Its clearly the right time to slash the social safety net

[kentonio]

Yes...kentonio, you do NOT know what the **** you are talking about. Admit it.

When you grow up a little you'll find that asking questions you don't know the answer to isn't a sign of weakness. Your frequent posts about the issues facing the poor have illustrated quite clearly that you are ignorant on such matters, and only serve to make you look like a pampered little rich kid. Homelessness is caused by a wild array of different causes which relate to the complexity of peoples living circumstances. Millions of people live with parents, or live with other friend and family groups, and those all too often delicate arrangments can come crashing down for reasons that on the surface seem almost unconnected. Life is complicated, and the reason the current GOP is so damn immoral is that they paint everything in broad strokes of black and white. Life is grey, learn that and you'll become an adult.

Note: A lot of these benefits vary by state/jurisdiction/whatever. Though most of them are just federally mandated.

So is there a federally mandated system of child benefits? Over here every child triggers a set payment from the state to aid in the support of that child. I'm asking if America has an equivilent.

[Hauldren Collider]

No, we don't pay you to have babies. But there are probably tax credits.

There's also welfare for single mothers, which many economists believe has actually contributed to the problem of poor single mothers...

And JESUS CHRIST kentonio. You come here making blanket statements about American horribleness and whatever, demonstrating no knowledge on the topic whatsoever, and spouting off whatever criticism of the American government is currently in vogue on r/politics. You have no ground to stand on when you criticize me, you useless tool.

[kentonio]

There's also welfare for single mothers, which many economists believe has actually contributed to the problem of poor single mothers...

People have said the same thing over here for decades. The problem is that it comes back to the black/white thing again. Take away that benefit and yes you may reduce the number of poor single mothers, but you also increase the rate of poor single mothers who can't afford to feed their children.

And JESUS CHRIST kentonio. You come here making blanket statements about American horribleness and whatever, demonstrating no knowledge on the topic whatsoever, and spouting off whatever criticism of the American government is currently in vogue on r/politics. You have no ground to stand on when you criticize me, you useless tool.

Firstly Apolyton is not America. I'm not walking into a bar in Texas and calling the US a ****hole. This is an international forum filled with people from dozens of different countries, and it would be useful if you remembered that occasionally.

Secondly, you have no idea what knowledge or lack of knowledge I have about different issues. What is telling however is that rather than answer direct points you rely on sqeaking about how I don't know what I'm talking about. If I am so ****ing clueless and you are so knowledgable, then why exactly are you seemingly unable to just destroy my points with evidence and reason?

I'll attack America on issues that deserve attacking, and I'll do the same to my own country and others. On things like healthcare and social safety nets America is horribly backwards in comparison to the western European countries and its for no other reason than the propaganda you've been fed for the last century about the evils of socialism. You have millions of people who have nothing, will never have anything and will die long before their time as a result standing screaming against policies that would help their own lives in every way. Do you realize how ****ing idiotic that seems from the outside?

I genuinely wish I could somehow make you see America through the eyes of a foreigner for just one hour, it would change your worldview for ever.

[Hauldren Collider]

Kentonio, it isn't your criticism of america that bothers me. It's the fact that you're a ****ing braindead and useless tool.

[giblets]

Kentonio, it isn't your criticism of america that bothers me. It's the fact that you're a ****ing braindead and useless tool.

Maybe you're not the best person to judge that...

[kentonio]

Kentonio, it isn't your criticism of america that bothers me. It's the fact that you're a ****ing braindead and useless tool.

If I am so ****ing clueless and you are so knowledgable, then why exactly are you seemingly unable to just destroy my points with evidence and reason?

[Hauldren Collider]

I don't have time to illustrate all the reasons why the things you say are ridiculous. Besides, it's more fun to watch KH do it than do it myself.

It's finals week. When I'm on poly it means I'm taking a break from studying to giggle at your inanity.

[kentonio]

I don't have time to illustrate all the reasons why the things you say are ridiculous. Besides, it's more fun to watch KH do it than do it myself.

Aww it's so cute watching a mini-KH come into the world. I look forward to the inevitable Disney movie.

[rah]

The issue that I see is whether it's the government's place to provide. I, along with many Americans feel it's not. Those across the pond generally think they should. You assume your way of thinking is correct, and we do the same. Just because we don't agree, doesn't make us evil. And I could say the same, don't you see how you euros appear to outsiders.

[kentonio]

The issue that I see is whether it's the government's place to provide. I, along with many Americans feel it's not. Those across the pond generally think they should. You assume your way of thinking is correct, and we do the same. Just because we don't agree, doesn't make us evil.

True and I tend to use the word a bit too freely. I think however that it is applicable when it comes down to individual cases. I don't think someone is morally reprehensible for thinking that an idiology of self reliance is a good thing, but when theres a story about someone becoming homeless and people react with 'tough ****, should have made better life choices' then I'm calling them evil for it. That for me is the difference between the old and the new GOP politicians. I think it says an awful lot when the current dem policies are almost indistinguishable from the GOP ones of 20 years ago in many cases, and the repubs are screaming blue murder about commies and liberals.

And I could say the same, don't you see how you euros appear to outsiders.

Fair point, but there is a fairly significant difference in that Europe is a collection of very, very different countries. The EU allows people to group them together mentally, but the viewpoints and attitudes are radically different. Despite this a common thinking has grown up that people have inaliable rights, and the irony of it is that America caused that to happen. For many of us on this side of the Atlantic though the developments in social security were logical developments of that, and it seems confusing that the standard bearer of human rights has somehow become the biggest opponent.

[rah]

The US is a collection of very very different states, so I see no difference there. Look at the difference between a typical New Yorker and one from TEXAS. Diverse, yes.

And there are a lot of old time GOPers that are becoming quite distraught with what the party has become. (myself included) Something must change. The dissolving of one party and the creation of a new one is a rare thing and probably even more difficult now than in the past. I still refuse to become a dem, but you never know in the future. And going indie is still a waste of a vote and would help the dems.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I don't have time to illustrate all the reasons why the things you say are ridiculous.

This is always the lamest response ever & usually it indicates there are none. Kid, for instance, uses this all the time.

[kentonio]

The US is a collection of very very different states, so I see no difference there. Look at the difference between a typical New Yorker and one from TEXAS. Diverse, yes.

I think even the differences in language are enough to cause a lot more diversity between Europeans. You have certain things you can agree on because they are American values and ideas; Bill of Rights, constitution etc etc. What shared things do even an Englishman and a Frenchman really have, let alone an Englishman and a Hungarian? Yet over the last century a merging of ideas has taken place, and that was lead by the US for a long time.

And there are a lot of old time GOPers that are becoming quite distraught with what the party has become. (myself included) Something must change.

I was never anti-GOP in the past. Even though I've swung left in recent years my attacks on the party are purely a result of the radical shift to the right, not general attacks on Republicans in the traditional sense of the word. I just feel a bit despairing that a new generation are growing up now with that extreme viewpoint being treated as a legitimate political view rather than the bat**** craziness too much of it is.

The dissolving of one party and the creation of a new one is a rare thing and probably even more difficult now than in the past. I still refuse to become a dem, but you never know in the future. And going indie is still a waste of a vote and would help the dems.

Thats the irony though isn't it, creating a new party would almost certainly hand the next election to the other side, but long term it would potentially lead to the result you want. Is short term pain for long term gain something people can handle any more? Personally it'd be a win-win for me, because I'd be very happy with an Obama win accompanied by a dem congress, but equally in the long term I think the country needs a sensible moderate right wing party to curb the excesses of the left.

[The Mad Monk]

Aww it's so cute watching a mini-KH come into the world. I look forward to the inevitable Disney movie.

I think its cute watching you Brits stand agast at the latest American barbarity.

Actually, that's been an American hobby since 1776.

[kentonio]

I think its cute watching you Brits stand agast at the latest American barbarity.

Actually, that's been an American hobby since 1776.

Previously it was more like watching a cute toddler stumbling around breaking stuff but generally being adorable. Now you've grown into the teenage years and we don't know how to deal with you sniffing glue and mugging old people.