Free cars if your on Welfare

[ironhorsedriver]

Does anyone else find this offensive as hell? And I don't even live in the state.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_05_07_Free_cars_for_poor_fuel_road_rage/srvc=home&position=also

[Eupher]

 

Holy mother of God.

Is there anybody in Massachusetts who subscribes to Fatass Ted's political party who is sane?

Between the Big Dig debacle, Barney's lies, and Mitt Romney's slick-and-glibness, I'm thinkin' that commonwealth is in a league all by itself.

[Thor]

Actually, I can see their point. If one lives in an area where public transportation isn't readily available, they need some way to get to work. If I didn't have a vehicle, it'd be a LONG walk to work. I would have preferred to see some caveats, though.

[Eupher]

Actually, I can see their point. If one lives in an area where public transportation isn't readily available, they need some way to get to work. If I didn't have a vehicle, it'd be a LONG walk to work. I would have preferred to see some caveats, though.

How about the workers themselves forming a coalition to work out a strategy for themselves? Why does the commonwealth have to pony up transportation for people who profess they want to work, but somehow are too stupid to figure out how to get to work?

And what about this horseshit of those same people being allowed to KEEP the freakin' car, even if they go back on welfare? What's that all about?

This whole idea is stupid on its face.

People want to get off the public teat, they need to start thinking for themselves. No wonder we're in such the ******* mess we're in - freakin' nanny state has everybody convinced that gummint has the freakin' answers.

[/rant off]

[ironhorsedriver]

What incentive do they have for getting off the puplic teat? Hell, they get a car, to use as they please once they have it. Plus free ins, AAA. Oh, and don't forget they still get money and food stamps and medicare. Yea, we're really going to trim down the Welfare rolls this way.

[Tess Anderson]

Well, this idea is the brainchild of Deval Patrick. 'Nuff said.

But I have heard that all these do-good welfare reform programs like "welfare to work" are far most costly to the American taxpayer than plain old welfare ever was.

[seemomgonuts]

Saw this coming with the beggining of Government Motors. It wasn't just as simple as GM being too big to fail.

[Thor]

like I said earlier, I THINK it could be a good program, with certain caveats. Bear in mind that these are repaired, donated vehicles. I would add a lot more criteria as to keeping the vehicle than what is in there at the present.

( I have a sister that got stuck in the welfare loop for a while. It was damned if she did, damned if she didn't, but she was better off if she didn't. )

[Lanie]

Does anyone else find this offensive as hell? And I don't even live in the state.
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_05_07_Free_cars_for_poor_fuel_road_rage/srvc=home&position=also

Some people aren't working because they don't have transportation. I think it might be a good idea to do on the condition that one gets a job in so many months and keeps it for so many years.

[Eupher]

Some people aren't working because they don't have transportation. I think it might be a good idea to do on the condition that one gets a job in so many months and keeps it for so many years.

And just who the **** is going to keep track of THAT shit?

You going to pony up yet more money for a bureaucracy that'll just **** up everything it touches?

You libs just don't get it - GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK. IT TAKES. AND TAKES. AND TAKES YET MORE.

[Gratiot]

Kehoe defended the program, saying the state breaks even by cutting welfare payments to the family - about $6,000 a year.

“If you look at the overall picture, this helps make sure people aren’t staying on cash assistance. It’s a relatively short payment for a long-term benefit,” Kehoe said.

But Kehoe admitted about 20 percent of those who received a car ended up back on welfare, and while they lose the insurance and other benefits, they don’t have to return the car.

If it's true, that the state breaks even with their initial outlays.  With 80% of those formerly on Welfare removed from the rosters, and future outlays.

Than it sounds like a phenomenally brilliant and creative program.  IMHO-Shrugs

[Eupher]

I'm no financial wizard and I wouldn't know the future value of money from a share of preferred stock, but I do know that the STATE (or Commonwealth in this case) puts together analyses that support its point of view.

That's what bureaucrats do.

If this POS bill passes and the people of Mass. have to support this lunacy, it would be interesting to see how this really pans out - using not the state's data, but the data from somebody who can actually count - and see the cost overruns, missed opportunities, and utter failures to do what the state said it was going to do.

In the end, the people will pay.

And it's the very odd, very esoteric government program that ever pays for itself.

This one ain't it. Trust me - this one ain't it.

[Chris]

Doesn't MA have an enormous public transportation system like every other northeastern state?  Why do they need to give out cars?

[RobJohnson]

Some people will do what ever it takes to keep from working even if they have a car.

I see plenty of people using state benefits daily, that have no transportation issues.

We already have people that won't work. They demand that free income, food and healthcare are rights....do we wan't them asking for cars also. It's obvious that many would take the job & the car, just to keep the car & not the job.

I know of private organizations that have helped folks get cars....let's keep this a charity rather then having the taxpayers pick up the tab.

http://www.bodyshopbusiness.com/Article/38125/nabcs_recycled_rides_helps_needy_families_across_the_us.aspx

[JohnnyReb]

I think the British have a deal where they think a car is a right and give those on "the Dole" a car......we should see how that's working out for them....NOT

[NHSparky]

Holy mother of God.

Is there anybody in Massachusetts who subscribes to Fatass Ted's political party who is sane?

Between the Big Dig debacle, Barney's lies, and Mitt Romney's slick-and-glibness, I'm thinkin' that commonwealth is in a league all by itself.

Now you know why I avoid going south of the border at all costs.  Sorry, 'lurker--but you live in one effed up state.

[formerlurker]

Holy mother of God.

Is there anybody in Massachusetts who subscribes to Fatass Ted's political party who is sane?

Between the Big Dig debacle, Barney's lies, and Mitt Romney's slick-and-glibness, I'm thinkin' that commonwealth is in a league all by itself.

You live where again? 


 

[formerlurker]

Now you know why I avoid going south of the border at all costs.  Sorry, 'lurker--but you live in one effed up state.

This is all Deval one-term-governor Patrick.      No way in hell he is winning his seat back. 

[formerlurker]

Doesn't MA have an enormous public transportation system like every other northeastern state?  Why do they need to give out cars?

It depends on where you live in the state.   The big major three cities (Boston, Worcester and Springfield) do, but there are a great deal of remote areas.   That said, welfare recipients wouldn't in those are as they are single homes for the most part with very little rental properties. 

This is something that the very liberal state house pushed through with little to absolutely no coverage (Boston Globe).  The Herald has been going after Patrick since he took office.    These type of articles have been weekly since he took office.   It really is unbelievable. 

[NHSparky]

This is all Deval one-term-governor Patrick.      No way in hell he is winning his seat back. 

It's not like he much cares, considering "Teh Wun" will probably tap him for a SCOTUS seat.

[formerlurker]

It's not like he much cares, considering "Teh Wun" will probably tap him for a SCOTUS seat.

Can you imagine?   

[Eupher]

You live where again? 


 

Where I live is completely beside the point, but since you feel a need to draw attention to it, I live in Missouri. (ETA: added that info to my profile - I'd thought it was there, but it was not.)

Now, if you want to bash where I'm from originally, please have at it - that being Michigan.

Nobody knows better than I do how batshit crazy moonbat Michigan is (due largely to that sucking chest wound known as Detroit and Wayne County).

You're not going to hurt my feelings one bit should you want to pursue that kind of deflection.

But back to the main point - giving away cars to those on welfare in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as espoused by that dipshit governor:

Yes, there are rural areas in Mass. - I lived in Ayer, a small town, and in Leominster (a slightly larger town), and in Fitchburg (a tad smaller than Leominster) back in the mid-Seventies. No public transportation? Wow, what a concept.

How about WALKING or RIDING A BIKE or FINDING A WAY to get to work? These same ya-hoos living on the public teat who cry and whine and wring their hands because it's HARD to get to work disgust me because they look first to the ****ing gummint to solve their problems.

I've done my share of walking to get to work when I didn't have money for a car.

And I WORKED because it was the right thing to do.

Using the government to perform charity work goes beyond the pale, but for more and more people, there seems to be no objection to that abuse of an entity which is supposed to GOVERN - not provide handouts.

[formerlurker]

Where I live is completely beside the point, but since you feel a need to draw attention to it, I live in Missouri. (ETA: added that info to my profile - I'd thought it was there, but it was not.)

Now, if you want to bash where I'm from originally, please have at it - that being Michigan.

Nobody knows better than I do how batshit crazy moonbat Michigan is (due largely to that sucking chest wound known as Detroit and Wayne County).

You're not going to hurt my feelings one bit should you want to pursue that kind of deflection.

But back to the main point - giving away cars to those on welfare in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as espoused by that dipshit governor:

Yes, there are rural areas in Mass. - I lived in Ayer, a small town, and in Leominster (a slightly larger town), and in Fitchburg (a tad smaller than Leominster) back in the mid-Seventies. No public transportation? Wow, what a concept.

How about WALKING or RIDING A BIKE or FINDING A WAY to get to work? These same ya-hoos living on the public teat who cry and whine and wring their hands because it's HARD to get to work disgust me because they look first to the ******* gummint to solve their problems.

I've done my share of walking to get to work when I didn't have money for a car.

And I WORKED because it was the right thing to do.

Using the government to perform charity work goes beyond the pale, but for more and more people, there seems to be no objection to that abuse of an entity which is supposed to GOVERN - not provide handouts.

It is hardly deflection. 

I would get into the dynamics as to how Patrick won his seat, but it really isn't worth the effort.  The Kennedy dynasty will die when Ted does.  He maintained his seat because he was old school politics and takes care of his constituents.   Again, not really worth discussing.   

This program flew in and operated completely under the radar until the Herald reported on it.   No one is happy about it.  It will get cut.   Whether it does or not makes little difference as it is only one of too many really bad decisions Deval Patrick has made and continues to make.   He is out when his seat is up next year, but as Sparky stated he doesn't care.   

MA is a heavily Democratic state.   We have about 16 GOP members in the statehouse.  A "real conservative" won't have a chance here.   A GOP candidate who is a fiscal conservative, but social moderate (against abortion, but won't change the law -- can't if he wanted to anyway, the legislature would never allow it, is the best you can hope for) will take back the governor's seat. 

Oh and Ayer and Leominster.  Really an entity onto itself now, full of a Hispanic population.   Also very different from Worcester, Springfield and nothing like Boston at all.   I was responding to the MA transit comment, not supporting this program by the way.   

I lived in MI also.   Not exactly a conservative mecca of the United States.   Rumor has it they had a Romney also......

[Eupher]

It is hardly deflection. 

It is deflection when you start comparing notes from one state to the next. It's immaterial, really. But it's good you came back to the point and put a little more meat on the bones.

--snip--

This program flew in and operated completely under the radar until the Herald reported on it.   No one is happy about it.  It will get cut.   Whether it does or not makes little difference as it is only one of too many really bad decisions Deval Patrick has made and continues to make.   He is out when his seat is up next year, but as Sparky stated he doesn't care. 

Yes, I read that bit about the Herald not reporting on it until lately. Question is, why point a finger at it now? The Herald isn't known for its whistle-blowing -- rather, its editors have done a fine job "blowing" the politicians who have been and are in power in Mass.

As for no one being happy about it, it would seem that Patrick is quite happy about it, and presumably others in his administration are happy about it too. And for Mass. being such a gone-to-hell lib state, I wouldn't be at all surprised if this insanity passes your State House. 

MA is a heavily Democratic state.

Yep, it was heavily Democratic 35 years ago when I lived there too. It would appear that not much has changed. The Kennedy dynasty rules on, and I wouldn't be too sure about the libs continuing to rule in that state after Teddy goes to his Maker to account for Mary Jo, and other sins of commission/omission.

Oh and Ayer and Leominster.  Really an entity onto itself now, full of a Hispanic population.   Also very different from Worcester, Springfield and nothing like Boston at all.   I was responding to the MA transit comment, not supporting this program by the way.

Interesting bit about Ayer and Leominster. It's been many years since I've been there, but those towns were quite different from Worcester, Springfield and Boston back then, too. Nice to know things don't change, especially of a political nature. Kinda curious - is Leominster one of those "sanctuary cities"? That wouldn't surprise me, either.

And I understand your non-support of the free car program, as well. Seemed you got just a bit defensive when I attacked the moonbats that run your state -- as they have been for a very long time.

I lived in MI also.   Not exactly a conservative mecca of the United States.   Rumor has it they had a Romney also......

No rumor about it. George R. was governor back in the Sixties. And when he tried to run for Prez, but realized he couldn't because he wasn't a natural-born citizen, well, he just sort of slipped off into oblivion -- which is a quality that's very reminiscent of the SE corner of that state. Its liberal moonbat, gotta-have-the-union mentality very much explains why I unassed that sucking chest wound when I did.

[Lanie]

And just who the **** is going to keep track of THAT shit?

You going to pony up yet more money for a bureaucracy that'll just **** up everything it touches?

You libs just don't get it - GOVERNMENT DOESN'T WORK. IT TAKES. AND TAKES. AND TAKES YET MORE.

Okay, maybe some standards could be set.

Let's suppose they took their car to a mechanic and they couldn't fix it or it costed way more than the car was worth (like four thousand dollars, in which case you might as well get another car). Suppose the person opted to ditch the car or wait until they could get the money to fix theirs. They show this stuff from the mechanic's place to social services. They also have to provide a copy of their paycheck stub and bills. It could be determined then how long it would take for them to save up for a car or repairs. They have that long (maybe a grace period of a month or two) to get the money up while they use a car to help them get back on their feet.

A few years back, I was living in Raleigh when my car kept stopping in the road. Very unforgiveable in Raleigh. Mechanics kept thinking they had fixed it when it would keep stopping. Nobody could figure out the problem. It became obvious that I would have to get rid of the car, but I really didn't have money for another one. I couldn't get loans. Rentals cost as much as a decent down payment. Heck, I couldn't hardly get a ride anywhere, much less the one car place that I might have been able to get a car from. I had to move in with somebody else until I could get back on my feet. Suppose I didn't have family. BTW, having no car is a good way to lose weight.


on edit: I wouldn't want it being given or loaned to those on welfare without an incentive to get a job in a specified time period.