OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

It is one thing to recieve help with problems, and another to make a career out of living off of welfare. Professional leeches should not get a vote!

If you live in this country, it needs to hold up its end just as well as you need to hold up yours.

This country killed me; my spirit and doctors' education restored me; this country still owes me for its continued 'ignorance in the face of the lesson'.

Property owners are carrying the brunt of the cost with burdening property taxes.

The legislators are not getting the message we cannot continue to give refunds to nontax payers, that is just another name for welfare.

Start by securing our boarders protecting the nation was the first requirement of the government. Most of the federal laws have no authorization written into the Constitution

Everyone pays taxes. Cigarette tax, alcohol tax, income tax, property tax, dog license tax, sales tax, hotel tax, etc. Should I keep going. every thing you do is taxed.

ericettinger

If you are paying those taxes on something you are purchasing with money you yourself did not earn, are you REALLY paying those taxes?

I think NOT

If you do NOT have EARNED INCOME, YOU do NOT pay taxes!

One of the reasons given for allowing illegals to enter is that they "do jobs Americans won't do". At the same time there are healthy people sitting on their butts, drawing down welfare. Something just doesn't make sense here!

doug

So what you are saying is only welfare recipients should not be allowed to vote. I would support this idea.

If someone honestly needs help there is no problem, but there are too many who just don't want to work. Education is free, if someone farts around for 12 years and doesn't learn enough to get a job it sure isn't my fault.

More or Less

If you are collecting unemployment, you have paid into the program and "earned" that money.

If you are on food stamps, but working, you are paying taxes, and gathering support.

If you are UNABLE to work, and collecting disablity pay, you don't have a choice, and I would not consider that welfare.

If you are otherwise healthy and choose to sit and not contribute to society and act like you are entitled, and have never tried to hold a job, then NO, you do not pay taxes. Your entire existance is based on everything being handed to you.

Why, in that last instance, should you be allowed to vote and tell the rest of the population, who ARE contributing to society, what you think you are entitled to? As I see it, it's our money to spend as we see fit. I agree with supporting those in our society who CAN'T work, and applaud those that push through a disablity to support themselves and their families, and would be in favor of not taxing their income to make up some of the difference in what they pay in special equipment and what not...

ALSO, if you are in prison, or otherwise incarcerated, no VOTE.

If you are in this country illegally, then just leave!

I hope this makes my point a little clearer..

Some folks in society truly need help. I am not suggesting that there be no charity in government, but that those that won't work, those that play the system, those who receive their entire income, never paid taxes, and think the government owes them something, should not be able to vote for more of the same. (Original Poster)

There are many who work all their lives in jobs they don't really like. They work on days when they don't really feel good. They work on days when it's cold, or raining, or hot. They don't complain. They take care of their kids, they pay their bills and their taxes. If they live long enough to get social security they deserve it.

It is an insult to hard working Americans to ask them to share with people who refuse to make any effort.

The truth is, politicians buy votes with our money. There is no other way to see things, it is the truth.

Not everyone can own property but they can give their lives to the military. The income tax isn't even legal. There is no law on the books. Being a citizen gives you the right to vote. College students can vote, they don't all have jobs and very few own property. We pay tax on EVERYTHING! Foreigners pay tax on merchandise. This shouild not be Pay to Play issue.

apugh96

I don't agree, I retired from the military, so I know about property ownership. College students are mostly under their parents umbrella (who are paying taxes... look at FAFSA). Paying sales tax (as I pointed out) doesn't count if you are using tax money (welfare) to buy your products. Foreigners don't vote.

I think the problem is the definition of Citizen in this case. Good Citizens contribute to society. Those that work the system to grab as many hand-outs as possible do not. Welfare is abused and needs an overhaul. If a person can work, they should. I am subject to random urinalysis to collect my paycheck. Those that choose to live on welfare are not even subject to that. I just get sick every time I see that city employee cutting the grass in front of the housing while they sit there and watch! They won't even pick up their stuff to let him cut. Is that what our CITIZENS do or does community mean nothing any more?

How about a better example for us all to consider:

This country is failing. We are all in danger of losing our jobs. The deficit is growing every second. They are spending the country into oblivion and making CHANGEs that none of us can live with.

On top of all this spending, Congress is trying to get 4 weeks paid paternity leave! More perks for our "REPRESENTATIVES" while we starve and suffer the ever increasing tax burden to pay for more welfare programs and to help our poor bretheren that have already lost their jobs to this administrations idiotic moves.

Congress voting for pay raises for themselves is a prime example of how I see the welfare folks that "CHOOSE" not to work voting for issues that my hard-earned money will be paying for.

Sorry if you don't agree, but they have always added perks and pay when the country was/is hurting!

I'm on disability. I don't have the ability to walk (or stand). I used to pay income tax when I was able to work, I don't make enough now. I hope that you understand the distinction between those who can work and won't and those who want to and can't. The original post lumps everyone who doesn't work together. I vote.

I'm on disability too. I was working 60 and 70 hour weeks, trying to get ready for retirement when I collapsed. Between the time I was 16 and 59 I never drew unemployment once. I can do carpenter work, I was a qualified small engine mechanic, and a couple of times when I was laid off I drove a cab. I even made Dunkin Donuts for a while. When my family was young I would come home from work, put my little boat in the water and work the oyster banks, or dig clams. I ran a line of crab traps too. In the winter I hunted deer and hogs. My family never went hungry.

I met a guy several years ago who was 23. He was bragging about having 11 kids. I didn't ask him how many women were dumb enough to lie down for him, I wanted to smash his face, so I just got out of there before I did. That's 11 kids, with no decent father, living on welfare. I couldn't hurt a kid if my life depended on it, but that kind of crap has got to stop. We can't afford it. We shouldn't tolerate that kind of morality either, but a couple of posters here have told me not to preach morality.

I'm sure the guy was pulling your chain; some kids will brag just to be accepted. This was common in high school and in the military, where guys went out to get laid, and came back bragging about it, but in fact didn't do a thing.

apugh96 and tsiya. I mentioned in my first comment and later that if you are diabled, that is NOT welfare. We, as a community, must care for those that can't take care of themselves. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is those that CHOOSE to not work for whatever reason. I see perfectly healthy people collecting their welfare, and cusing at the Walmart people for not giving them MORE! I feel for those of you that CAN'T work and want to. I know the feeling! Following my retirement from the military, I spent 6 months trying to find a job. Filing for unemployment (after 3 months) was the hardest thing I've ever done. Other than that 6 months, I've been working in one capacity or another since I was 13. I hate not working, and don't know what I would do if I didn't have a job.

So, NO, collecting disability is NOT welfare. It's not charity. It's our small way of trying to help. There would be more for folks like you if the welfare abusers would just get a job and contribute. I wish you well...

npolimeni, there is a recent case that made the news. They were trying to squeeze child support out of a guy, and legally could only take half of his check.

There was a case in Jacksonville, Florida, a number of years ago where a women had multiple children, with the older children already producing offspring, so many that public housing couldn't hold them all. The county actually had to rent motel rooms at about $10,000.00 a month.. This woman told reporters that she would "keep on having children until God told her to stop".

These aren't isolated cases, privacy laws prevent many of them from being exposed.

If we can't talk about morality, the only way to address this is economic, stop pissing off my money on worthless leeches!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1189232/Desmond-Hatchett-fathers-21-children-11-different-women--hes-29.html

"Clowns to the left of me,

Jokers to the right, Here I am,

Stuck in the middle with you." Stealers Wheel

Seldom read a post that doesn't use the traditional whipping boys of welfare recipient, immigrants. I think I read all the posts carefully and I don't remember mentioning the politicians, big business, et al that hire teams of accountants to get them out of paying a dime in taxes. Probably an oversight.

By the way, I've served my country most of my life and am disabled by the sliver of jungle. Just try to take away my right to vote if for some reason I am not obligated to pay taxes!

No one should ever have their singular role in government via the right to vote abridged by their status or actions, unless said actions removes citizenship as a result. The right to vote must be immutable, inherent, bonded, and part of the compact that binds our government under the constitution

Felons Should Have Voting Rights. Link: http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/4172-4049

Paper Ballot Requirement in all Fifty States. Link: http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/4137-4049

Free Media Election Time. Link: http://opengov.ideascale.com/akira/dtd/4136-4049

You are obviously prefer socialist hell holes over free nations!

Congratulations for the special word use of “socialist,” a word used to shut down critical thinking in USA for generations. Socialization of services has been a staple of American life for hundreds of years now, such as United States Postal Service, police, libraries, firemen, and local governments. They all add value to the American experience, because they are essential to a functional society. The right to vote must never be part of a political campaign. What part of any free nation prohibits any groups within it from voting.

I use it in the Cuban sense, as that seems to be the eventual destination of the philosophy. It is the antithesis of freedom.

Please show me where Socialism has ever succeeded. You can't point to examples of how people have banded together for group benefit (i.e., volunteer fire departments etc.) as successful Socialism. Even the Europeans are rejecting it now. My original post has generated much debate, and I thank you all for waying in. My intent was to suggest that if you don't contribute, you should not get to choose who makes the rules. I realize there needs to be some leeway. Some have contributed, but are on hard times, or retired and not paying, they should be allowed to vote. People who have NEVER contributed, should not be able to vote for the one who will give them continued entitlements. (ORIGINAL POSTER)

So let me get it straight if you are a weak bend over grab your ankles theif submitter you have not right. What a foolish stupid immoral sheeple way to think. Tax is theft. I am not a dam tax payer I am a citizen and noone least of all the government or any government has any right to steal my life time and my work efforts I say you need to volenteer you entire life to tax but dont steal mine. Keep up your slave mentality keep humanity into this tax slavery so dam stupid its hidious.