Do people really have to feel bad for taking benefits when you're poor?

Question

Do people really have to feel bad for taking benefits when you're poor?

Answer 1

I work film crews, and I deliver pizzas for Domino's between crews.  That is how I have been making ends meet for a couple of years now.

This summer, I worked two student productions, and gave of my time, my efforts, my resources and my skills so that students could learn under me.  It has been very rewarding in many ways working these two shows, but unfortunately, they didn't pay as well as they should have, not even as well as Domino's would have.

Now I'm back at Domino's, and tips are thready at best because people are, for one thing, paying more for pizza since the minimum wage went up, (the franchisee raised prices in direct response to the raise in the minimum wage,) and for another thing, they can't afford gas for their own vehicles if they tip us so we can put gas in ours.

This month, I will miss my vehicle payment for the first time in five years.  I will probably not be able to pay my insurance bill either, which means I could very well lose my job anyway.

And still, given all this, and given the fact that I am working literally eighteen-hour days lately and not making enough money to eat properly, I WILL NOT ASK FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.

If I can't work off my own mistakes, I will not ask others to bail me out because of them.  I just will not.  It's not a pride thing, it's a right vs. wrong thing.  Why should other people bail my stupid butt out?  The answer is, they should not.

Answer 2

There is no shame in asking for help if you need it.  What is shameful is asking for assistance when you are quite capable of taking care of yourself. I have seen women in the welfare line that drive Escalades and live in huge 2 story houses. They wear name brand clothes and have their kids in private schools but swear they cant afford groceries. But they can afford all that gold jewelry and buy their boyfriends new cars. That makes it harder for the people who really need help to get it.

Answer 3

That's going to vary from individual to individual.  If their life choices have contributed to their situation, then yes, of course - they are taking money via taxes from people that work really hard and did make the right choices.  If circumstances outside of their control have contributed to their situation, no, of course not - that's what those things are there for.

Answer 4

nope i don't

Answer 5

If your being poor is a product of the Bush administrations attack on people who were just making it before, you shouldn't feel bad...YOU SHOULD BE PISSED!!!

and we're not in a recession?!

Answer 6

Only if you have the capability to not receive those benefits and are too lazy to act on those abilities.

Answer 7

Not at all, thats what benefits are for. on the other hand, if your driving an escalade, and living on welfare, theres a problem.

Answer 8

They should.  They should hate every minute of it and work as hard as they are able and look forward to the day they are standing on their own two feet and not depending on anyone but themselves if its possible.

Unless disabled from being able to work for some reason, its possible for all.

Answer 9

people who say the poor are stealing are just lazy individuals who don't want to pay anything. i seen people act like this even though they never worked in their lives. saying that they are entitled in some strange way.