Posts: 1,406
Threads: 25
Joined: Jun 2013
Any ideas?
On another thread (speaking to free school lunches for poor kids), ono ono said;
"It's not FREE, its just paid for by people more responsible than the parents of those children - people who actually prepared themselves for, and actively participate in the execution of their responsibilities, including providing for their children's needs."
I agree. Welfare to both the poor, and to giant corporations is a burden on working people; But my question is how to break the cycle.(Here in Hawaii, of course)
Do we starve the children to motivate(or punish)their parents?
What about Corporate welfare?
Mana'o please.
Posts: 1,070
Threads: 9
Joined: Mar 2014
Some states on mainland insist that any one on the welfare system MUST work or volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per week in order to qualify for the welfare on the backs of the working poor.
In addition to this - the recipients are tested for drugs and this includes MJ .
Another requirement is that they have 5 years to graduate Univ or Community College . After the 5 years,the people are cut off for life.
Some states on mainland have totally eliminated certain welfare options entirely if paid by that states tax payers .
There are many options this state could do to clean up the welfare system.
Mrs.Mimosa
Posts: 2,151
Threads: 73
Joined: Mar 2007
It's all about education and economic opportunity. The public schools in Hawaii are marginal at best, and failing at worst. Demanding that they be improved should be job one for all politicians and activists. Having said that, even those students here in Hawaii who do manage to get honors and scholarships tend to end up with careers on the mainland. There is a very real "brain drain" in the local population. Someone posted here on Punaweb about an honors teacher at Hilo High who had a reception for the thirty graduates that year who had won prestigious scholarships. When asked, all but two said they did not expect to return to the Big Island when they began their careers. The reason is lack of opportunity.
"Development" has become a dirty word in these parts, but smart economic development does not have to be pollution laden or destructive. Our good old boy leaders are stuck in a rut of tourism and government employment that they just don't seem to want to change. Why? Because they are doing OK with that model and don't care that their best and brightest are leaving in droves.
Posts: 1,513
Threads: 18
Joined: Oct 2014
quote:
Originally posted by Chunkster
It's all about education and economic opportunity. The public schools in Hawaii are marginal at best, and failing at worst. Demanding that they be improved should be job one for all politicians and activists. Having said that, even those students here in Hawaii who do manage to get honors and scholarships tend to end up with careers on the mainland. There is a very real "brain drain" in the local population. Someone posted here on Punaweb about an honors teacher at Hilo High who had a reception for the thirty graduates that year who had won prestigious scholarships. When asked, all but two said they did not expect to return to the Big Island when they began their careers. The reason is lack of opportunity.
"Development" has become a dirty word in these parts, but smart economic development does not have to be pollution laden or destructive. Our good old boy leaders are stuck in a rut of tourism and government employment that they just don't seem to want to change. Why? Because they are doing OK with that model and don't care that their best and brightest are leaving in droves.
Chuckster, this is an island, a remote one at that. I think it's perfectly logical the kids after graduating take off the greener pastures. We will never offer the variety of opportunities the mainland and the world at large have to offer. I moved here because I like peace and quiet in a tropical undeveloped setting, perfect for me and most who have moved here after attaining an education elsewhere and able to financially adapt to living here.
Until we clean up the welfare handouts on this island we will always have problems it creates i.e. the pseudo hippies who flock here in droves to abuse the system. As well as more wealthy folk attracted to the health care system. We are a generous state and being blatantly taken advantage of the services we offer by the locals and transplants. Too many scammers here, I've heard it from insurance adjusters to Chiropractors doing the paperwork....a higher than normal population of scammers.
Posts: 11,061
Threads: 754
Joined: Sep 2012
There are estimates that the military cannot account for 20% of their budget every year. Some of that is black ops, but much of it is waste and bad management. With the immense military presence in Hawaii, getting that mysterious 20% out of the budget would be a good first step in reducing the burden on taxpayers. And probably save hundreds of times more than cutbacks on lunches for school children.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
Posts: 1,455
Threads: 148
Joined: Mar 2010
I don't see that many welfare recipients are going to have the money to get through college or community college. When I got out of high school (1972) community colleges in Washington State were no more than about $85.00 a quarter not including books. Looks like currently the tuition is at $1333.00. Vocational schools, I am not sure of the cost. But, I think they are great for those that need to get up and working asap.
Drug tests? I keep reading that the incidence of drugs in the blood of welfare recipients is quite low. How about we drug test our elected officials too?
Welfare is a tough subject. Need to come up with ways to get recipients employable. But, it's hard for, say, a single mother to work and be able to afford day care while she works.Maybe we need some new ideas here.
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Jon in Keaau/HPP
Posts: 1,070
Threads: 9
Joined: Mar 2014
Birdmove - The states that have set up these welfare / work / higher education options,pay the entire education costs,pay for day care and other benefits to enable the single mothers or entire families success instead of hardships and failure .In addition they give a gasoline stipend and the recipient must have a GPA of C or higher.
Maine - Florida - Minnesota - Illinois - Wisconsin - are just a few states that have these welfare options in place.
Our state could easily study and implement some of the successes that mainland states have done. In addition ,recipients must be state residents for a minimum of ONE year.
They want the welfare recipients to be successful and tax payers .
Five years is plenty time to succeed at a 2 year degree or 4 semester requirement .
Mrs.Mimosa
Posts: 1,252
Threads: 72
Joined: Sep 2012
I always thought group compounds would be a workable option. Have several families sharing responsibilities, but with their own living spaces (maybe an apartment building would be a good start). Everybody takes shifts at childcare, everybody works outside the home. Or some people watch the kids while others work.
Having had lots of roommates over the years, I can see there would be personality conflicts, but it could be a place to start.
Posts: 295
Threads: 8
Joined: Jun 2014
i take you have tried to study full time as a single parent then mimosa? and what about 'corporate welfare' tax beaks and high finance? i notice that you are all silent on how to stop the rich from getting richer off the backs of everybody else. just suggestions on how to control the poor?
#10048;
#10048;
Posts: 119
Threads: 6
Joined: Dec 2013
Lee, having grown up on a large (and sort of famous) community in Tennessee that touted similar ideals,
I feel that I'm qualified to say that while it looks great "on paper", it rarely works out. Unfortunately...
There's likely many reasons, but the big one is that people naturally (or culturally) like to disagree with each other.
So. Much. Drama.
