• ProxyTheAwesome [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    9 months ago

    welfare checks barely exist anymore, thanks to both democrats and republicans in the 90s and their “welfare reform”. Are you talking about disability, unemployment, pensions, social security, EBT or medicaid/medicare? Many of these are not even “welfare” but essentially insurance payouts on things that those people paid the premiums/contributions for and are entitled to.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      9 months ago

      Wouldn’t all government welfare be “insurance” since they’re funded with tax dollars? Even if you’re not a net tax payer, you’re still paying your fair share as defined by the tax code.

      So I really don’t understand that line of discussion. Whether you’re getting Social Security or food assistance, it’s welfare. I don’t care if you need it or not, if you’re getting a benefit from the government, I consider it all the same thing.

      Imo, we should combine most of the various government benefits into a single check you get based on your income. Here’s my plan:

      • if you make nothing, you are brought up to the poverty line
      • if you make under a living wage (say, 2x the poverty line), you get a benefit on a sliding scale based on income
      • if you make over a living wage, you get no benefit

      This would replace the EITC, Social Security, food assistance programs, etc, though probably not Medicare/Medicaid.