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    ApolloCreedenceClearwaterRevivalHamilton Nolan
    4/15/15 2:43pm

    Some of us are in this situation not by choice but because of the way society puts people in situations that are hard to overcome.

    -A Convicted Felon

    Sorry but unless you were wrongly convicted you put yourself in that situation. All the best and all that, you've served your time, but your trouble getting employment is directly tied to being a felon which is a situation you put yourself in. If it was one of the stupid felonies that shouldn't be a felony like possession of a personal-use amount of a major drug for a habit you've since kicked then I'll feel bad but I'm having trouble mustering much sympathy for them until I know why (s)he's a convicted felon.

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      djhopscotchApolloCreedenceClearwaterRevival
      4/15/15 2:46pm

      So a felony is a permanent scarlet letter?

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      Floating Adam WestApolloCreedenceClearwaterRevival
      4/15/15 2:47pm

      The choice was to not commit the crime.

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    kamla deviHamilton Nolan
    4/15/15 2:43pm

    Dare I say it, but every American should be allowed a comfortable assistance, just for being an American. We should set a minimum standard of living for every person who has reached adulthood, and if they want to work or do other things they can still have that option to find a job.

    While we're at it, we should also set a salary cap for the highest earning individuals. You really don't need more than $250,000 a year, it's not like one less yacht is going to have a major impact on your life the same way living off of $787 a month does.

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      NoButWait Hates Your GoT Fan Theorieskamla devi
      4/15/15 2:46pm

      But on the other hand "Fuck you, got mine".

      (not my personal credo, but the genuine mantra for many)

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      Rich_gumpkamla devi
      4/15/15 2:47pm

      Are you trolling? I honestly can't tell...

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    kyngfishHamilton Nolan
    4/15/15 2:55pm

    I think it's great that we have government programs to help people in need. I do wish that they included a kind of work/aid component for people out of work or with physical working restrictions (working from home for some people—-IRS call center anyone?). I think I prefer welfare capitalism by investing in infrastructure and robust wages, rather than a buffet where everyone can just eat.

    I am not in the camp that believes we should cut or restrict all welfare programs, but I am a proponent that we look at them in a different way.

    A long time ago, a lot of aid came from local churches and communities. If someone was in trouble, they came and helped out the pastor or their neighbors in exchange for financial help. Painting, taking care of chores, whatever. While that model isn't applicable in a modern scale, I'd like to see work, education and training as part of a welfare program.

    2cents.

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      Hamilton Nolankyngfish
      4/15/15 3:00pm

      Work requirements of various types are standard in welfare programs. The problem is, if they don't provide some sort of job placement assistance, it just amounts to ordering people to magically get jobs. Some people can't find jobs.

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      BlatheringHamilton Nolan
      4/15/15 3:04pm

      Or there's "job training" doing manual labor at places that will never hire because they get all this free labor from those seeking benefits.

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    Negative, I'm a Meat PopsicleHamilton Nolan
    4/15/15 2:44pm

    Just had lunch, sitting around my cubicle with coworkers, complaining how bored/underpaid/underappreciated we are here, and complaining about the daily aggravations of our jobs. After seeing this, I'm gonna stop doing that now, and realize how lucky I am.

    This was humbling to read.

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      Creative DestructionNegative, I'm a Meat Popsicle
      4/15/15 2:55pm

      Just because folks have it worse than you doesn't mean you don't have the shit end of the stick, either. What's needed here is solidarity among the working class, so we can overthrow this vile system.

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      HashtagsAndHashish2Negative, I'm a Meat Popsicle
      4/15/15 3:01pm

      Do it! As someone who was extra-ordinarily high-functioning, graduated at the top of my high school and university classes, taught at a prestigious university, and then was struck down by mental illness which I'm still fighting...shit can go bad any day. Be grateful that you can even get to work and be functional. I remember a time four months ago when grabbing my school bag and sitting in my office was no big deal. Now? Shit. Without Obamacare and family help, I'd be on the damn streets.

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    EasyDoesItHamilton Nolan
    4/15/15 2:51pm

    "Some of us are in this situation not by choice but because of the way society puts people in situations that are hard to overcome"

    Ummm, dude, it was your choice to become a convicted felon.

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      Creative DestructionEasyDoesIt
      4/15/15 2:57pm

      Being a convicted felon shouldn't be a hurdle to getting back into society once you've done your time.

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      BrandchanEasyDoesIt
      4/15/15 2:58pm

      But he was already punished by doing his jail time. Should he be punished further but not being able to get a job?

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    Creative DestructionHamilton Nolan
    4/15/15 2:58pm

    Overthrow capitalism.

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      PitbullLoverHamilton Nolan
      4/15/15 3:00pm

      I'm 25, single, no kids, and I'm a manager at a fast food restaurant. I make (roughly) $1100 a month. I've completed 4 years of University.

      I struggle every month to buy food, clothes, household necessities, etc. I finally broke down and applied to receive food stamps. They told me I make too much money. They didn't take into account my car insurance (so I can drive legally), my very BASIC phone bill (which you need to keep a job), gas (which I use to get to work), and student loan payments.

      All these things should be looked at in determining who gets assistance. I feel like I'm being punished for being a responsible woman and not popping out babies. My plan is to get a professional job and move up in the world, but I'm currently struggling. Isn't that what assistance should be for? Am I crazy here?

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        WhymePitbullLover
        4/15/15 4:02pm

        You are 25 years old, which is young, assume you are healthy, what's to stop you from getting a second job to make ends meet?

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        beatrixkiddoPitbullLover
        4/15/15 4:09pm

        Do I think there should be assistance for people in your situation? Yes. Did you lose me when you started with the talk about how responsible you are for not having kids? Also yes.

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      RickisadorkHamilton Nolan
      4/15/15 2:42pm

      I can empathize with all of these except the felon story. Society didn't make him a felon or commit crimes that would tarnish him. That's the bed he made for himself and the consequences he deals with are of his making.

      I know this is an unpopular viewpoint.

      You may flame away now.

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        DashleyinCaliRickisadork
        4/15/15 2:51pm

        But should we make it so hard to live an honest life that it's just that much easier to turn back to a life of crime? And not even for this guy in particular, I'm saying, in general: Isn't it in all of our interests to make living an honest life easier than a life of crime for former felons?

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        RickisadorkDashleyinCali
        4/15/15 3:00pm

        Isn't it more in our interests to obey the laws set forth from turning to a life of crime in the first place and being a productive member of the society?

        Yet we glorify criminality in current society. That goes for all society, not just rap music, before someone starts in on that. The Godfather,Scarface,Bonnie and Clyde, so on and so forth....

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      Atomic65Hamilton Nolan
      4/15/15 2:59pm

      I know it would never happen in a million years, but I think the top 1% should be contributing a whole lot more to programs that ensure every American is sheltered, clothed, and fed.

      I don't say that because I hate the rich, or because I think they're all self-entitled assholes, or because I don't think they deserve what they've earned. I say it because there is no difference between having $80 billion and having $60 billion. They could help fix so many of this country's problems by contributing money that they would never notice was gone without an accountant to tell them.

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        WhymeAtomic65
        4/15/15 4:00pm

        Before you go after people that have in one way or another earned their money, be willing to stand up to your government and stop the waste of tax dollars.

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        Atomic65Whyme
        4/15/15 4:12pm

        You're absolutely right. Unfortunately, until politicians on the whole start actually caring about the well-being of citizens, nothing will stop the waste.

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      mYstic headlockHamilton Nolan
      4/15/15 3:02pm

      The only thing that pisses me off about government aid is when I see these idiots using their benefit cards to buy scratchers. You idiots can't understand that the lottery is designed to TAX THE POOR?!

      Also seeing an able-bodied 25 year old buying a $6 4-pack of soda with food sta

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        ThePriceisWrongmYstic headlock
        4/15/15 3:18pm

        I'm not sure how it is everywhere else, but you can't even buy lottery tickets in Virginia unless you use cash. So, not sure what you're getting at here, but I don't know anywhere where you can buy lottery anything with a card of any sort.

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        BlatheringThePriceisWrong
        4/15/15 3:25pm

        Cash only in my state, too.

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