Should welfare recipients be banned from spending their benefits on alcohol, cigarettes, and strip clubs?

by TheFix Posted 2012/06/20 16:42:02

Related Topics: Cigarettes, Alcohol, Welfare, Strip, Spending, Banned

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128 votes
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	Yes	105 votes	82%
	No	23 votes	18%

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Gordon 2012/06/20 22:46:57

Yes

+3
They should be doing some form of community service to help cover the expense for taxpayers.
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Texas Gal 2012/06/24 17:43:30

Yes

Why should I have to pay tax dollars out of my paycheck every two weeks to provide to someone who wants to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, and go to strip clubs? Between working and the condition of the economy, I don't have the time or the disposable income to take a vacation. So, to give the tax dollars that I do pay to someone to allow them those "benefits" -- I don't like it.

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handimom 2012/06/23 05:37:28

Yes

+1
It's tax payer money to help poor families support their children. Alcohol, tobacco and strip clubs are not necessary for survival and definitely do not benefit children.

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Scott (o)(o) 2012/06/22 21:55:52

No

it's a free country why would you want to make the poor lose their freedom just because they can't support themselves ? freedom in our country is for everyone plain and simple , not just for people that have money . The issue of how horrible it is that they spend their money on that stuff is TRUMPED by our basic freedoms in this country as well as it should be !!!

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eyeballz 2012/06/22 18:07:59

No

I meant yes , when you take money out of my pocket so you and your family can survive, I should have a say in what you can spend it on .

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sglmom 2012/06/22 17:40:17

Yes

+1
DEFINITELY ..

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Cantus_bird 2012/06/21 16:30:20

Yes

+1
definitely should be banned ...

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mariner 2012/06/21 10:43:06

No

no, they should be able to spend it as they please like they always have done on satelite TV's, the latest i phones, and then claim they are poor so they want some more as it is tax payer funded and therefore someone else is paying for them to have all these nice things. Seems like a good idea to me!!!!

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Ian McLoone 2012/06/21 05:29:50

No

+1
These people are entitled to this money by virtue of being US citizens in dire economic situations and should be able to decide for themselves how it is spent. Seems like just another example of those in power telling low-income people that they know better. What's next, they're going to start making people take drug tests before they are eligible for welfare? Oh wait, they already do that, despite the evidence that shows they are spending much more money on UA's than they are saving by kicking the <5% off who actually test positive.

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eyeballz to Ian McL... 2012/06/22 18:17:40

I have neighbors on welfare and as you state , they think they are entitled also . This woman and her 5 children from 5 different absentee fathers , collects 4500.00 monthly in welfare benefits . I am sure you see nothing wrong with that ,as she sits on her behind and takes money out of the pockets of you and I and your parents , your friends and neighbors and brothers and sisters . Welfare has turned good people into thieves and it is people like you who enable it to continue !

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Jensenmk 2012/06/21 04:31:32

Yes

+1
Its money that we, the people, provided for a very specific use.

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Kozmo 2012/06/21 04:22:10

Yes

Depends whether they're responsible with the Discretionary Spending Allowance each jurisdiction has.

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S. Gompers 2012/06/21 01:45:46

Yes

+1
When did they start allowing this? I worked in a store years ago and they were not allowed to buy beer and smokes.

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JDLogan 2012/06/20 23:40:21

Yes

+2
If you make your own money, you should be able to buy whatever you want, if not then you only get to buy what you're told to buy, by the person giving the money. Taxpayers fund welfare, taxpayers should get to choose what it is spent on.

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Gordon 2012/06/20 22:46:57

Yes

+3
They should be doing some form of community service to help cover the expense for taxpayers.

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Kozmo to Gordon 2012/06/21 04:24:43

+2
Doing some modest volunteer work would instill a better mindset to find employment rather than inhaling pints sitting on the couch, if able, that is. Been there.

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Gordon to Kozmo 2012/06/21 11:35:01

+2
Very good point. Many people learn to feel better about themselves if they are doing something worthwhile to deserve their incomes or handouts. The Protestant work ethic is what made the USA a prosperous country.

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Kozmo to Gordon 2012/06/21 14:54:32

+2
agreed. I'm on Disability (valid & verified barriers to gainful employment) but actively volunteer at a half dozen local churches, quite possible a few brethren may offer me some freelance (declare anything over a C-note of of course, allowed to make a few without claw-back) or part-time work.

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JCD aka "biz" 2012/06/20 22:27:52

No

Why do you hate corporate welfare recipients? Why do you hate Jamie Dimon?

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DFA 2012/06/20 21:10:29

Yes

Well... the strip club part.

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me being me 2012/06/20 20:21:44

Yes

+3
And encouraaged to be in a program to eventually get a job and be independent if Capable health wise.

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Chaoski... to me bein... 2012/06/20 20:30:25

+2
they are some but where I live they suck.....

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me bein... to Chaoski... 2012/06/20 20:34:41

+2
Yeah, unfortunately that is true:(

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Heavy 2012/06/20 20:12:37

Yes

+2
Make your own money to pay for your vices.

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Robbb 2012/06/20 20:10:50

No

+1
I doubt if it is of any real concern. most of the people that are on welfare dont frequent strip clubs.

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John Galt jr or Ron/jon 2012/06/20 19:42:46

No

+1
I'll change it to yes as soon as CEO's that accept bailouts for their companies,
get no salary, no bonuses and lose their retirement funds everytime they blink their eyes...

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Cognito22 to John Ga... 2012/06/21 03:29:34

+1
Yeh, that 'two wrongs make a right' always works out so well.

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KingdomNow 2012/06/20 19:24:44

Yes

+2
People here use their Welfare EBT cards to buy cases of soda and bottled coffee for resale -The taxpayers are paying for these crooks to run their illegal retail businesses.

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rand 2012/06/20 19:11:45

Yes

+1
...but how to go about it?

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Kozmo to rand 2012/06/21 04:27:23

Why bar recipients from stuff that regular folks can legaly buy is hypocritical. Dependent if they can mannage their vice with little trouble.

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rand to Kozmo 2012/06/21 14:14:47

+1
There's nothing hypocritical about setting strictures on how others spend my money, and it's not really a greed issue. I'm concerned about what Trungpa Rinpoche called "idiot compassion", the element that paves the road to hell with good intentions. First do no harm.

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Kozmo to rand 2012/06/21 15:02:54

If the recipients can manage their 'vices' without depriving dependents (actually having ANY) or leeching off the System (from blowing rent or 'crisis grants), lay off. As to barring folks from peeler bars, isn't that unconstitutional?
How do you enforce that? by implanting '1984' RFID chips into them?
If their CONDUCT is fine, no prob, if NOT, then sanctions.

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rand to Kozmo 2012/06/21 21:08:37

+1
So you don't see living on Welfare itself as "leeching off the System"? Are people on Welfare entitled to lives to living off of the beneficence of those who do work for a living? I don't care to help others become obese or become addicts or indulge licentious leisure on my dime. Does that make me an ogre?

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Kozmo to rand 2012/06/21 22:46:55

Don't tar with a wide brush (Generalize), ones who have a (recognized &/or verified) disability that impedes gainful employment or those that are "infrequently between jobs" I have no problem with (the latter have paid in).
Those that allow themselves to get get unhealthy (from lifestyle), crybaby entitlist whiners or career trouble-makers needs more direct monitoring.
Also, if able, some modest volunteer (incentive provided) work in the community can help them get in a better 'state of mind' to get some work rather than sitting on the couch glued to the Idiot Box.

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rand to Kozmo 2012/06/22 04:22:06

+1
Unemployment is a different program from Welfare...as is Social Security. I appreciate that I live in a society that doesn't want people to starve or freeze to death but decry providing the funds to let them do damage to themselves. I don't want to participate in the purchase of their cigarettes and then the subsequent medical care nor do I care to pay for their hookers. Am I an ogre?

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Kozmo to rand 2012/06/22 07:54:26

It's hypocritical to bar one population form doing things another population can legally do with their discretionary spending.
You country does believe in freedom, doesn't it?
If you don't like it, become dictator.

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Rosalie 2012/06/20 19:10:27

Yes

+1
No doubt....

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Alexis82 2012/06/20 19:05:44

Yes

+1
Those things aren't necessary.

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Reggie☮ 2012/06/20 18:57:17

Yes

I don't think they are allowed to do that already if they are buying with food stamps or vouchers.

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Kozmo to Reggie☮ 2012/06/21 04:29:04

+1
But , on the other hand, those are being traded (with large cuts) for 'indulgences' already.

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Reggie☮ to Kozmo 2012/06/23 18:22:17

+1
Yes I've heard of it happening, makes me anger and sad at the same time.

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