hmmm....*bush*....well then, 1200.

simple pleasures for simple folks.

You are right Bobert. Once in a very, very great while, an article will hit the news that some person majorly scammed the system and made some good money from welfare programs. That occurence is so exceptional as to be not worth considering when policies and programs are developed.

Are there some people who work the system? Yes. Are they still poor? Yes.

Are there many, many people who do not report under-the-table earnings from babysitting, cutting grass, or do not report contributions from family to help buy food, make up a rent payment, pay a water bill, pay the Medicaid co-pays for doctor visits or prescription drugs? Yes. And they had better not report it. If they do, their skinny food stamp, SSI, or TANF benefits will be cut dollar for dollar, and then the electric bill or the next month's rent will not be paid, or the kids will be eating nothing but pancakes made from flour and water and fried in lard for another week, or they will go another two weeks without the medicine for hypertension, or will forego the doctor visit when they get bronchitis only to end up in the hospital with pneumonia a week later.

"Ye who have ears to hear, listen." The socioeconomic policies of this country over the past 25 years have led to an excessive concentration of wealth and power in the hands of the few. This concentration of wealth not only effects rates and conditions of poverty. The policies that have allowed this concentration of wealth are a significant reason why many moderate income households find they are using credit cards at the grocery store and doctor's office. It is a significant reason why many moderate income households forego family coverage for medical insurance when they work for small to moderately sized companies that offer insurance. It is the reason small businesses and self-employed people can not afford medical insurance or good preventive health care. It is a significant reason why workers are not able to dedicate a sufficient portion of their earnings to the company 401K plan.   

Think big. Think societal. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE!

And then study some US history and remember the robber barons.

Janie