Funding cuts leave many without home heating assistance in Macon

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

IMHO, selling your 50" flatscreen isn't going to get you very far

That depends on how far you expect to get. Desperate times call for desperate, legal measures. That woman not only has a big flat screen TV, she also has what looks like a video game system and another technology item in that photo. She's "free" to own those items but she's also "free" to try to sell them if she needs help.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

and buying a six pack of beer with your own hard earned money even when you need food stamps does not rise to the label of FRAUD.

"Fraud" is an unnecessary label because it implies illegality. It is only illegal if you use the food stamps to purchase the items--stores are not supposed to allow people to do that. "Dumb" or "inappropriate" are more appropriate labels depending on the context. Many people who live paycheck to paycheck would be more well off if they put $50 in their savings accounts and lessened the frequency at which they consume alcohol and tobacco products. Many of these people aren't just consuming alcohol and/or tobacco products on the weekends or special occasions, they are doing so everyday. Corner marts and liquor stores are elated and many of these are located in lower income areas of cities for a reason.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

There are a lot of hardworking people who are out of work because of the state of our economy who are no different than the average American who has no money tucked away for a rainy day.

Of course they are no different. Not saving money sets the stage for not having a cushion during hard times (unemployment, underemployment, emergencies, etc).