“Once you start feeding the birds, you MUST NEVER stop”

[as seen on tv]

(Full disclosure – this is a metaphor about Medicaid, Medicare, and Welfare entitlements.)


http://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/medicare-and-medicaid-are-both-in-a-sickly-state-at-50/

I see that bird feedder warning whenever I visit our nearby Wild Birds Unlimited seed store. If one asks why you must “never stop”, the kindly grey haired woman who manages the store replies: “Because birds become dependent on the feeder, and lose the ability to find their own food during the winter.”

Uh huh.

I’m too polite to ask the manager (who somewhat resembles my mom) “wouldn’t that also be true if we keep enrolling people in government subsidized programs? They lose the ability to find jobs, support themselves, and make rational decisions on how to spend or save the money they would earn?”

The answer might likely be cognitive dissonance.

A day or so ago, one of the members on this website was ranting about the future of Medicaid. Any changes to the program will cause the deaths of millions of sparrows . . . er, I mean low income people. They are now almost entirely dependent on Medicaid.

This was also the democrat plan for America's newest entitlement, Obamacare (ACA – the affordable care act.) Subidized ACA policies were the bait for consumers and employers to gather at the bird feeder en masse.

The linked articlee above – no doubt written by someone with economics experience and math skills, (rather than a degree in sociology or “urban studies”) points out why both Medicaid and Medicare are unsustainable. The growth of covered recipients and expenses per user is ballooning at a much higher rate than US population growth and incomes/taxes.

This is because we attracting birds from outside the neighborhood, and the cost of bird seed is spiraling out of control as people stocking the birdfeeders demand more and more birdseed, from a finite supply.

Of course, we could all leave our current jobs to begin new careers as bird seed growers, in order to increase the supply. Or sign up to be trained as medical technicians. That increases the supply of seed and medical providers. But it doesn’t do anything to moderate the ever increasing demand for seed. Or the lack of money to pay for the bird seed And the ever increasing demand for “free healthcare” everyt ime someone sneezes, gets a skinned knee, wants a sex change operation, or fertility treatment, or an abortion, or addiction rehab, or obeisity intervention, or . . .. well, you get the idea.

There isn’t enough money in America to feed every bird, or make every resident totally 100% healthy. Priorities must be set, just as they are with food stamps, military spending, ethanol production, sports arena tax subsidies, 911 police response times, teacher wages and pensions, etc.

We can’t have unlimited spending on everything. We can’t have everything someone believes "we need". We can’t have tax rates so high that “high earners” simply move away. We can’t have entitlements that provide the same level of care, lifestyle, and comfort that are enjoyed by those people who are scrimping to pay for this same stuff out of their own paychecks.

Ask any economist. But please don’t ask a sociologist or bird watching enthusiast. They believe in ever expanding benefits which MUST NEVER be reduced.

 

[Deleted member 21794]

What happens when you even threaten to stop feeding the "birds":

I know this is anecdotal, but I watched 99 weeks of unemployment absolutely DESTROY one of my nephews. He was a good kid, worked construction. Got laid off in California. Sat around and got pretty lazy.

By some incredible coincidence, he found a job right around the time unemployment benefits ended. He found his way back, fortunately.

"Free money makes you stupid." I forgot who said it and why, but I think it certainly applies to this thread.

 

[Sickofleft]

(Full disclosure – this is a metaphor about Medicaid, Medicare, and Welfare entitlements.)


http://www.investors.com/politics/commentary/medicare-and-medicaid-are-both-in-a-sickly-state-at-50/

I see that bird feedder warning whenever I visit our nearby Wild Birds Unlimited seed store. If one asks why you must “never stop”, the kindly grey haired woman who manages the store replies: “Because birds become dependent on the feeder, and lose the ability to find their own food during the winter.”

Uh huh.

I’m too polite to ask the manager (who somewhat resembles my mom) “wouldn’t that also be true if we keep enrolling people in government subsidized programs? They lose the ability to find jobs, support themselves, and make rational decisions on how to spend or save the money they would earn?”

The answer might likely be cognitive dissonance.

A day or so ago, one of the members on this website was ranting about the future of Medicaid. Any changes to the program will cause the deaths of millions of sparrows . . . er, I mean low income people. They are now almost entirely dependent on Medicaid.

This was also the democrat plan for America's newest entitlement, Obamacare (ACA – the affordable care act.) Subidized ACA policies were the bait for consumers and employers to gather at the bird feeder en masse.

The linked articlee above – no doubt written by someone with economics experience and math skills, (rather than a degree in sociology or “urban studies”) points out why both Medicaid and Medicare are unsustainable. The growth of covered recipients and expenses per user is ballooning at a much higher rate than US population growth and incomes/taxes.

This is because we attracting birds from outside the neighborhood, and the cost of bird seed is spiraling out of control as people stocking the birdfeeders demand more and more birdseed, from a finite supply.

Of course, we could all leave our current jobs to begin new careers as bird seed growers, in order to increase the supply. Or sign up to be trained as medical technicians. That increases the supply of seed and medical providers. But it doesn’t do anything to moderate the ever increasing demand for seed. Or the lack of money to pay for the bird seed And the ever increasing demand for “free healthcare” everyt ime someone sneezes, gets a skinned knee, wants a sex change operation, or fertility treatment, or an abortion, or addiction rehab, or obeisity intervention, or . . .. well, you get the idea.

There isn’t enough money in America to feed every bird, or make every resident totally 100% healthy. Priorities must be set, just as they are with food stamps, military spending, ethanol production, sports arena tax subsidies, 911 police response times, teacher wages and pensions, etc.

We can’t have unlimited spending on everything. We can’t have everything someone believes "we need". We can’t have tax rates so high that “high earners” simply move away. We can’t have entitlements that provide the same level of care, lifestyle, and comfort that are enjoyed by those people who are scrimping to pay for this same stuff out of their own paychecks.

Ask any economist. But please don’t ask a sociologist or bird watching enthusiast. They believe in ever expanding benefits which MUST NEVER be reduced.

Excellent post, we are on the way to serfdom......

 

[as seen on tv]

What happens when you even threaten to stop feeding the "birds":

I know this is anecdotal, but I watched 99 weeks of unemployment absolutely DESTROY one of my nephews. He was a good kid, worked construction. Got laid off in California. Sat around and got pretty lazy.

By some incredible coincidence, he found a job right around the time unemployment benefits ended. He found his way back, fortunately.

"Free money makes you stupid." I forgot who said it and why, but I think it certainly applies to this thread.

about 10 years ago some state (I believe it was Wisconsin or Minnesota - blue-ish) decided it had to make hard choices on welfare. rather than reduce benefits to kids or single moms, they cut off benefits completely (after something like 24 months) to "able bodied single men".

expert predicted apocalyptic misery.

never happened.

 

[Deleted member 21794]

about 10 years ago some state (I believe it was Wisconsin or Minnesota - blue-ish) decided it had to make hard choices on welfare. rather than reduce benefits to kids or single moms, they cut off benefits completely (after something like 24 months) to "able bodied single men".

expert predicted apocalyptic misery.

never happened.

Reminds me of welfare reform during the 90s when Bill Clinton was president. People were supposed to end up starving in the streets.

Never happened.

I'd bet dollars to donuts we could immediately slash the food stamp budget by 50% or more and we'd get the same result. Nada. Well, except for saving the taxpayers billions of dollars of course.

 

[as seen on tv]

Excellent post, we are on the way to serfdom......

the serfs keep voting for democrats though. and democrats want to expand the number of voting eligible serfs by enfranchising . . .

- illegal aliens
- convicts
- teens under 18 (some states are debating lowering the voting age to 16)

You can't drink at 18, but you can vote. evidently you lack the capacity to drink beer, but not raise taxes on others while you yourself are unemployed, untaxed, and otherwise without any meaningful real world responsibilities.

 

[as seen on tv]

Reminds me of welfare reform during the 90s when Bill Clinton was president. People were supposed to end up starving in the streets.

Never happened.

I'd bet dollars to donuts we could immediately slash the food stamp budget by 50% or more and we'd get the same result. Nada. Well, except for saving the taxpayers billions of dollars of course.

some critics estimate that "50%" is the share of food stamps sold on the street at a steep discount for cash - which is then used by food stamp recipients to buy tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, etc.

 

[Sickofleft]

the serfs keep voting for democrats though. and democrats want to expand the number of voting eligible serfs by enfranchising . . .

- illegal aliens
- convicts
- teens under 18 (some states are debating lowering the voting age to 16)

You can't drink at 18, but you can vote. evidently you lack the capacity to drink beer, but not raise taxes on others while you yourself are unemployed, untaxed, and otherwise without any meaningful real world responsibilities.

Our current crop of Republicans in Congress have not proven to be any better.

I am all for raising the voting age to 21

 

[Caroljo]

I have a problem throwing Medicare in with Medicaid. Most of us (that work) have put into Medicare out of our checks for YEARS. This is not an entitlement to us...most elderly depend on it once they retire. They have a right to it.

 

[Deleted member 21794]

some critics estimate that "50%" is the share of food stamps sold on the street at a steep discount for cash - which is then used by food stamp recipients to buy tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, etc.

I can speak from a bit of experience, though cannot offer up percentages of the whole. During the late 80s I worked at a 7-11 in a "diverse" part of town. Back then, they got actual food stamps (this was in California). Right around the first of each month, there was a plethora of people offering to sell food stamps for cash, 50 cents on the dollar. There was a plethora of people buying a 5-cent piece of candy to get 95 cents change in cash. I'd see the same people doing it over and over. Throughout the month, there was a steady stream of people using food stamps to buy soda, candy and other garbage.

I doubt much has changed.

 

[Deleted member 21794]

Our current crop of Republicans in Congress have not proven to be any better.

I am all for raising the voting age to 21

Agree. As recent activity on college campuses has shown, our children are getting dumber and dumber.

 

[as seen on tv]

I have a problem throwing Medicare in with Medicaid. Most of us (that work) have put into Medicare out of our checks for YEARS. This is not an entitlement to us...most elderly depend on it once they retire. They have a right to it.

any government program which redistributes income is an entitlement. it also becomes a Ponzi scheme when contributions are exceeded by payouts.

if we want medicare and social security to be solvent, there are only two paths: increase taxes or cut future benefits.

there are no other options. benefits are already being cut at social security because they keep raising the age at which you can qualify for "normal payout"

 

[as seen on tv]

I can speak from a bit of experience, though cannot offer up percentages of the whole. During the late 80s I worked at a 7-11 in a "diverse" part of town. Back then, they got actual food stamps (this was in California). Right around the first of each month, there was a plethora of people offering to sell food stamps for cash, 50 cents on the dollar. There was a plethora of people buying a 5-cent piece of candy to get 95 cents change in cash. I'd see the same people doing it over and over. Throughout the month, there was a steady stream of people using food stamps to buy soda, candy and other garbage.

I doubt much has changed.

welfare and social security checks are mailed the first of the month too. then soup kitchen lines diminish, only to grow again in the 2nd half of the month.

 

[Craig]

some critics estimate that "50%" is the share of food stamps sold on the street at a steep discount for cash - which is then used by food stamp recipients to buy tobacco, alcohol, narcotics, etc.

Yes..."critics say". Is there a more valuable piece of uselessness than the unnamed "critic"?

Food stamps are since 2004 on EBT cards. This makes it rather difficult to sell some portion at a "discount".

...Food stamp recipients generally like debit cards because they avoid the stigma that can be associated with the use of paper coupons. Grocers like the new technology because they are paid faster, often within 48 hours; cashiers do not have to handle vouchers; and there are no coupons to sort, count and bundle.

State officials said they preferred the electronic system because it was simpler to administer and helped reduce fraud and abuse by eliminating the paper coupons that can be lost, sold or stolen. Over the years, food stamps have been sold on the black market and used as a form of currency to buy narcotics and other contraband...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/us/electronic-cards-replace-coupons-for-food-stamps.html?_r=0

 

[Dawg]

I can speak from a bit of experience, though cannot offer up percentages of the whole. During the late 80s I worked at a 7-11 in a "diverse" part of town. Back then, they got actual food stamps (this was in California). Right around the first of each month, there was a plethora of people offering to sell food stamps for cash, 50 cents on the dollar. There was a plethora of people buying a 5-cent piece of candy to get 95 cents change in cash. I'd see the same people doing it over and over. Throughout the month, there was a steady stream of people using food stamps to buy soda, candy and other garbage.

I doubt much has changed.

witnessed same or worse

 

[Dawg]

welfare and social security checks are mailed the first of the month too. then soup kitchen lines diminish, only to grow again in the 2nd half of the month.

negative, SS arrives all during the month at different times for folks, not just the first week, mine arrives certain day of 4th week of each month.

 

[connieb]

What happens when you even threaten to stop feeding the "birds":

I know this is anecdotal, but I watched 99 weeks of unemployment absolutely DESTROY one of my nephews. He was a good kid, worked construction. Got laid off in California. Sat around and got pretty lazy.

By some incredible coincidence, he found a job right around the time unemployment benefits ended. He found his way back, fortunately.

"Free money makes you stupid." I forgot who said it and why, but I think it certainly applies to this thread.

Idle time is never good for anyone. That is just a basic fact. Idle children get into trouble... Idle adults get lazy - and also get into trouble, and idle old people end up sicker, weaker with less mental capacity.

Anything that encourages or offers idleness - is a bad bad bad policy.

I agree with some sort of supplemental wages - while you are working a less than optimal job while you are looking for something better. But, there needs to be some sort of requirement - to do community service work, to attend job traning and workforce training opportunities, during at least 25 - 30 hours a week. There are a million shit jobs open at any given time. The problem is that people don't want to take those jobs AND they don't have to because they get enough in unemployment.

When my ex husband lost his job because the restaurant he worked for closed, I told him no way was he going to shame us by getting unemployment. So, I badgered him until he got some short order line cook job. It was only about 30 hours a week and he made less than he would have brought home on unemployment. But, I will be damned if I was going to go to work every day while he sat on his ass all day. Nope. It took three or four months and then he got a job back in management like he had previously had. And for that time the people he worked for benefited from his skill and experience even though he was WAAAAAAAAYYYY over qualified. And let them have a chance to fill an open position while they continued to look and train for a person who would be there longer term. Win win for everyone.

The realty is if you work some crappy job like construction and get laid off, I get taking a week or two off. You likely get no paid vacation and getting paid unemployment is about as close to it as you get. But, if you are getting enough money that you can afford to be choosy about the job you take.. you are getting too much money.

 

[Dawg]

Yes..."critics say". Is there a more valuable piece of uselessness than the unnamed "critic"?

Food stamps are since 2004 on EBT cards. This makes it rather difficult to sell some portion at a "discount".

...Food stamp recipients generally like debit cards because they avoid the stigma that can be associated with the use of paper coupons. Grocers like the new technology because they are paid faster, often within 48 hours; cashiers do not have to handle vouchers; and there are no coupons to sort, count and bundle.

State officials said they preferred the electronic system because it was simpler to administer and helped reduce fraud and abuse by eliminating the paper coupons that can be lost, sold or stolen. Over the years, food stamps have been sold on the black market and used as a form of currency to buy narcotics and other contraband...

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/23/us/electronic-cards-replace-coupons-for-food-stamps.html?_r=0

Reported on EBT card user for taking orders and shopping for others for 50% of cost at check out..........

Once at check out a big girl went to pay with the Card and it was short of cost, so she got 3 more cards out of her purse.......

The fraud is worse now than ever, in 2008 million were on food stamps and 2016 there were 44million!

 

[Craig]

welfare and social security checks are mailed the first of the month too. then soup kitchen lines diminish, only to grow again in the 2nd half of the month.

I know you'll have a difficult time believing this...but your information is incorrect.

...If you were born on the:

• 1 – 10th of the month, expect your Social Security check to be deposited on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
  
• 11 – 20th of the month, expect your Social Security check to be deposited on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
  

• 21 – 31st of the month, expect your Social Security check to be deposited on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

https://www.thebalance.com/when-and-how-social-security-checks-should-arrive-2388919

 

[Dawg]

I know you'll have a difficult time believing this...but your information is incorrect.

...If you were born on the:

• 1 – 10th of the month, expect your Social Security check to be deposited on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
  
• 11 – 20th of the month, expect your Social Security check to be deposited on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

• 21 – 31st of the month, expect your Social Security check to be deposited on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

https://www.thebalance.com/when-and-how-social-security-checks-should-arrive-2388919

Why would she have difficulty believing that? I had already posted when my check comes......she had no difficulty with my info.