Monday, March 13, 2017

As Maine goes, so goes the nation?

Maine passed a law saying that if you wanted to receive food stamps, you had to work (or look for work).  Maine just dropped 9,000 people from the welfare roles because they refused to look for work.

Hat tip: Rick, who grew up in Maine.

5 comments:

pigpen51 said...

This is the problem with most of these laws like this. The politicians make the laws and then don't follow through with them. Finally, I see a state that has the guts to do so. Good for them. I got help, from the food assistance program once, when I had lost my job. When I no longer needed the help, my wife and I paid it back by giving food to those in need, by way of social media. The poor in my community actually take care of their own, instead of counting on the government or those with a lot of money to help. We have a FB page where people put needs and those who can, help out, free of charge. Things like food, clothing, Christmas gifts, job tips, even auto repair and home repair, we have given all of these things, and many others have as well. That is the right way to do it, if the government would just get the hell out of the way, and maybe even help out a bit. It gets the help to those who really are in desperate need, not those who know how to use the system.

Suz said...

I'm fine with this as long as the folks involved can work. If they are truly unable to do so, they should receive the assistance. If they are just moochers, kick their butt out of the welfare nest. I see folks all day long on both sides of this equation. It's a case of can't work vs wont work.

pigpen51 said...

I absolutely agree with you Suz. There are many, many people out there who legitimately cannot work, whether because of physical problems, or mental problems, or even sometimes due to simply an inability to get a job due to no skills. And I think that it is a good idea to offer training to those people. Real training that leads to real jobs that can pay a living wage, not something that teaches them to run a cash register or flip burgers. We all know that there are some people who simply don't have the capacity to hold down a job, but can function somewhat normally otherwise. I have no problem helping them, either. It is just the moochers, like you said, or the professional welfare families who can trace their life on government assistance back three generations to FDR that need to be given a new lease on life.

STxAR said...

I'm digging the machinist tools you put up. Really nice old iron.

abnormalist said...

expect property crime in Maine to spike in 5...4...3...2...1...