[over the mountain]

I went through the avail programs in Md to see if someone I know would qualify. What I found was you can sit on our arse with no job, have kids and you get about 800 every 2 weeks on top of almost free living, food, health care and clothing vouchers. Now you have to live in section 8, go through specific med clinics or hospitals (like JHU).

If you make over 18-21k, you get nothing.

I whole heartedly support drug screening to receive any type of gov't benefits and req people on unemployment to perform community service (like some european countries).

Too many people who have contributed absolutely nothing in the form of taxes or benefit to society eat up the most gov't benefits imo while others who work hard but dont make alot of money get caught in the gray area of not being poor enough to qualify but dont make enough to pay necessary things in life like health ins, etc.

I also 100% support cutting gov't wages and benefits. They have pension plans that are antiquated and comparatively outrageous compared to the priv sector. I have to deal with alot of gov't employees. Ive been a gov't employee. They know they have it cush and generally dont give a dang. If they had their work ethic in the priv sector they would be fired. But since their gov't employees they get credit breaks, health care breaks, guaranteed pension plans and work half as hard as the rest of us.

ps - I have family who live exclusively off the gov't. When we cant wire them money for food or medications it is nice to know that they can go to the hospital and get free meds but something has to change.