Here is another video from Elbert Lee Guillory. And I 100% support his message/ I grew up in poverty. I grew up on welfare. I lived in public housing. And I ate the government cheese. I know first hand how the system is by its very nature designed - on purpose or by mistake - to trap people in a cycle of poverty. I was lucky. I had advantages that most did not not. -I was smart: Very early on I knew I could do just about anything I wanted to. -I was white: The world is a better place but especially for poor people there is a big advantage to being white. -My grandmother and aunt were middle class, in fact upper middle class: They helped my mother escape the trap of welfare easier than most. We can help poor people but -It requires a hand up not a hand out. -It requires a welfare system that rewards works not punishes it - It requires a welfare system that helps people equally rather they are married or single not one that punishes poor women who get married or live with a man. -It requires Job creation not a tax system in which corporations leave profits and jobs out of America. -It requires more entry level jobs that pay people as they get trained not an education system that puts people $30k+ into debt to work $10/hr jobs. All of that requires a fundamental shift in how we think. It requires a fundamental shift in how we treat the poor. They dont need our protection. They need us to empower them and for those of us who are more fortunate to provide charity and more over opportunity for them. And yes government programs can be a part of that charity. But the current programs are not working. Some should be eliminated and others should be over hauled. Think about it this way: 45.3 Million People in Poverty in the US (2013 Number) 212 Billion Spent on the Most Basic forms of Welfare ( The lowest number counting only the cash and cash like programs, housing, earned income credit refunds, food stamps, and etc) That is almost $5,000 per person. Of course the real number is higher and a lot of it never directly reaches the needy and instead is paid out to bureaucracy. The system can not be changed over night but it can be changed. Personally I would rather see the system reformed into a handful of simple cash based systems. 1. A negative income tax similar to the earned income credit. If the poor lack money lets give them money. 2. A reformed version of food stamps. That way we can protect poor children from parents that might waste a pure cash welfare system. 3. A medical cash card. Similar to how Health Savings Accounts work but where the money rolls over when not used and can be used for anything health related including health insurance. 4. Housing Voucher system. Coupled with safety net group home housing for the homeless and those most in need. Similar to the medical and food cards this is cash that can only be used for housing. But we pay it to the people directly not to the landlords. No more abuse of rent prices by slum lords who take advantage of section 8. All these systems you will notice put the money and the power of choice directly in the hands of the poor. And it would be easy to have these programs take away money in an overall ration of 50 to 75 cents for every dollar earned. Never would a mother face the choice between more hours at work and the food stamps and medical assistance her kids need. And dont let anyone tell you that doesnt happen. I managed small retail and restaurants for years. I saw it first hand. So please read what I wrote here. Listen to what Louisiana Senator Guillory says in this video. Think about yourself or those you know on welfare. Then when it is time to vote dont vote along party lines because that is what you are supposed to do. Listen for the ones who talk about change. Demand that change from the people you vote for. People even just starting with one person can sweep in change. So be that voice. -Post something like this on your Facebook page. -Talk about it with your friends. Yes many will not listen but some will. And as each one listens more will start talking. And the combination of all those voices will be so loud that Politicians, rather they are Republican or Democrat, will no longer be able to ignore it.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 14:56:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015