povertytwt
Illustration on hiding poverty in America by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

My Washington Times column for this week has posted. I hope you enjoy it! Please Tweet, Facebook, Blog and spread the word! Thanks!

Washington Times: Feds disguising the devastation of poverty
Easy benefits allow the poor to settle into ambition-numbing subsistence

Hiding the poverty consuming this nation is one of government’s big jobs these days.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics made a startling announcement. New data released by the bureau reveals that in one out of every five families — 20 percent — no one is employed. Not one person in those families has a job. This is monumental, but we don’t see it because of the remarkable effort by the federal government to hide the truth.

Why? Because seeing the government’s failure spells their political ruin. Your family and future have been designated as a sacrifice to ensure the future of incompetent — and sometimes malevolent — politicians. Hiding poverty is now Job One.

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4 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. imacat says:

    Excellent piece, Tammy! Thanks for writing it! Your mother’s story is especially powerful.

  2. pamelarice says:

    Tammy, great column. I ran across this on twitter the same day your column came out. Amazing stats for our arsenals. http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-30/17-facts-show-anyone-still-believes-us-economy-just-fine
    I also thought that your personal story makes an impact – it lays a foundation for a political belief system.

  3. EllSee says:

    Good column, Tammy. I used to work in a county office that issued EBT cards to clients. The benefits had been determined by a social worker. Our responsibility was to issue the card with their PIN to the client.

    I saw (and smelled) all kinds of people. Some were dirty, drunk, high and/or mentally unstable. Others had their hair and nails done, make-up, jewelry, nice clothes and wouldn’t get off their cell phone while completing their transaction with me, but would let me know how slow I was or the benefits weren’t enough for them. I saw people who had been in the system for years and they bragged about it. There were the new clients who were making their final stop at our office (to receive their EBT card) after going through the intake process. They always had a bundle of papers which included information on birth control and a register-to-vote form. I remember an average middle-aged couple expressing their gratitude for the help they were receiving.

    The top four things that disturbed me the most: 1) A client “teaching” their child to choose and enter a PIN for the new EBT card. There was nothing bad about having the card; it was fun! 2) Accepting a Mexican ID as “government-issued identification” to issue benefits. 3) Being handed a prison-issued ID for client identification, and 4) Clients did not need to show an ID–just write your SSN and DOB on a slip of paper. If the name, SSN and DOB matched in the computer, I could issue benefits to them. (Fraud anyone?) Probably number five would be seeing clients around town and having them recognize me.

    I used come home with lots of stories. My spouse would finally cover his ears and say “Stop!” I like to think if people shadowed me at work for one day, there would be such an outcry from the taxpayers, let alone seeing a person with a card or stamps at the store.

    And don’t get me started with ARRA! I used to process check requests to push this money out the door to clients as quickly as possible.

    We eventually moved away from that county. My recovery is going well . . .

  4. Oldbiker1 says:

    I wish the majority of people had your mother’s mindset. My mother was the same way.

    I don’t know if that is true today. After 40 years in grocery retail, I personally have seen what is purchased with EBT cards, formerly known as food stamps and welfare but we had to change the name so people wouldn’t feel bad . Yes we have people, who through no fault of their own, need to be taken care of, sometimes for life because they are physically or mentally unable to take care of themselves. That’s a small percentage of those who are actually on aid. And I never have figured out why people are allowed to buy soda pop, candy and other junk food on food stamps. I would think that soap, deodorant and toilet paper would be more of a necessity.

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