Article V, which really has ultimate authority, Americans can stop the federal government from doing what it is doing. Would you like to see that?
Why aren't you interested in Article V?
http://www.alec.org/publications/article-v-handbook/
Just curious, are you not interested because of ALEC, or because you see an inherent problem with Art5 in general? I didn't read the PDF on ALEC's website but did read a bit about Art5 last year and it sounded intriguing.
Thank you gnomunny. Don't know why Article V and strategy for it can't be discussed directly, but your question is the right way to ask:)
Because free speech has been abridged so long, we don't know the power of it, so the potential of knowing constitutional intent well enough to be sure that all amendments have it at Article V, is out of most peoples reach
I was initially intrigued with the Art5 convention. I am no longer interested.
I went to the site and looked at the information and then recently revisited it. I see a lot of people thinking but I am not impressed with much that has been written. Now, this doesn't mean that I don't think that there are many that have their heart in the right place. I do think that there should be some room for some available research to back up how these conclusions were reached.
Between now and then I came across it on ALEC. I am done.
Can you show that Libertarianism has anything to do with Article V? I mean that would be reasonable if you are saying what you are.
I can make a reasonable case for Article V being capable of not only protecting the poor of this nation, but also most of the other people. I could make a case that with Article V we could crete peace.
Accountability and consistency are very important for cogency in activism so I feel it is very important to ask for explanation.
Here is a video about Article V where people who have done their research defeine what it really is.
http://vimeo.com/31464745
I know what it is about. I am not interested.
Here are some ordinary people in a nice 10 minute video, who have done their research on Article V.
harvard 9/25/11-other attendee video comments http://vimeo.com/31464745
Logically, Article V renders the congress, senate and president completely impotent. So its the last thing congress wants and ALEC actually doesn't matter.
Article V of the U.S. Constitution:
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.
I know how it works. ALEC matters very much.
Trying to stay focused on the constitution here because it protests us all, poor included.
This reply works here too.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/americas-safety-net-under-attack/#comment-707596
Don't know or care about ALEC. They have no strategy.
The Article V people that are more radical than foavc.org have the only approach because it ultimately restores free speech. With it so badly abridged, anything could go wrong . . . and is. See this thread. Pay no attention to the BS google warning page if it's there. Your computer will not be harmed.
http://articlevconvention.org/showthread.php?33-Amendment-By-Layers-Of-Priority-Amendment-Package-Making-CONST.-Intent
We need to prepare for Article V. 1) End the abridging of free speech. 2)Reform Campaign finance. 3)Secure voting systems.
Those 3 things simply return the nation to a semblence of constitutionality. It won't be constitutional until the people make it so.
Ever consider that unreasonable fears can be used by socially identified bad guys to succeed by recomending something good thereby preventing it? Here is a criminal complaint to the AG against all members of congress for failing to call an Article V convention in violation of laws, their oaths and the constitution.
http://my.firedoglake.com/danielmarks/2012/02/18/congress-refuses-to-call-a-convention-to-amend/
If an Article V convention was as dangerous to our futures and in the interests of the elite as you seem to think it is, we would have had one long ago. This man sued congress and learned a great deal, like in 1910 when there were less states, the requirements were met.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs7qIQ1VkEg
In 1913 the federal reserve started and states knew there was going to be that effort so were trying to get an Article V to stop it. The Titanic was filled with people agains the federal reserve.
http://www.world-mysteries.com/doug_titanic1.htm
Critical thinking is needed in the midst of a psyops. Facts and understanding of human nature works.
Ever consider the fact that Libertarianism is a nice idealistic dream. Critical thinking must happen here. Now, I have told you as nicely as I possibly can that I am not interested in an Article 5 convention.
Can you show that Libertarianism has anything to do with Article V? I mean that would be reasonable if you are saying what you are.
I can make a reasonable case for Article V being capable of not only protecting the poor of this nation, but also most of the other people. I could make a case that with Article V we could create peace.
Accountability and consistency are very important for cogency in activism so I feel it is very important to ask for explanation.
ALEC,
Our problem with the poor is the cutting of the budgets and the faux privatization that ALEC legislates.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/02/1068811/-Constitution-Under-Attack-
Koch Brothers are Libertarian or quasi Libertarian. There has been a twenty year experiment. It has failed the people. I refuse to have anything to do with it.
By all means, present your case for solving the poverty problem. I am on for a few minutes more.
Please focus on Article V. What is libertarian about Article V?
I do not care about ALEC. Article V logically cannot become a problem by association with ALEC. IF such were logical THEN speed limits would be bad if charles manson recomended obeying them.
You have other people that are willing to listen to what you have to say about Article V. I'm done being nice. If you don't know who ALEC is then we have nothing to say to each other.
Section 8 in Hillsborough county has a 10,000 person waiting list.
What do you think about that?
HCHC, there is a section 8 waiting list everywhere.
I understand that. I was asking you for your thoughts on the program?
I think it is a good program. I know land lords that are especially keen on it because it is a guaranteed paid every month versus anyone who isn't qualified that might run into problems. Some areas have instituted a number of measures to control everything and bounce people out when they should not. I am in favor of it.
I am not in favor of it being handled by an outside corporation.
Very poor people? Hey, you started these do-gooder programs and now they're going bankrupt, one by one.
Maybe you need some lessons in math:
I'd like to see things from your point of view. Your head is so far up your ass that I can't. Pity.
Backatcha, dyke monkey