Sometimes, as with this blog, I don't choose to write, writing chooses me. This is one of those times.
Lately, I've seen a lot of things go by on Facebook talking about welfare and food stamp recipients.
The comments usually paint the recipients of those programs with a biased brush and a lot of stereotypes. -They are lazy. -They are moochers who choose not to work -They are baby making machines. -They are all unproductive members of society who walk out of the store with steaks, lobster, and champagne just to get into the latest model of a luxury SUV.
I read comments like: "I've worked all of my life and pay into a system that feeds people who have never worked a day in their lives" "They should make them work for the handouts even if it is shoveling poop." "They're all deadbeats milking the system."
So many judgments, and in my opinion, so little tolerance of lives that they, hopefully, will never experience. While I know that there are welfare recipients who have made careers from milking the system, that is not usually the case. What about the disabled? Or our military families who are near or below poverty level? Our veterans? The elderly? Do none of these groups deserve compassion?
Let me put just one face on this issue.
If you've been a regular reader of this blog, you know that taking care of Mom didn't just cause emotional trauma to my family. It also destroyed my financial security. I used all of my savings trying to support my mother and my family. When that ran out, I stopped paying non-essential bills. My great credit was torn to pieces. All financial support to a caregiver stops cold when the patient passes. I am now an unemployed 57 year old woman who wants to work but can't find a job.
I haven't had any income in 6 months. I am saved from being one of "deadbeats" by my 21 year old daughter who supports this family. She works 50+ hours a week to keep us afloat. Make no mistake, if my daughter wasn't the person that she is, I would be standing in line with my hand out, judgment from society be damned.
Reading these things hits a nerve. They hurt me knowing that I am not the only person whose circumstances have caused a situation that is not of their doing. But, reading the harsh intolerance of those making comments makes me thankful that they have a life that hasn't fallen apart through no fault of their own.
People say, "Put them to work!" I say, "Yes, please, hand me a shovel."
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I see those same comments go by my newsfeed. I used to try to educate people a bit on that topic but find they just get angry and don't care to hear the truth. "Welfare" as people think of it does not even exist anymore. It was changed decades ago to aid to families with dependent children and then changed once again. People are not able to make a living on it. And as for food stamps it is income based. and yes some people do use it to purchase steak.. and the thing is that is their business. It doesn't mean they get extra money it means the government has decided they get a certain amount and if they want to eat steak one day and go hungry another day because their food stamps are used up then that is their business. It is ignorant for people to say it is used for Champagne when in reality you can not even buy toilet paper or laundry detergent or tampons or any necessity that is not food. Anyway I just scroll on by those posts. And I hope things get better for you.
ReplyDeleteMy husband was lumped in with the "moochers" too who during the recession would supposedly rather "lay on the couch and collect unemployment than go to work" as if there were any jobs and as if we enjoyed trying to live on a third of our former income.
((((hugs)))) to you. And you have raised a wonderful daughter.
<3 Thanks, Irene. It's crazy how judgmental and removed from reality people have become. Love you!!!
DeleteI so understand this. We had a time when we got food stamps. When things improved(my husband found work again) I tried to give back to the food banks. I don't want anyone to go hungry or have ti wear rags foe clothes. God did NOT give me an assignment to judge others. When I had to go on disabuility I felt so guilty. Trust me...it wasn't fun to have to retire at age 58. I loved my job and the people I worked with.
ReplyDeleteI so understand this. We had a time when we got food stamps. When things improved(my husband found work again) I tried to give back to the food banks. I don't want anyone to go hungry or have ti wear rags foe clothes. God did NOT give me an assignment to judge others. When I had to go on disabuility I felt so guilty. Trust me...it wasn't fun to have to retire at age 58. I loved my job and the people I worked with.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patty! You are so right. Whether we are handing help directly to those in need or through our tax dollars, we have no right to judge whether they are worthy of that help.
DeleteHi Nancy, I haven't been here in a while. I've been on a rollercoaster. Thank you for saying this. It is definitely something we all need to hear! I am so sorry for all that this has cost you, and I am praying that Father will take all the ashes, and bring beauty, all the pain and bring joy, all the loss and turn it to gain, all the evil and turn it to good. I don't know how, but I pray it and believe it and am trusting Father with and for you. Thank you for who you are and walking with me for a time while I was fleshing out some of my thoughts on my blog. I am going to take that blog off of the internet. I have been working on a new blog. It is quite vulnerable for me to do this, but I hope I am following the Voice of my Papa when I had this recurring thought that I needed to share my story more openly. If you are interested in connecting there, it isn't technically "launched" yet to the public, but I am giving you a sneak peak here. It is my hope that in some small way, it can feed the hungry, the lonely, the outcast, the failure, the rejected, the whosoever. If interested in connecting with me there, go to www.beautyinmybrokenness.com Bless you, Nancy, you are one special lady and I will never forget your courage and honesty. It's to people like you that I dedicate this new blog.
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