others think it's what's making our economy weak in the first place.

So wait. Is it a farce and sham that people need assistance or that they don't get the handout from their family instead of the government? Is it the handout that makes people lazy or who they take the handout from?

So because you didn't get something when you needed it, nobody should? You'd rather everyone have to go through an unnecessarily tough time just like you did, then possibly benefit in the way the system is designed? You sort of sound like an asshole.

I think it was Ross Perot (and I may be wrong) who wanted to charge everyone a quarter at the pump. Getting $40 of gas... that'll be $40.25. Getting $3.00... that'll be $3.25. That quarter then goes into a fund to pay for everyone's car insurance and that way if you're vehicle is on the road, somewhere someone paid…

Just people who use the word and not the people who make it difficult for the poor AND the middle class, nor those who create the stigma, nor those who get handouts even if they are filthy rich? Ok buddy.

Uh, I hate to say it but a lot of people who receive assistance ARE working.

Given how brutally means-tested all forms of public assistance are (they WILL call you if you get even a tiny deposit in your bank account) and the piddly amounts given out, I'm not sure your claim of abuse stands much scrutiny. But I'm glad the assistance was there for you and that you were able to get back up on…

And the vitriol of your other comments becomes clear.

They aren't allowed to drive. Catching these criminals is the problem.

How do you "know there's a TON of rampant abuse of the system"? Where are you getting the figure of 12 abusers per one deserving person in need? Or is this just an assumption?

My story is pretty short and simple.

We currently receive food stamps and Medicaid for the kids and my husband-I get one yearly visit to the doctor paid for. My husband is disabled, and yes the total disability hit after our second child was born. He draws a small amount in disability and SSI. I have a Bachelor's degree, but due to a tight job market…

I was on food stamps for a few months after I quit my job a few years ago. I felt like I didn't have much choice but to quit because I worked in a doctor's office, came down with bronchitis, and they made me continue to work when I was sicker than most of our patients. I immediately put in my two weeks. I felt like if…

I have applied for unemployment twice, and been denied both times because I worked for churches. Since they aren't required to pay into unemployment, their employees aren't covered. The second time was further complicated by the fact that because I was given the option to quit instead of being fired, I had technically…

My parents are both decently educated immigrants, but the family income was a bit one-sided since my mother did not work. This led to a host of family issues, which resulted in a divorce around late middle school/early high school. Given that our area has one of the highest costs of living in the country, times were…

I was a young mom and not working in a job that provided health insurance (pre-Obamacare). Medicaid allowed me to finish college and still have health insurance for my daughter while I finished college. Without it, I would not have gone back to school.

A couple of years back, I was hit by an inattentive driver while I was walking and suffered over $100,000 in injuries. Things had to be replaced. At the time, my spouse was between jobs and mine did not supply insurance. The driver who hit me was uninsured.

fuck that noise. I'm on that good Medicaid right now.

Several years ago, I received unemployment benefits - another victim of the dot-com bubble bursting. Application was simple enough, I showed up to the regional unemployment benefits office, sat in their instructional lecture (some were less-than-enthused to be there), and knew what I had to do to receive benefits…