"Kansas has found the ultimate way to punish the poor"

[Ben Kenobi]

So you're supporting this as a way you can get into defrauding the government of money intended for poor single parents, all while claiming it's to limit fraud. You aren't just a bad Christian ... you're a scammer, thief, and liar.

Yeah, the real scammers and thieves are the folks signing on for benefits they don't need and then selling their benefits. Odd that Aeson has no problem with that but has a problem with someone buying them and using them to buy food.

What's the problem here, Aeson? You support government benefits. You support handouts. Explain to me why it's wrong to buy the cards, but not wrong to defraud the government?

And for the record, I've never bought a card. Been offered plenty of times to buy them from the scammers wanting cash. I was curious if the commies would be angry at the folks defrauding the government by selling their cards, but I'm not surprised to see that they aren't in the slightest bit, angry.

What I actually did was sell rides and transportation, for a reasonable price. You want to go to the store and back? 5 bucks. Further than that? You pay more. Wasn't a bad job and always people needing to get to places.

I had a product that was meeting a real market need, the ability to get to places faster than public transportation with zero percent of the hassle.

Plus, you know, I actually go places, not just downtown and back every two hours.

Stiff me once, no rides ever again. People catch on quick.

[Ben Kenobi]

Do you have a point? Why should we care about your poor excuse for a life, even if at this point we could take anything you say at face value? Why do you keep insisting on the 20 bucks per day? it only makes you seem stupid.

I'm amused with the banker anger here. If it were the government taking a cut of 20 percent, you'd see it as cost of doing business. Now that it's the banks you've got the whole socialist brigade in force. "That's wrong, you say". But in reality you don't care that you're being robbed, you only care that the right person is robbing you.

[Ben Kenobi]

If someone was actually committing welfare fraud, making trips to an ATM would still be easier than working. What a stupid idea.

Seen it, heard it plenty of times. You might see it that way, but when you've got a card that reloads itself every month without effort, it can be a real shock when folks have to get acquainted with the real value of the money. 20 dollars may seem not a lot, but a 20 a day adds up. That's what folks don't get and don't understand. You can get a long way with just 20 dollars if you manage it right. It's not an easy living, but hell it's not the end of the world. My nominal budget even now runs on that. And I've never had a problem budget wise in years because of it.

[Kidlicious]

If they have a kid they do. Things have changed, Kid. That's what was in that latest immigration bill. You have a kiddo, you get funded illegal or no. TANF, Food stamps, you name it you got it.

If you've signed all your lines and dotted your t's in coming over you get nothing whatsoever.

If they have a kid, the kid is a citizen. Why do you want US children to be homeless?

[Ben Kenobi]

oh yes, i'm sure you strongly believe in private charity, especially if it's religious in nature - the church gave you a job after all.

What they gave me was an opportunity, and I'm thankful they did give me an opportunity. I'd be vastly worse off without it. But, it's not charity any more than the job at the Mickey D's. It's a private school - if the students aren't doing well, I get fired. I'm providing a service for the Church, and they are paying me to continue providing that service.

I realize that market capitalism is hard to wrap your head around...

As for private charity, I've been the beneficiary of it before, and I'm quite grateful for the folks who have helped me over the years. It's worked and helped me, so why would I be of the opinion that it wouldn't work well for others.

and of course you're not rich. they at least usually have enough decency to hide their contempt for poor, whereas people like you can't help but spew out your, no doubt heartfelt, desire to see them suffer.

I have no right to rob those richer than I am to fund my desire to help others. If I want to help them the answer is simple, get off my ass and help them.

[Ben Kenobi]

If they have a kid, the kid is a citizen. Why do you want US children to be homeless?

Not necessarily. If the kid was brought over they qualify too. I'm glad you've finally understood what the bill was actually about. Americans are getting raked over the coals here. Especially the poorer citizens who are paying for bennies they themselves don't receive.

[Aeson]

Yeah, the real scammers and thieves are the folks signing on for benefits they don't need and then selling their benefits. Odd that Aeson has no problem with that but has a problem with someone buying them and using them to buy food.

You're a colossal moron. If someone here were talking about how they were taking their benefits and buying drugs and booze with them, I'd take them to task about it too.

For now the only one talking about how they would scam the system is you ... all while you hypocritically worry about how other people may possibly be scamming the system.

[Aeson]

If they have a kid they do. Things have changed, Kid. That's what was in that latest immigration bill. You have a kiddo, you get funded illegal or no. TANF, Food stamps, you name it you got it.

If you've signed all your lines and dotted your t's in coming over you get nothing whatsoever.

So now you're whining that real children get support rather than your non-existant children?

[lightblue]

Isn't the bigger thing about this that the banks are charging people money to access their money which the bank is holding for them and investing and making money on already? Virtually all ATMs are free in the UK, and they're all over the place (train stations, petrol stations, supermarkets etc.).

[Berzerker]

What they gave me was an opportunity, and I'm thankful they did give me an opportunity. I'd be vastly worse off without it. But, it's not charity any more than the job at the Mickey D's. It's a private school - if the students aren't doing well, I get fired. I'm providing a service for the Church, and they are paying me to continue providing that service.

I realize that market capitalism is hard to wrap your head around...

your church is the product of centuries of subsidies and theft, not market capitalism

[Ben Kenobi]

So now you're whining that real children get support rather than your non-existant children?

I'm suggesting that American benefits go to actual American citizens. It's a radical concept.

You're a colossal moron. If someone here were talking about how they were taking their benefits and buying drugs and booze with them, I'd take them to task about it too.

Great! I eagerly await that.

For now the only one talking about how they would scam the system is you ... all while you hypocritically worry about how other people may possibly be scamming the system.

It's easy to scam the system. Really it is. I had a blinding flash of insight that took me awhile to figure it out - but it's a rather clever scam. Food stamps are a transfer of wealth from American taxpayers to the grocery stores. This is why as many retailers are trying to make sure they can accept it. It's a competitive advantage to their bottom line, and actually raises food prices, rather than lowering them - but it keeps them high for the people who aren't the government purchasing them.

So, I'm not a fan. The poor are better off without the bloat and with food prices being lower than they are with prices as they are now and needing foodstamps to survive.

[Ben Kenobi]

your church is the product of centuries of subsidies and theft, not market capitalism

Actually, quite the opposite in countries like the Netherlands, France, England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. All countries which confiscated money, land and property from the Church.

[Ben Kenobi]

Isn't the bigger thing about this that the banks are charging people money to access their money which the bank is holding for them and investing and making money on already? Virtually all ATMs are free in the UK, and they're all over the place (train stations, petrol stations, supermarkets etc.).

One would think, but not on Apolyton, where soaking the rich is a virtue.

[kentonio]

I find it intriguing that your first example is President Obama. Obama, last I checked had his salary paid by we the people. So every single American, great or small is entitled to criticize him.

You are not American.

[Ben Kenobi]

You are not American.

Loinburger was arguing that the only one who can criticize Obama is the president. I never expected an American to uphold lese majeste as a virtue. That's a new one for me.