Actually, it's a simple solution:
Actually, Bob, it's crap. But I suspect you know what. The post on the linked blog has all the hallmarks of one of those chain emails that will soon be outed by Snopes. But supposing it was written and not simply posted by someone who 'got it from a friend it really happened to', there are lots of errors all through it. A casual reading could discern most of them of them, but you have to actually know how social services programs work to spot them, and that's the problem; kibitzing by people who DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT. I'm looking at you, Bob. If you want to learn what the existing rules are, then you can play the 'this program sucks' game. If you refuse to learn the rules, then you're just another outraged doofus.
Sounds great. Inspect what? Who does it? Sounds like more bureaucracy to me, or am I missing something?
2- no 'free' money. Here's a bag, pick up some trash, push a broom. Have skills? Great, we have roads, bridges, buildings, and more that need repair.
So-called 'workfare' is a common requirement, brought about by outrage in the 1980's. You're probably too young to remember it.
Oh, look, it already exists...gee...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare-to-work
3- mandatory education for those lacking it - you don't show up for school, you don't get fed.
Interesting. What will you force them to learn? But you know, a voluntary program already exists in Maine, where the story supposedly happened:
What is Parents as Scholars?
The Parents as Scholars program is a student aid program that provides the same cash benefits and support services as TANF and ASPIRE - like child care and transportation - to help people in 2 or 4 year college level programs. Participation requirements are different in PaS than in ASPIRE. You can get PaS if you meet all of the following criteria:
You are eligible for TANF;
You are in a two or four-year post-secondary degree program;
You do not already have a bachelor's degree that will get you a job;
You do not have the skills to earn more than 85% of the median income (As of January 2010, medium income is about $744 weekly for a family of two; $919 for three; $1,094 for four);
The education you want will improve your ability to support your family; and
You have the aptitude to succeed in college.
If you are eligible, your ASPIRE Specialist will place you in PaS once you are enrolled in school. PaS is limited to 2,000 people, but as of January 2010 fewer than 1,000 parents were enrolled so there is plenty of room.
4- strict limits to what it can be spent on.
Did you think there were no limits on what it could be spent on? Oh dear. Sounds like you need some of that edumacation thing yourself. Did you not read the self-contradictory statement in the linked-to article where the purported author notes that 'pickles' did not ring up as a 'food item' and were therefore disallowed? Yeah, it's like that.
5- photo ID, card only to be used by the person whose face is on it.
Has always been required. Not every store employee seems willing to enforce the law, though. Like people buying beer; there's always a clerk who doesn't check age.
6- time limit of 90 days max. Need more? Reapply and reconfirm you actually tried to get ahead.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_Assistance_for_Needy_Families
TANF was created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act instituted under President Bill Clinton in 1996. The Act provides temporary financial assistance while aiming to get people off of that assistance, primarily through employment. There is a maximum of 60 months of benefits within one's lifetime, but some states have instituted shorter periods.[4] In enforcing the 60-month time limit, some states place limits on the adult portion of the assistance only, while still aiding the otherwise eligible children in the household. While on aid, there is a component requiring non-exempt clients to attempt to find employment. Unmarried minor parents have to live with a responsible adult or guardian. Paternity of children must be established in order to receive benefits. These requirements have led to massive drops in the number of people receiving cash benefits since 1996. In the first ten years, the number of those receiving benefits dropped more than 70%.[5]
Here are the rules in Maine, where the story allegedly happened:
http://www.mejp.org/aspire-tanf.htm
It would appear that Maine has a state program that works in conjuction with TANF, called ASPIRE. People on TANF have to have regular meetings with their counselors. Failure to do so results in sanctions, which impacts their TANF checks. Several sanctions and they lose benefits.
I will say this - in Maine, where the story allegedly happened, TANF does not have a five-year lifetime benefit. This is not nationwide; each state implements their own TANF rules, and fully funds anything outside of the federal guidelines. So if you live in Maine and you object to this, talk to your elected representatives. If you don't live in Maine; it's not really any of your business, it doesn't cost you a cent.
http://www.mejp.org/aspire-tanf.htm#timelimits
In Maine families are not cut off of TANF after five years.
Maine does not have a TANF time limit the way many states do. In 1998 the Maine Legislature passed a law that says a family that follows all TANF program rules and still needs assistance after 60 months (5 years) will be able to get it. (However, because some states follow the federal time limit of 5 years, or even less, any time spent on TANF in Maine may count against a time limit if you move to another state.)
I know, I know, I'm a heartless bastard, suggesting that anyone on welfare is a worthless lazy piece of crap.
People who insist that there are no generational situations, that it's just down on their luck folks....should spend some time as a cashier in a convenience store or supermarket the 1st of the month. You can always tell who got their free money....they're the ones with the carts piled to the ceiling, buying cartons of smokes and reams of lotto.
You're not a heartless bastard. Maybe a clueless one.
But what you want, is already in place for the most part. You are, however, being used by the media (in this case, the right-wing, although we both know the left-wing does it equally well and more often) by throwing up yet another outrage-du-jour. Yeah, I'm sure this person, if the story is true, witnessed some illegal uses of social services. And she didn't report it WHY? Here's a hint; if it's illegal, then it is illegal. We need another law to make it MORE illegal? Drop a dime, brothers and sisters. And if it's not illegal, but you don't care for it, then contact your elected representatives. But seriously, educate yourself on the laws before you object to them. Most of the cures you seek already exist; you just don't think they do.
