http://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2012/02/19/its-no-longer-hip-to-be-square/

What do you think?

Trying to obtain all of those benefits, it's a career in and of itself -- complete with it's own stressors. While it is possible, it's really not worth it; and it only comes to people short-term. Extrapolation helped it to look like an annual income, in that article. I have first-hand experience with this, because my ex died while I was transitioning to work, and getting to work was interrupted by loads of drama from my three angry; bereaved teenagers. I couldn't get half of the things listed in the article, I had to do without and worry about ending up in the street instead ! Life for the poor is NOT cushy, you can trust me on that !

You know actually I think there is something in the personality -- in a person's chart -- that causes them to earn less and be able to get approval for all kinds of government subsidies.

When I was truly considering becoming a homeless indigent last year I started researching all these ways people could apparently make out on the dole.

I finally concluded that that assistance isn't there the way people think it is. Those programs he's listing are either temporary or very difficult to qualify for and if you are a *single* adult person with *no children* there is very little available.

I looked for assistance with health insurance -- nothing. I looked into the TANF thing -- nothing. At least * I* could not find or figure out a way a person could survive on government benefits in the United States.

However I do know of people -- have met or heard about them -- who are having their whole tabs managed by the state. I don't know how they ran into all this assistance but they are out there. It's got to have something to do with your personal destiny and what you attract -- venus in the 12th maybe and highly aspected  or your eighth house or something.

eva, I agree. Working the system is an art.

@le_soleil, it probably varies depending on where you live. I know it varies. Assistance is quite easy to get here and when I was in NM, they advertise on tv, telling people to come in and get up to $70,000, lol.

My thought at that time was NM is a poor state and they were trying to get Fed money that was available.

On the other hand, if you live in TN, forget about it.

It is really, really hard to get all of those. Most of my clients -- though I'm trying to get these benefits for them -- end up bouncing between family's houses, or truly homeless. I hate that the middle class seem to think you just call up Obama and say, "Hey, can you spare me a couple of grand? I'm just too lazy to get off my ass this morning."

Yeah also -- I've met people who were that poor or who have at one time been truly homeless and THEY DID NOT LIKE IT. Tyler Durden might have had a good old time with this but being poor really sucks.

That sucks.

This is just something to put out here for perspective...why a person like me might see this differently then you. 

We had a recession, high unemployment and fantastic inflation in the late 1970's / 1980. We did NOT have all these social programs - I was a teenager at the time, came to town with no clothes, no money, no job, nowhere to go etc.

  The misery index (Unemployment + Inflation) in this era reached and an all time high 21.98. The misery index today is at 11.23.  So you see, from my perspective,  we haven't seen anything yet. 

I hope this makes it easier for people to understand me. Maybe not.  You think it's hot when it's 78 degrees. I think it's hot when it's 122 degrees in Bullhead City, AZ.  This doesn't make me a bad person. It makes *not you*.

This guy's chart is a misrepresentation.  I am assuming his figures are based upon Mississippi state welfare for a family, although he doesn't state the size of the household.  I am assuming this because he included TANF which is only available to family with dependent children.  

My problems with the chart:

1.  Medicaid and CHIP(Child Health Insurance Program).   No state gives cash to an individual/family for these benefits.  If you qualify, your medical care (to varying degrees) is covered.  So the $16,500 is not available to cover the family's daily needs of food clothing and shelter.  As such this family now has $15,130 annually to live on.  You can qualify for these benefits and never recieve any benefits if you have no allowable medical needs.

2. Section 8 Rent Subsidy.  Again, no state gives this to you as a cash benefit.   Either you qualify and reside in Section 8 housing - usually called the projects - or you get a paper voucher that allows the recipient to go out into the rental market and rent an apartment.  The apartment must be "affordable" based on your income under the guidelines which is often impossible to do.  If you find an "affordable" rental, a portion of your rent is paid for depending upon your income up to a certain cap.   I don't know Miss., but in NY it isn't the bonanza portrayed. Due to the complexity of the formula used, I can't give you an exact calculation.  It certainly helps people, but I have seen individuals with a monthly income of $700.00 have to pay close to $200.00 monthly rent with the subsidy.

3. I wished he had posted what size household he was basing the benefits on.  Again, I know that he is using a family with minor dependents, but he doesn't say how many.  To put some of the benefits in perspective, like the FoodStamps, divide the figure by 12 to see the monthly amount the household has to spend on food and LIHEAP for their electricity and heat costs.

4. His use of the Earned Income Credit is deceptive.  IRS bases your eligibility upon your Adjusted Gross Income - which is income after certain deductions.  His chart just gives annual income - thereby skewing the chart.   A family earning $60,000 a year may qualify for the EIC if their adjusted gross income meets IRS requirements.

To add to HadesMoon, when a person's finances are doing well, they do things like... sign a two year contract, get a mortgage, all sorts of things. These bills don't go away. You still have to pay for your house, whether or not the government is willing to offer you council estate housing. Makes me so, so mad.

I hope someone got my point. Do you understand that things have been much, MUCH worse?  And that no one stayed with their parents an extra 10 years because of it?

The difference between now and then is back then, everyone knew they had to make their way and were clamoring to do exactly that. Now people are told that they can't, told they are victims, they are offered up demons for their ills and this not in their best interest!

Do you know that the more you do for someone, the less they do for themselves? You people with kids know this. As long as you clean the kid's room, they're gonna let ya!

My husband and I were together during these years (see above) and do you know it never crossed our minds that we needed help of any kind?

You have to look at this and think. It was WORSE then. Waaaay worse.  But the difference is that people were not dependent back then. They just weren't.

So I am sorry if my views shock some of you but I think it would be worth your time to at least consider what I am saying.  Try to see how I could see this differently.  Or tell me how it's so much harder now, when it's only about half as hard. Tell me how it is a good idea to get people conditioned to being taken care of, and make them dependent. Cause I don't see it. Not at all.

We're eventually going to hit a wall HARD. For those of you who can hear me, start planning now, how you're going to take care of yourself. Wean yourself off whatever you can so when it shifts on you, you'll not be lost, dazed and bewildered...and hungry.

Bang on, Elsa.

I get you, Elsa. :) We have a 3 month emergency plan (looking to extend it to 6 months).

Elsa - You make a very good point. I was a little kid in the 70's and while I remember that my family was poor and we didn't have a lot of extra for anything, I also remember that we just slogged through it. My parents would have never considered asking for help, being as they were both born in the 30's and knew what really hard times are.

This made me think, what are the outer planet transits between the 80's and now? It has to be the outer planets both in the charts of the parents/children but also in transit as to why we are reacting the way we are.

I have had the government support me as an adult in recent years. I was at one time receiving: TANF, SNAP (foodstamps), SEC8......now I receive none of those things. I am glad they were there when I really needed them though. What I gained by not working was a chance to get back on my feet, to get my head into a decent place. I needed that, because as long as I was focused on our most basic survival needs, nothing else was getting sorted out in my mind.

I do see your point Elsa but I really believe by now that this comes down to personal destiny. Even when things are worse, some people just fare better. They fall into a bed of roses or get the attention of someone who wants to help them develop professionally, or they end up being roommates with someone who knows the art of working the system.

That's some people. That's not me, I have Saturn in the second house. I've looked around several times in my life thinking, is anybody gonna help me? hm. Nope.

For several reasons, these past few years have been my personal best financially. That's not saying a lot, but I'm a Cap rising and I guess I proved I'm not afraid of work and when it comes right down to it I can take care of myself and would prefer to do so.If couldnt find a job, I would make one up; if that didn't work I can live on very little even though life is much easier when you don't have to do that.

Other people might be in flat denial about how hard things are gonna get, but *some* people are going to see improvement in their life condition. I don't even know if it requires preparation. In most instances it's just dumb luck, or destiny.

I agree things have been far worse and that we as a society are coming for a fall.  I was raised by people who lived through the Depression and I was always raised to take care of myself.  My father would be ashamed of me if I couldn't or wouldn't.

 I guess where I disagree is the part about social welfare programs creating people who don't know how to do for themselves.  Yes there are people within that group who don't know how to financially provide for themselves. But many are expert at making a little go a long way.  From my experience, a lot of them who cannot take care of themselves financially are this way for many other reasons than the system has supported them and made them helpless - many are mentally or emotionally disabled.  There are also those who have tried to "do the right thing" and work several jobs and are slapped down repeatedly.  I can understand why these people give up. 

On the other hand, I've seen the offspring of wealthy and middle class people who have no idea how to do anything for themselves (fill their car with gas or wash their own clothes) and there is no excuse except a lack of curiosity and no motivation - they are taken care of. I mean if you wind up at college and you have the resources and the intellect and you cannot figure out how to wash your own clothes -well i am not sure what you can accomplish. I have no patience for many of these people and their sense of entitlement.  Rather than feeling they can't do anything or are victimized, they think they should have everything without any effort on their part.  (If they don't get what they think they are entitled to- then they believe they are victimized).

In my opinion, this conditioned helplessness comes from many difference sources, beginning with school-( You can't walk to school - you might be picked up by pedophile).  Its you can't this, you can't that.  There is no development anymore of curiosity and self motivation.   People are absorbed by media and texting and video games.

I don't mean to be argumentative, I just don't agree with this guy's chart and what it is supposed to convey.   Nor do I beleive that social programs are the great bane to society.   Corporations take billions and billions of our money, control our government  and write our laws.  Thats a greater threat to me.

Man that chart is something else!!

"This made me think, what are the outer planet transits between the 80's and now?"

Saturn was in Scorpio. What if Saturn in Scorpio this time limits access to other people's money?

Just prepare for that if you can.  There is quite a bit you can do.

A company here has just announced layoffs for June. They are making a profit.

"The employees are devastated, they really are, and the news goes down hard," Lewington said.

"There was no inkling really that a station that is profitable and has been working well for so many years should be affected in this way. Bell Media is making a fortune. They are one of the top five wealthiest companies in Canada."

They actually see this time as an opportunity;

"Our business is changing. As a result of the uniqueness of our situation here in Ottawa, where we have two stations under one roof and using different technologies and different approaches to doing business, there was an opportunity for us to do this," Gray said.

"With respect to CTV Ottawa, we are seeking to establish a staffing level that we think is appropriate to what that station does and how it serves the community. I'm seeking to make the station as cost-effective as possible utilizing the resources that exist within this facility and that are available in the industry today," he said.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Ottawa+facing+more+staff+reductions+June/6173321/story.html#ixzz1msjTajI4

They are making a profit and are cutting to make more of a profit "I'm seeking to make the station as cost-effective as possible"

With this going on, what the hell is the point to keep working??? We aren't f&*%ing slaves!!! Push push push.. compete compete compete.. thanks for all your hard work.. hope you understand we have to make cuts to stay making the billions we make..

I overheard the other day a guy saying only 9 out of 25 employees showed up for work.

I'm sorry but the glorification of the work effort for corporate greed is wearing thin. I don't condone living off the system but also don't condone being put through a constant meat grinder. There's gotta be some f&%*ing balance!

Working for yourself is where it's at. Leoman does it (Saturn in 6th/Aries + 10th House Leo Stellium). He used to get fired from everywhere, LOL. Not subservient enough, go figure.

Saturn rules my 2nd; I have Saturn in 8th. I can't depend on anyone but myself to get my finances in order. The whole point of my Saturn is I do it myself. (Sun/Saturn).

Just got o' smack of reality upside the head. I was going to a link to a song my husband and I used to listen to back then, I see it was written in 1978 and I think it's cheerful and has a great perspective.

But the songwriter has apparently upset people with his lyrics, 30 years later!  Because when he sings in the live clip, the audience laughs (at the truth in his lyrics) but the today-people hear it and of course they're offended and outraged. 

Jeez, just how humorless can people get?  And how ignorant have they become, when they can't parse "irony" in song lyrics.

Anyway the message in the song is this: You think you're going to die but then the crisis passes, so hey...maybe notice things like this?

Thank you, Elsa. Thank you a great deal.

@kash

Actually it's a real idea that's becoming more of a focus after some meditation stuff today about defining one's core values and creating a mission statement. I intend to do some tomorrow as I want a statement to use with my online website/presence.. that talks about joy and expression. Enough with the serious formal applications that get ignored. Let's have some fun! I think I'll launch it tuesday under the new moon on my jupiter/juno.

wow. thanks as ever Kash!

Sorry to hijack.

Liz I'm rooting for you!! That sounds so good!! Some people are really built for it! And joy is a must, I agree:)

Ha, Kash!  Leoman reminds me of someone I know well.    Not subservient enough.  Bosses saw Virgo and got Leo!

I honestly don't know if I can ever work for someone again.  I'd have to be doing something I really believed in (I can see me working for a vet) or owning my own small company.

Back to the original topic, because the hubs makes good money - even though we live paycheck to paycheck - we don't qualify for any of those programs.

Not that I would be looking for assistance.  My parents were born at the tail end of the Depression.  You made do with what you had, they taught me, even though I grew up well off.

...evidently I am being a chump by paying my medical bills (no matter what % of my income they are for the month).

I could let them pile up. Then I could get health insurance if I was one of the lucky callers to get through tonight at 6pm

http://news.tn.gov/node/8388

This report just came out from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which is a non partisan not for profit group.  I am sure more on them can be found out by googling them, if you are interested in their pedigree.

According to the report, over 9/10's of the entitlement benefits - many listed in the original post chart, go to those who are elderly, disabled or are working households.   I won't say more than that as one can read the report and the sources cited if they are interested.

http://www.cbpp.org/files/2-10-12pov.pdf

I've been prepping for a while now- keeping a good stock of food, canning, have a rainbarrel system, keeping cash on hand and gas in the car. Even if it is "just" a weather disaster, I want to know we can survive at least three months without assistance as well as have the skills to become as self-sufficient as possible should the S**t hit the fan. I believe things are going to get MUCH worse and most of us are too spoiled to survive it.  I've seen the reaction of today's mothers to toy shortages - there were riots in Wal Mart at Christmas. Now imagine all these people without the wherewithall to feed their children.....Makes zombie attacks seem mild by comparison.

The other day it shocked me a bit to learn that I have coworkers on food stamps. They probably make almost as much as I do!!

Back when I was making $7.50 an hour and paying $450 a month in rent (among other bills), I went to the church food pantry to fill the holes in my grocery budget. It never occurred to me to seek govt. assistance. I thought that was for people making minimum wage or less.

Hmm... I did the WIC prescreening with the data we'll have when I'm pregnant and turn into a stay-at-home, and it says I may be eligible.

And not for SNAP (random - SNAP website has a lot of good cheap recipes. You can seach for price per serving). 

@blue rose.  I understand your point.  We used to have a military base here and 20 - 25 years ago had many friends who were military.  I was shocked when I learned many received Food Stamps which they used at the base commissary.   I too thought that Food Stamps were for people who weren't employed.   I am sure that many of our military now either receive Food Stamps or are eligible for them.

If my husband didn't work I would be able to deduct my health insurance premiums (they are significant) as an self-employed person. I hate stuff like this.

My self-esteem would just suffer so horribly, I can't even imagine this!  I refuse to be a parasite.

"You have to look at this and think. It was WORSE then. Waaaay worse.  But the difference is that people were not dependent back then. They just weren't."

I've been thinking about this and I think it has a lot to do with our elders' influence. We were lucky to have been influenced by depression-era "I'll give you something to whine about!" type people and they did not encourage learned helplessness at all.

I don't know what influence baby boomers have had (and I don't want this to become a generational pissing contest) since I grew up with a lot of older people. But I doubt the baby boomer elders are engendering the same influence as they did.

I have saturn roots so that's my take haha.

I was 17 when Ronald Reagan took  office. I do remember how horrible the late 70's were. It was a good thing that we lived near my grandfather's farm , 'cause we were able to grow our own vegetables and raise a steer and hog for meat. I remember the stress my folks went through , with Dad getting laid-off from every job he could find (obviously after 2-3 months).

I would recommend getting involved with a Community Gardening group. Perhaps find a farmer who has cattle , try to make a deal about trading work for a calf / piglet..... then work to pay for the animal's Room & Board. ***This may be part of the community gardening group if someone already knows about raising beef / pork.

Yes Glenn, that's a good idea.  Not only do you save money, you have control over the quality of your food.