R. Caron: States can't take on the burden

On "60 Minutes" recently, Mitt Romney stated that he would remove the food stamp program from the federal government and give it to the states to take care of their citizens. But the states are drowning in debt as it is.

Food stamps provide food that many cannot afford. We are the 47 percent of the people who Romney has no need of. We need to think twice before voting for the Romney-Ryan ticket.

I worked hard all of my life. I never thought that I would end up needing so much help from government programs, but I am grateful that those programs are there to help all of us ... the "47 percent" misfits.

Rolande Caron, South Paris

In order to make comments, you must verify your account.

In order to comment on SunJournal.com, you must use your real name and include the town in which you live in your profile. A member of our staff will call you to verify this information. To join in, fill out your user profile completely and check the box "please verify my status." We'll get back to you within one business day to verify your account.

Login or create an account here.

Our policy prohibits comments that are:

  • Defamatory, abusive, obscene, racist, or otherwise hateful
  • Excessively foul and/or vulgar
  • Inappropriately sexual
  • Baseless personal attacks or otherwise threatening
  • Contain illegal material, or material that infringes on the rights of others
  • Commercial postings attempting to sell a product/item
If you violate this policy, your comment will be removed and your account may be banned.

Advertisement

Comments

Pirate's picture
verified

...."But the states are

...."But the states are drowning in debt as it is."
But, the federal government is not, is that it, Rolande? A $16 trillion hole does not count as being in debt?

Pirate's picture
verified

Why should we in Maine have

Why should we in Maine have to pay taxes to give food stamps to those who need them in New Jersey? Why should they in Connecticut pay taxes to give food stamps to those who need in Maine? Each state should take care of its own. The more we get the Feds out of our lives the better off we'll all be.

veritas's picture
verified

Is the Mainer no less an American than a hungry poor

person in New Jersey or Connecticutt??

Yes - if he is unwilling to feed these persons.

Pirate's picture
verified

Welfare should be a states

Welfare should be a states issue. If the feds can keep their noses out of same sex marriage, claiming it to be a states matter, then they should also keep their noses out of welfare and allow the states and local municipalities to handle their own affairs.
Where does this wild affinity of yours for government involvement in all things come from?

veritas's picture
verified

Ask Governor Faubus

He'll tell you.

Pirate's picture
verified

?????

?????

veritas's picture
verified

That's my point.

You simply don't know.

Pirate's picture
verified

Why don't you tell us instead

Why don't you tell us instead of speaking in riddles?

veritas's picture
verified

Why don't you simply try remembering history

when you speak about about Federal government involvement.

mgr's picture
verified

Ronald, A good communicator

Ronald,

A good communicator knows his audience and sets the appropriate context for the discussion, which may include definitions.
However, you purposefully include obtuse historical facts and innuendos for some reason (aka riddles). Perhaps it makes you feel intelligent or superior?

Anyhow, that behavior only reveals your shortcomings in the art of communication rather than accentuate your intelligence or superiority.

Food for thought.

veritas's picture
verified

More food for thought.

If Bullshit were music - You'd be a Brass Band.

Pirate's picture
verified

Hey, what did you think of

Hey, what did you think of Joe Burden's performance last night? He was like a pit bull at a cat show.
And this guy's a heart beat from the oval office? Scary.

mgr's picture
verified

Is not the truth musical?

Is not the truth musical?

Pirate's picture
verified

Tell us how current POTUS is

Tell us how current POTUS is going to squirm his way out of BenghaziGate, which makes Watergate look like a bean supper.

veritas's picture
verified

He should ask Bush.

9/11 - Over 2,000 Americans killed, Bush was adequately warned, and he came out of it smelling like the Yellow Rose of Texas.....

Pirate's picture
verified

Bush may have been warned,

Bush may have been warned, but it was Clinton who wouldn't take bin Laden when the Yemenese had him and wanted to turn him over to us.

Pirate's picture
verified

Yeah, o.k....another game of

Yeah, o.k....another game of dodge ball.

veritas's picture
verified

.And the agility with which Bush dodged it

was remarkable......

Pirate's picture
verified

So, the only defense you have

So, the only defense you have of anything obama screws up is to revert to Bush? I always gave you credit for packing more ammo than that. Could it be that obama's presidency is indefensible?

Pirate's picture
verified

So, the only defense you have

So, the only defense you have of anything obama screws up is to revert to Bush? I always gave you credit for packing more ammo than that. Could it be that obama's presidency is indefensible?

Pirate's picture
verified

The parrot liked it so much

The parrot liked it so much he pressed the "save" key a second time. Time to trim his talons, I guess.

mgr's picture
verified

Perhaps you did not

Perhaps you did not understand Romney's proposal. Romney was not talking about removing all benefits. His plan gives block grants to states to administer. States can better administer welfare; States can better manage fraud and waste. If the state mismanages their program, then the rest of us in the US are not penalized for that state's mismanagement. Moreover, some states will learn what works best from sister states. Romney's plan is a win win.

Let's speak candidly, welfare as we know it has to change; it is simply not sustainable at current levels. Let's accept small changes now to save these programs for future recipients.

Jason's picture
verified

Lol

Yes, and I'm sure that block grant will equal to the current benefits. Or that Governor LePage would make up the difference....

I agree Welfare has to change. Medicaid is a large portion of our budget, and will need to face cuts. But they aren't going to get the job done alone. There will have to be cuts to the other three programs as well. Medicare, Social Security and Defense.

But both sides seem to focus on one, where we need cuts to all 4.

veritas's picture
verified

Bet Mississippi will do a 'Bang Up' job!!!

Why have the Feds manage it when we can have fifty states do it differently and more expensively.

mgr's picture
verified

That is certainly one point

That is certainly one point of view – one size fits all big government view. However, that approach ignores that states have different needs. Moreover, your point of view assumes that the federal government always makes the best or right choices; that is surely not the case.

Under your prescription, a bad choice from the central government is born by all. Under my prescription, some states may make better choices than others from which we can learn.

Ronald Riml’s view is predicated on a central government knows best; that view does not align with the real world, but it is typical of the progressive liberal – “I know best” .

Reject the big government view!

Pirate's picture
verified

"Yes, and I'm sure that block

"Yes, and I'm sure that block grant will equal to the current benefits."
It may well not; that's why they call it change.

mgr's picture
verified

I would add to that we need

I would add to that we need cuts across the board. In the absences of a legislative and executive branch that is incapable of setting priorities and cutting useless programs, simple across the board cuts are necessary.

Advertisement

Stay informed — Get the news delivered for free in your inbox.

I'm interested in ...