Square Head Soft Heart

Government Must Now Support Me

Benefit spending (or what some might call entitlement spending) has steeply increased this year to the tune of 209 billion dollars.

• 33 million people on Food Stamps, 5 million more than last year
• 10-15% increase in retirees collecting Social Security benefits. Now that they no longer have jobs or any retirement left, why not just give up and start collecting Social Security? Hey, Medicare doesn’t cover their medications anyway.
• 9.4% unemployment rate. 1 of 6 dollars of income in the form of government spending. It’s the Pottery Barn rule - you broke it, bought it.

These statistics are close to my heart these days because just a few days ago, I did something I thought a college graduate should never have to do. I applied for food stamps. I’ve helped people fill out applications for food stamps but I never dreamed I would join them. It is enough of a shock to the psyche to make one question the value of a college education. I know it’s not a long term thing, because I will get a job and everything will be okay, but I must say, what a humbling experience. Every so often when I worked in the Food Bank, I would see someone with a college degree. It scared me, but I would try to rationalize away their similarities to me. I would think, maybe maybe they had personal problems, alcoholism or a mental health issue, or maybe they’re stupid. Now I know, you can do everything by the book and still end up here. Enough maudlin self pity. I’m not sure I even qualify, but since a lack of adequate government oversight caused the pithy job market so, the government should at least feed me.

Via: USA Today