I can remember pretty lean times as a kid when my dad was out of work. But accepting public assistance? My parents preferred we go hungry, which we did at times. No way they were accepting a hand out. We'd eat beans every meal before that happened.

I went to a meeting yesterday morning at my church. The cars were lined up for our food bank. It appeared every single car in line was newer than mine. A $60,000 new truck was at the front.

When I commented to one of the guys at the meeting, he said "maybe they've just fallen in hard times recently". I'd sell the nice truck before I lined up for a food bank.

But I'm guessing COVID just got people used to free stuff. And now they line up for free stuff whenever it's offered because - why not?

There is no shame in it anymore, and so many now just take because they can. These people should be embarrassed but aren't.

This didn't start with COVID's weak ass.

BigRobSA said:

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This didn't start with COVID's weak ass.

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You are so very right!

a generation who votes for a guy like Mamdani sees taking charity as patriotic

It's been that way since LBJ's expansion of the welfare state. I remember 45 years ago when I worked in a grocery store during high school, people would pay for groceries with food stamps and I would carry them out to their brand-new shiny car. A regular occurrence.

It isn't limited to charity.

We need to bring "shame" back to society in general.

Sooper Jeenyus said:

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It isn't limited to charity.

We need to bring "shame" back to society in general.

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And actual bullying.

Yep. My wife's son and his fiance at the time posted a GoFundMe for help paying for their dream wedding several years back. They were in their 30s.

If I had raised him (was 41 when I married my wife, and he was grown already), I would have been embarrassed.

My wife raised him better than that.

The grand total of donations they received? $0.00

I mentioned COVID because that's when many of these food banks quit asking for proof of need. Now, just line up for free stuff.

I get the OP sentiment. But church's of all places SHOULD offer charity and food to the needy etc. It is, after all, a gospel imperative.

That said, no doubt many people take advantage and are in the position of need due to their own poor life choices, addictions, laziness or whatever.

LBJ and the Great Society fueled the gravy train, now generations do nothing but hold their hand out

Like most here, I'm very fortunate to live well above the point where I would need any assistance, but I've experienced the same thing while volunteering. It is truly amazing that someone would rather game the system than be a productive part of society. It certainly makes it harder to choose the right charities to support. When I give, I like to know that it's reaching the ones that are truly in need. Giving to the welfare momma driving a fancy SUV isn't what I intended. In my experience, it's different in small towns. Those folks are there to help one another and they know the people who need help the most.

No doubt it's what churches should do. And frankly, they do it a lot better and more efficiently than the government.

That brand new truck at the front of the line is what burned me the most. Come in, dude. Have you no shame?

People who have money to pay for anything more than the bare necessities (i.e., a new vehicle) should not be asking for a handout.

Take the vehicle back to the dealer, or sell it, use whatever is left to buy a junker, and leave the food at the food banks and Churches for the truly needy.

fc2112 said:

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No doubt it's what churches should do. And frankly, they do it a lot better and more efficiently than the government.

That brand new truck at the front of the line is what burned me the most. Come in, dude. Have you no shame?

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Right. The guy with the $60k truck: no shame.

The truly needy should not feel any shame in seeking help.

I'm not talking bad about anyone's but parents, but a parent who lets pride get in the way of their children having enough food to eat has their priorities in the wrong place.

Some people need help, and that's okay.

BigRobSA said:

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This didn't start with COVID's weak ass.

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Its been called many things: entitlement mentality, selfishness, indecency, shamelessness freeloader, welfare queens, etc

But at its core each person on the dole represents a broken thread in the cultural tapestry.

There's 3 general options:
Blind selfishness: "I'll take what's available!"
Aware selfishness: "this is late stage capitalism, so take what you can before she sinks!"
Institutionalization: "this is the way it's done."

The last option is the excuse used to ease the conscience for many in the selfish groups. Regardless of the motivation: it's clear that there's less shame-based behavioral avoidance in America today than in other decades.

My sister-in-law recently celebrated a birthday by posting her Venmo all over her social media and asking people to "treat me". It's not as bad as the 60k brodozer at the food bank but another data point of shamelessness.

I don't see it so much as shame that people should have for accepting charity. It's humility and gratitude. That's what's missing.

fc2112 said:

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I mentioned COVID because that's when many of these food banks quit asking for proof of need. Now, just line up for free stuff.

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Covid DEFINITELY made it worse. I also see so many poor uneducated people driving luxury cars and SUV's they have zero business owning. Monthly payments on many of these rides must be $1,000+/mo.

I noticed this way more after Covid as well.

$60K truck, that's nothing.

$100K+ Cadillac Escalades with $25K in extra bling is the way to do it when you go to the food bank.

chickencoupe16 said:

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My sister-in-law recently celebrated a birthday by posting her Venmo all over her social media and asking people to "treat me". It's not as bad as the 60k brodozer at the food bank but another data point of shamelessness.

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I used to see those written all over the backs of cars when driving, generally nearby or going towards Las Vegas. They all said something along the lines of "Venmo for my 21st birthday celebration with the girls in Las Vegas!"

I bet you the got lots of funding that way. Which is the saddest part.

Played golf with a man who bragged about playing all the expensive courses in DFW. He retired at 50 to be the stay at home parent. His wife made too much for him to stay working at his job. He managed a high end auto dealership. He found out being retired with a kid that Uncle Sam would pay him $1000 a month.

We throw money away.

fc2112 said:

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I can remember pretty lean times as a kid when my dad was out of work. But accepting public assistance? My parents preferred we go hungry, which we did at times. No way they were accepting a hand out. We'd eat beans every meal before that happened.

I went to a meeting yesterday morning at my church. The cars were lined up for our food bank. It appeared every single car in line was newer than mine. A $60,000 new truck was at the front.

When I commented to one of the guys at the meeting, he said "maybe they've just fallen in hard times recently". I'd sell the nice truck before I lined up for a food bank.

But I'm guessing COVID just got people used to free stuff. And now they line up for free stuff whenever it's offered because - why not?

There is no shame in it anymore, and so many now just take because they can. These people should be embarrassed but aren't.

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I've worked traffic flow for a church food bank before, and some of the people in nice cars are picking up for others who can't go.

That is definitely not always the case, but it does explain some of what's going on.

chickencoupe16 said:

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My sister-in-law recently celebrated a birthday by posting her Venmo all over her social media and asking people to "treat me". It's not as bad as the 60k brodozer at the food bank but another data point of shamelessness.

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Okay, that's taking things to whole other level. It makes me wonder if it's a trend.

Rapier108 said:

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$60K truck, that's nothing.

$100K+ Cadillac Escalades with $25K in extra bling is the way to do it when you go to the food bank.

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LOL this….$60k prob gets you the most base level 2.7L F-150 there is. I routinely see impoverished people in $80-100k jacked up trucks and super nice SUV's.

scamming the government is a way of life for many and under Dems, they encourage it because it makes you dependent and it's not their money being scammed

Hell my own brother and his wife at the time intentionally remained unmarried so she could collect the maximum amount of food stamps and other bennies as a "single mother"

Quo Vadis? said:

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I'm not talking bad about anyone's but parents, but a parent who lets pride get in the way of their children having enough food to eat has their priorities in the wrong place.

Some people need help, and that's okay.

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I wish I could post a better response of what I am trying and maybe somebody can post it better

Well I agree some people need help there first response should not be a food bank but


It should be what expense can I cut or what extra work can we do to get food on the table That is what builds a work ethic and respect for your parents who struggled and cut something they liked tonkeep you fed and under a roof

Look at the free lunches in school. Try to say anything about that......child killer. I dont want any child to go hungry but that now becomes the expectation moving forward.

BigRobSA said:

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Sooper Jeenyus said:

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It isn't limited to charity.

We need to bring "shame" back to society in general.

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And actual bullying.

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Give me your lunch money, ese.

coupland boy said:

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Look at the free lunches in school. Try to say anything about that......child killer. I dont want any child to go hungry but that now becomes the expectation moving forward.

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Another leftist scam

They know perfectly well every state has a free lunch program for poor kids. But they then try to say that if your school isn't providing 2-3 hot meals every day for EVERY kid (regardless of need or their desire to eat school meals) then you're a child killer and don't ask questions like, how much food are you having to purchase, cook and then throw away every day just to say every kid had an opportunity to eat? Or who exactly landed this fat new contract to provide all this new mandatory food and why are they always a friend/family member of the local Dem who was pushing for this?

I'm in education. Never once have my begged my friends for teaching supplies. I find it pathetic.

Sounds like you need to go buy a new car fc.

Sid Farkas said:

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a generation who votes for a guy like Mamdani sees taking charity as patriotic

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They don't see it as 'charity'. They SEEI it as an ENTITLEMENT.

fc2112 said:

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But accepting public assistance? My parents preferred we go hungry, which we did at times. No way they were accepting a hand out.

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I simply cannot wrap my head around this.