AUGUSTA, Maine — Roberta Duncan was three weeks shy of her 86th birthday when she was laid to rest last December in an unmarked grave in the “paupers section” of Bangor’s Mount Hope Cemetery.
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter director Dennis Marble was one of only six people present for her burial. The others were: two shelter staff members, a Franciscan Friar, an outreach worker and an employee of a local funeral home.
Duncan had no family locally but was well-known in the Bangor community — at least to people like Marble. In most ways, she was a lot like many of the people who visit the homeless shelter on a given day looking for a meal or a bed.
The woman suffered from physical disabilities — severe osteoporosis and ulcers — and psychological limitations — what Marble called a “compromised memory and mental organizational capacity.”
She needed help and that help “unintentionally cost society some money,” Marble said Thursday.
“When it came to Roberta, the Bangor community didn’t say, ‘There’s no money.’ A local hospital provided her health care and did so before considering rates of reimbursement,” he said. “General assistance provided her with the means for housing and at the end, the casket. The funeral home donated its good work.”
Marble, during testimony Thursday before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, said Duncan represents the face of general assistance, a subsidy program that’s in jeopardy of cuts in a supplemental budget proposed by Gov. Paul LePage.
General assistance is a state program designed to provide emergency assistance to those in need. The program is administered by municipalities and the cost is split between cities and towns and the state, except in areas such as Bangor and Portland where the need is greater. In those areas, the state pays 90 percent of the program once a certain threshold is reached.
LePage wants to reduce that to 50 percent reimbursement for all communities, a move some feel disproportionately affects service centers. He also wants to establish a time limit of 90 days that a recipient can receive assistance for housing and prohibit assistance to anyone who is receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal subsidy program.
The governor’s spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, said this week that these programs are not sustainable and the governor wants to see them return to their original intent. Dale Denno, director of the Office of Family Independence at DHHS, said the changes are needed to address an estimated shortfall created by an increased need for general assistance.
But Marble said the 90-day limit would put people like Duncan out on the street, adding that studies show it costs society more to care for someone who is homeless than it does to provide them with subsidized housing.
“This governor’s proposals to cut back general assistance might save money in the short term, but would eventually end up costing taxpayers in other ways,” Marble said. “And ending families’ access to the support provided through TANF will undoubtedly make more families and children homeless.”
Shawn Yardley, Bangor’s director of health and community services, said the proposal likely would add $1 million to his general assistance budget, which would be picked up by local taxpayers because general assistance is an entitlement program for those who qualify.
The social service cuts were the latest elements of the governor’s supplemental budget to come under scrutiny this week.
Thursday was the third day of public hearings on elements of the governor’s $37 million supplemental budget proposal. Several people testified on Tuesday and Wednesday on pieces including tax breaks on pensions that wouldn’t go into effect until 2014.
Many Democrats have said the supplemental budget is a policy document more than it is a budget. To address shortfalls and balance the state budget — outside of the Department of Health and Human Services — the administration needs to cut less than $15 million.
LePage’s proposal is $37 million. It addresses the shortfall but also makes cuts from some areas while increasing spending in other areas unrelated to the shortfall.
Among the more controversial cuts is one that would affect Maine Public Broadcasting Network and general assistance.
This is not the first time LePage has proposed cuts to general assistance.
In his biennial budget proposal last spring, the governor asked for a reduction in the state’s share to local communities. Many testified in opposition, including many of the same people who testified on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, a coalition of mayors from Maine’s largest cities united to oppose the cuts to general assistance. Portland Mayor Michael Brennan said the governor’s proposal to change the way general assistance money is distributed would shift costs to property taxpayers and increase homelessness.
Marble said the LePage administration is making a choice by prioritizing other spending at the expense of general assistance.
“When the governor’s office or bureaucratic leaders say, “There’s no money,” that’s actually a policy statement saying they have decided to distribute funding in other places to different recipients,” Marble said. “In terms of helping people who qualify for programs like general assistance and TANF, there are in fact options. Tax breaks could be reconsidered, taxes on alcohol could be raised, or a review of the tree growth tax law could be conducted.”
Marble said Bangor plans to do what it can to take care of people like Roberta Duncan, even if it means using public dollars.
“The governor and the Maine Legislature need to stand up and do likewise,” Marble said. “We are all in this together. We benefit when we support one another and we all pay when people go without basic life necessities and become homeless.”
Public testimony on the supplemental budget continued well into the evening on Thursday.
The Appropriations Committee is expected to continue working on the supplemental budget proposal into next week and could make a number of changes before a final document is presented to the Legislature.
Keep cutting Guv!
gonna enjoy it when we cut this pathetic governor
Probably as much as when the rest of us cut Baldacci
a year after he is gone, he will be in 70 degree, sunny weather, you will be shoveling snow
We’ll be shoveling snow no matter, come up with something better.
So what’s your answer to the budget problems…..what could another governor do? I hear tax the rich,but that only goes so far. I haven’t heard a single solution from the Democrats…..except slamming LaPage.
tax the rich appropriately for awhile and let’s see how far that takes us………….better than throwing the poor people in a ditch to die!!! The answer to the budget problem is to put the money where the poor are and stop giving/taking for inappropriate government handling/taking.
The Republicans and the Governor want to “restructure” DHHS……..and yet, they won’t allow an audit? Really??? Wouldn’t it be prudent to audit a department, before you restructure it?? That’s not slamming…….that’s common sense!
Are you actually saying we should find out where the problems within DHHS actually exist? Come on now you should know by now that that isn’t the way the tea party controlled Republicans in Augusta do things. My goodness your suggestion makes way too much sense for the tea party to even consider it.
OPEGA did 12 audits/reports of DHHS during the Baldacci administration.
What are the Republicans trying so hard to hide in this administration?
They supported all of the other audits, so their “logic” is pure bull. They are lying to us.
The problem with DHHS is that is hands out way to much money to people who choose not to work. McDonald’s is always hiring, can’t make enough to live on 40 hrs per wk then work 60.
Most of us have worked more than 60 hours since we left college. Is it too much to expect those receiving assistance to do SOMETHING – ANYTHING – for 40 hours. The problem is too many liberals think that forcing them to work even 20 hours a week is a violation of human rights.
That is not the problem. Working 20+ hours would reduce already meager benefits which can impact an entire family. Additionally many fast food chains, Wal-mart etc. do not offer full time hours because then they would be forced to pay benefits to their employees, so working 60 hours for most would not be an option.
I would like to see some of these decision makers try to LIVE on the amount allotted to the needy, with ALL the associated rules, e.g. no other family income etc. and see if they could actually afford to live, pay bills etc. for one month.
I am not blind, nor am I stupid, I realize the state is in a bad way. But making more people homeless, more children homeless, is not the way to solve the problem. Job creation at this point in time should be the primary focus of our Governor and politicians. By cutting the DHHS roles, LePage is simply currying favor for himself, and shifting the burden of poverty to cities and towns.
The state of Maine is NOT Marden’s and cannot, nor should not, be run like a bargain basement salvage store!! No offense to Marden’s, I love shopping there!!
I bet those folks only get minimum wage and qualify for assistance.
The McD’s in my town pays some benefit’s.These are move up jobs employees should always be trying to move up in a company and get better pay and benefit’s for themselves.If anyone takes a cleanup job at McD’s if they are motivated at all they should be trying for the franchise owners job.If not they need to look at themselves and what they want.Not look for government to save them.
Well I certainly do not feel that way! I think they should work, but how can they work if they don’t have transportation or childcare? How do we remedy that situation?
If we had even rudimentary public transportation we could all use it and not have to drive in really bad weather. But short of that, when there’s community service work to be done, people on public assistance could be picked up at their homes and bring their children, too.
At the site, some could be assigned to child care, some to do the other work. That’s how many migrant workers do it – take the children to the fields and have a few of them watch and play with the children while the others work. Take turns.
There are probably many more ideas for how to work this out, but this is just off the top of my head for now.
People on public assistance should be doing community service work, e.g., cleaning roadsides, repairing public buildings thereby saving taxpayers’ money, helping out older people stay in their homes by doing for them what they can’t do themselves (more savings and more enjoyable lives for Elders), sorting recyclables at the dumps, etc., etc.
People need PURPOSE in life. Without it, they wither and become helpless dependents.
Young people, especially, need to be instilled with purpose, and taught to take responsibility for their own actions throughout life, or they simply lose their way and become useless.
They especially need a chance to work.Society is fighting against young people work summer jobs or after school.Yet on the nightly news we see more and more drug problems everyday.The answer seems to be now is build more clinics and enable these teens rather than give them some purpose through personal responsibilty.Looks like the dems are growing a new entitlement voting base. The dems have been using this same game on the needy for years.
What are they afraid of? It should be an OUTSIDE audit like nonprofits are forced to do every year, why hasnt’ ME audited their depts? No wonder this is such a beggar state. Pretty sad for your kids when the adults don’t feel the need to pay their taxes. ME is a retail state and it’s pretty hard to keep up with what they’ve sold and they sure aren’t telling the state.
Thank You! Your right, it’s not slamming……but most of the time when a company or a department doesn’t want to be audited, there usually is something they are hiding.
Only if the Democrats were honest about an audit. They want to blame LePage and Republicans for finding and uncovering something that started in 2010. Who was governor in 2010? Who controlled the legislature in 2010? Not Lepage and the Republicans. Democrats do not want an audit for practical purposes – only to politcally shift blame and obstruct what needs to be done.
Really? So I guess not being told the truth regarding the budget numbers, a Commissioner who readily states that she withheld information from the Legislature, DURING a budget crisis deliberation, and now a Commissioner and a Governor, who clearly intervened in the Legislative process, want to re-structure a Department without an audit? The last Governor audited DHHS many times, the republicans didn’t have a problem supporting those audits. It’s not shifting blame, there’s no where to shift the blame, it lies squarely on executive mismanagement, and questionable executive actiions. The people have a right to know what is going on at DHHS.
Stall tactic at best.If one could get over the free ride for things people want instead of need is all we need for audit.DHHS is for need not want.
Deal with the abuse. Set limits for those who are physically and mentally capable of having limits put on their benefits. Cut some of the government waste – make those who are responsible for making decisions more accountable for the decisions that benefit them personally (pay raises, benefits received after they leave the position they hold). Give LePage a job in Hollywood where he can be in the spotlight and be outrageous and where his talent for being ineffective in state government won’t have the same negative effect on the state of Maine.
What’s your answer to taking care of those in need? Not taking care of them won’t make them go away. Please don’t make it a democrat/republican thing. We’re all in this together. I don’t think for a minute that just because someone is a republican they want to see more homeless families on the streets, any more than I think that democrats want to spend money we don’t have. Attacking the problem rather than the parties might provide a whole new perspective. It would certainly free up some real energy to use in a more productive way.
Actually not taking care of them does make them go away….they die.
the dems have been doing this for years for votes.Explain why we have thrown more and more money at this problem for years and needy just rises.Time for the dems to give up pocketing money in the name of help for votes.Time for a new system that works for the needy not those that profit.
The Democratic party has and has had only one solution…redistribute wealth by raising everyone’s taxes. In other words, remove all incentives to individual prosperity.
The Republican party redistributes wealth upwards–by cutting taxes on millionaires and billionaires and giving the rest of us a choice–pay higher taxes to make up for this loss of revenue, or slash help that’s needed by desperately poor, ill, and/or elderly people.
Republicans’ promises of smaller government sounds great to many voters until they personally begin to see the effects of reducing size and spending. I guess that the definition of government’s role will likely always be in dispute as long as we have a two party system.
Top 1% pay 40% of the taxes top 10% pay 67%. 50% of the eligible voting population pay no taxes. That 50% is Democrats putting their hands into my wallet
You do know that those who pay no taxes have no money?
The reason those at the top pay the lion’s share of taxes is because they have all the money, not the folks on the bottom of the totem pole. Instead of regurgitating right wing taling points you might want to research the items you comment on. To do otherwise makes you look dim.
How about you become one of the 1% and pay 70% of taxes in to the state.If more strived to get there rather than listen to Mr mediocracy in the white house.We would not be having this conversation.
Your wallet has already been emptied by the Republicans.
About those people who pay no tax–this occurs because they are DIRT POOR. Do you really want them to pay income tax, to make up for the revenus lost by giving millionaires tax breaks?
Take a look at the graph on http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html. Figure 10 compares CEOs’ average pay and production workers’ average pay. Which line skyrockets? Which stays flat? American workers are more productive than ever, yet they get laid off in droves and see their wages and pensions slashed. CEO pay goes up by 300%, while workers’ pay either goes down (minus 9%) or rises slightly (4%).
That is absolute garbage. People scream about not cutting these programs, despite the fact that this state (and nation) are broke. You squawk about “millionaires and billionaires” forcing you to “pay higher taxes to make up for this loss of revenue” when in fact they already carry the heaviest tax burden- the top 1% of earners pays 38% of federal taxes while the bottom 50% carries just 3%. This class warfare is wearing a bit thin. People like Ms. Duncan, who are truly in need, should receive the help but people who are willing and able to work should be expected to do so.
Here’s a web page to look at–http://www2.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html
Scroll down to table 1. You’ll see that the top 1% of Americans have nearly half (42.7%) the country’s wealth at their disposal. The lower 99% share what’s left.
You say that the top 1% pay 38% of income tax–looks like they should be paying about 43% of taxes. And don’t forget the ways ultra-rich people have of protecting their money from taxes–many pay zero tax thanks to foreign bank accounts.
I wonder why it is that simply pointing out this disparity can produce charges that I somehow hate wealthy people. I don’t hate them. I simply want to see an end to their special tax breaks that are damaging this country.
This is why communication is getting nearly impossible. Words mean things. Definitions mean things. Redistribution is taking from the producers of wealth for the benefit of the non producers. And as we know the liberal definition of “upper class” means those of us producers of wealth who work for a living. Not taxing the sources of wealth in the first place cannot be defined as redistribution. But liberals not only want to redistribute wealth – they are constantly redefining words. It is no wonder we cannot find common ground if they keep redefining words to fit their relativistic ideology.
You seem to be redefining words I used, such as “millionaires and billionaires” to mean “ordinary Americans who work for a living.”
No wonder you’re in favor of special tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires–you either think you’re that wealthy, or you actually are.
The real “sources of wealth” = workers. Real workers, not people who shuffle money around (hedge fund managers) or CEOs of major multinational corporations who lay off people and demand extra work from those who remain, to increase profits.
As a business owner please give me an example of giving me more tax breaks.How much should a CEO pay 75% of their wages in taxes.Is that enough to help the poor and elderly? Or should 10% or more pay all their wages to keep 80% alive and well.I would bet your rant about the poor and needy is about 10% of the total that really need help.What should happen to the % that base help on want not need.Would i pay more Yes if it was a system that helped those most in need rather than those that want a ride.
Republican president Dwight D. Eisenhower believed a top tax rate around 90% was good. I’d settle for 75%, sure. Let’s see–if their salary is, say $24 million per year, they’d have only 6 million left to live on?
I’m certainly not pleased that some CEOs actually pay less federal tax than employees who earn a tiny fraction of the CEO’s salary. And I’m not willing to continue special tax breaks for millioniares and billlionaires.
Well I see
you agree a few producers should pay to keep the rest comfortable, yes some
really do need help. I myself believe people should try to better themselves
rather than expecting their neighbor to go to work everyday to support them.
Please show me how anyone pays less on income tax. I did not realize payroll
taxes were collected by the more you earn the less you pay. Cannot wait until I
pay the low taxes the system states! Dictating how much any person can earn is
a path to destruction. Why would I want to be a CEO who takes all
responsibility for the company? I would be the sweeper and have a lot less responsibility
for the same wage. Again please give me some example of payroll taxes CEO’S
enjoy that I or yourself do not. The great divider is promoting a mediocre country.
What happens when Mr. Millionaire gets 10% of his wages? He stops spending
remember Mr. Millionaire has built a home life that employs builders, plumbers
and the like. How long before we get to the thousand Aires to keep people happy
that want not need. Say maybe 10 years. Now we have depleted our rich because
they can not keep hiring on 10% of their income and lose assets. With the lack
of hiring Mr. Builder goes out of business because Mr. Millionaire is downsizing.
We just added more to the needy. In short yes we need to take care of the needy.
Instead of stealing the neighbors wages how about a little self respect and
responsibility and strive to better oneself rather than being a pawn in the
democrat voting block. All but a few can become a millionaire or whatever they
want to be in America.
It is all about lifestyle and decisions. The few needy should be helped not
used for votes.
Here’s the core of your argument: “All but a few can become a millionaires.” Wrong. But that makes it clear why you’re so determined to put millionaires’ needs above having a social safety net. You’re certain that–any day now!–you’ll be a millionaire, too. But which is more likely for most Americans? Be become millionaires, or to have reversals (getting laid off, having a serious accident, developing a major illness) that will put us at risk of needing the social safety net?
Some points to ponder:
“…the current orthodoxy among Republicans is that we mustn’t even criticize the wealthy, let alone demand that they pay higher taxes, because they’re “job creators.” Yet the fact is that quite a few of today’s wealthy got that way by destroying jobs rather than creating them. ” [http://tinyurl.com/6shlf6d]
“While most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as “carried interest,” thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they’d been long-term investors.” [http://tinyurl.com/3wos82c]
“…between 1979 and 2005 the inflation-adjusted income of families in the middle of the income distribution rose 21 percent… Meanwhile, over the same period, the income of the very rich, the top 100th of 1 percent of the income distribution, rose by 480 percent. No, that isn’t a misprint. In 2005 dollars, the average annual income of that group rose from $4.2 million to $24.3 million. So do the wealthy look to you like the victims of class warfare? ” [http://tinyurl.com/3pq8xzf]
According to “data released annually by the I.R.S. The effective federal income tax rate for the 400 wealthiest taxpayers, representing the top 0.000258 percent, fell from about 30 percent in 1995 to 18 percent in 2008… “Also, Ronald Lauder [as one example] has saved millions upon millions of dollars thanks to special tax tricks only the ultra-wealth can use. “This welfare for the well-off — costing billions of dollars a year — is being paid for with the taxes of the less fortunate, many who are working two jobs just to make ends meet, and i.o.u.’s to be paid off by future generations,” said Senator Coburn, a Republican, who has called for limits on tax breaks for high earners. ” [http://tinyurl.com/7sa5k3y]
Republicans have only one solution , Redistribute the whealth to the top by tax Breaks and Deregulation.
In other words remove all hurdles to exploitation of the masses! .
Top 1% pay 40% of the taxes Top 10% pay 67% of the taxes
If Gov. LePage was on the “protected species list” ,, then all of this criticism from the Libsters would be classified as hate speech.
Think ’bout *IT* !!
I tried to think about “IT” but the required degree of intellectual dishonesty and fact twisting did not compute.
We didn’t have a problem until the Republican started their Trickle Down Theory Give away to the Rich!
Then the economy went south and Lepage now is turning off the trickle!
How about, lets start with families taking care of their own?
How about not buying that giant tv, the one where you’ll need to throw the couch out to get the tv in the room? How about giving up that vacation to buy some meds for your mother? How about driving a car for 5 or 10 years so you can house your father?
How about since people can insure their kid until they are almost middle aged then no welfare for those kids either until then at which time hopefully they’ll be working.
Why do you think it’s up to the tax payer to take care of your responsibilities?
Not all families are capable of caring for their own, and some people have no families. These elderly indigent have most likely paid taxes all their working life, perhaps made barely enough to get by so were unable to save for “retirement”. We should throw them away because they can no longer take care of themselves? Yes I think we have an obligation to take care of them.
What you say is true, but what the poster you were responding to said was true too.
I have seen Parents sign over ownership of all of their property to their children so that they can get benefits they would not have otherwise qualified for. They still got to the camp at the the lake, and live in the house, etc…. but it is isn’t counted against them as far as the benefits are concerned.
Does that sound like the system you would like to see or do you believe that these people are breaking at least the spirit of what was intended with the welfare system?
They aren’t breaking a law though I know that.
By the same token, parents have signed over their homes to their children and have been kicked
out in the street by these same children. Some children have abused their parents, beaten them and robbed them. Should these people be refused help from the welfare system? Not all families are like the “Father Knows Best” TV show.
So by your logic an elder must be homeless and destitute before they can receive the benefits that they paid their taxes for during the entirity of their working lives. Why should Nana have to let the state take her house and the family property when she can pass it on to her heirs before her death. Which by the way is perfectly legal. (with restrictions) Rich people do it ALL THE TIME. Not only that, but they put their money into trust funds so that it doesn’t count against them.
My pop has signed his property over to me, so that if and when he must depend on medicaid to help with his end of life expenses the state cannot come in and take the property. He still lives in the house, and I live here with him providing 24/7 care because of his Alzheimer’s and kidney failure. What I do, if done in a for profit care facility would cost the government upwards of $7000 a month. I don’t receive a penny.
Try getting your facts straight before you disparage those trying very hard to do the best they can without having the government take everything from them. Oh, and if YOU become ill and lose your job and health and must depend on Medicaid, they can take your property too. Just FYI.
The point is the State should have nothing to do with it. If you or your parents have the property that you can spare to take care of some of your personal upkeep then why should I have to take money away from my family to pay for you?
I don’t own a house on the lake and I never will as long as I have to take care of your Dad so that you can have his house.
Hiding your assets like that is not illegal but it should be and I don’t care how you classify Rich since you don’t seem to think you are. At least you own enough to be worried about the government taking something from you. They are taking from me before I can get enough to own anything so that you can take care of your dad and keep all of his stuff.
Well let’s take this “welfare” stuff one step further. What about people who are self employed and take write offs that are not really related to their businesss…such as soccer camps, tv’s, cable, travel. Who the heck do you think has to make up for that type of fraud???? Yeah us, the taxpayers.
We have laws against that type of fraud and the IRS is very active with their audit program. A little too active if you listen to many but at least they are doing something. Myself I would rather see a flat tax with no exemptions for anyone but that’s another debate.
There is no law against the cheats I am talking about. Mom has a million dollar house and wants the kids to have it so we have have to pay to take care of her while the kids sit on the property that should have went to pay for her.
Not illegal but hiding assets that way should be.
Who creates this obligation. Why isn’t their an obligation for people to take of themselves?
I’m the first person to say pay these former tax payers back in their old age
I also realize some need care that families cannot provide due to criminal cost
of medical care.
I do not believe some families cannot help their aging parents,
after all not a lot of parents kicked their kids out when times got
tough, a few I’m sure. There’s a thousand ways to come up with a
little extra money to feed them. I’d be happy to list some.
You know, reading these posts regarding caring for family members makes me sad. My mother is elderly and I would give anything to be able to help her and my father out. She suffers from dementia and is very dangerous. As much as my siblings and I have tried to get some help from Adult Protective, our conversations with that department goes in one ear and out the other.
Sorry to hear of your difficulty in getting help and your mother is one of the people who should be, as I’m aware of the side affects of dementia.
Let me ask you this, did you and your sibs take your mother with you when speaking with Adult Protective Services? If not I’d take her there often as possible…… for a friendly visit of course.
You are absolutely correct in theory. But it just doesn’t happen that way anymore. We have become a ‘throw-away’ nation. Whether it is a new vehicle every 2-3 yrs, a new cell phone every 6-8 months, a new TV. Where are the repair shops!! Unfortunately that includes our elderly. I’m waiting for euthanasia to be come legalized! The country won’t have a housing problem.
Time to get over the throw away attitude.
My toaster was my grandmothers made in the 1940’s,
still works, a little fiesty, my coffee pot my grandmothers,
doesn’t shine any more but still works fine, requires heat
There’s no plug on this baby. Hasn’t killed me yet not to
push a button.
You might not want to say euthanized to loudly the way this
world is it could come true
How about not cut tax income first and then try and balance the budget, that would have been a smarter choice. I am not a democrat but there was a good solution
Recently I saw an income tax table covering the last seventy years — showing booms and busts of the American economy. America has never had a lower tax rate overall then it does now. The table did not include all of the tax loopholes that have been written allowing wealth to not be taxed (hide-it-if-you-have-it). I find it amazing America did so well in the 1940’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s where our top tax brackets went from a high of 90% down to a now 33% – a 63% decline for the top bracket, while the middle class basically has seen no change.
It would be interesting to see where our national debt would be if the tax revenues were based on the tax rates (and loopholes not existing) of each President, say from Truman to GW Bush. I wish I had the problem of being in the 33% bracket.
Actually if we just cancel 75% of the scheduled new TAX CUTS planned for the rich the budget is fully balanced.
When you don’t have the money to pay the bills it is not a good time to intentionally cut incoming funds.
duh
Esppecially for those who have more than enough.
How omniscient of you.
I’ll decide when I have “more than enough”, thanks.
That’s why I’m in Texas and not at home. It’s taken a little getting used to, but what I make, I pretty much get to keep now.
What is more than they need.Like occuppy not offering breakfast to the needy.They had more than enough .How many people think you recieve more than you need.Say a phone snowmobile or car.Is that more than the needy have.All should have some skin in the game .Pushing the great dividers class envy is not going to fix anything.
This is one of the only comments that make sense.. Well said!!!
Raise the wages. Then people would be able to make enough to actually pay taxes again and fund these much needed programs. Unionize Walmart, Kmart, McDonalds, and every other cheap skate corporation and force them to pay a living wage and support their employees that make them the money in the first place, so we, the tax payers, don’t have to support them. Buy American made products that support our economy, not China’s. Enact a personal wealth cap of $1 billion in this country. Anyone who says that they need more than that has a monkey on their back called greed and they need some help anyway. Put the money back in the pockets of the middle class, the ones who actually support the economy. There, now you can’t say that you haven’t heard any solutions offered by an opponent of Poor Paul.
Lets pay everyone $75K annually and all problems solved
How about $25K? Is that still too much for someone who gets up and goes to work everyday? That is below the federal poverty level and yet, would double the pay of the average worker at WalMart. Even at 25K, you are not meeting your basic needs and still have enough left over to afford health insurance. Low wages keep our local economy down for everyone, especially small businesses, the economic engine of our country. We have to stop the billions piling contest and get some of that money back into the paychecks. I don’t want to steal from the rich and give it to the poor, I would like to see a personal wealth cap of $ 1 billion. We have anti-trust laws to protect us from one company controlling a market, Why don’t we have anti-trust laws that protect us from one person ending up with all the money? The 6 Walton heirs now have a combined wealth of $93 billion, or 93,000 million. More than the combined wealth of the bottom 96 million Americans. If they gave away 99.999% of their wealth, they still be rich by anyone’s definition at $9.3 million! If that doesn’t concern you, at least a little, My point has not been made.
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Nobody is being forced to work for these corporations. Prior to wal-mart and the rest of the big box stores, the mom and pop places paid minimum wage as well and no benefits at all. You can’t force a company to pay more then minimum wage, that would be more like China and communism. If liberals would come out of the closet and show there true feelings about embracing communism we can start talking about what you really want.
No one is being forced to work for these corporations? Really? What choice do they have? They are the only ones hiring these days. Back when people worked for mom and pop, you could actually survive on minimum wage. You can’t do that today without a lot of public assistance, payed for by you and me. Stagnant wages are the single biiggest problem with our economy today. Unless you are in the top 1%, then things have never been better. Speaking of communism, our lack of patriotism at the cash register has us in the hole to a communist nation for over $1 trillion and climbing. We should be applying a COLA to minimum wage, just like we do with SSI. Minimum wage workers buy the same gas and milk as retirees.
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How about the audit the lobstermen and their safety deposit boxes? Make no money but drive new 4X4s paid for in cash, the biggest non tax pyaing group in the state and then there’s the stern men…..no more EBT or LIHEAP for them would be a good thing. LePage is a lightweight and not real bright.
What do you have against lobstermen?? They earn every penny they make. They deserve that new 4×4. That is a very hard and dangerous job and the expenses to do this job is very high so stop your complaining…you are just jealous
Never collected a penny in state money or food stamps, EVER. I find it to be dishonest not envious, teach your kids to cheat. My parents taught me to earn it own my own and pay my taxes.
Amen! I have a huge grudge against tax cheats. Just think about how much money could be recouped if business owners stopped writing off their kids soccer, their personal trips, their kids cell phones, tv’s, home repairs that have absolutely nothing to do with their business. IT drives me absolutely insane. I pay my taxes and gosh darn it, other’s should pay theirs. So many people complain about foodstamps, medicaid etc., what the heck! Don’t some of these folks realize that they are funding the other catagory of cheats? Unless of course they are the cheats themselves.
I know for a fact that many lobstermen hide money so they can get state help but then turn around and buy a new truck every other year and build the biggest house that they can just to out do the neighbor.Some even go as far as putting everything in their kids names so they don’t have to claim it.Yes they work hard but hiding money so you can claim poverty isn’t right.
We have to pick up the slack when they avoid their taxes. I deserve a new car every two years but I have no way to screw the govt so that others can pay for it for me.
Raise taxes across the board. Budget problem solved. Its also funny that in the Federal Government we could have cut the budget more then the Republican and Democrats plans combined by Congress doing absolutely nothing.
I love the pic that the BDN chose for this story – Penguin blowing his stack. It’s a funny contrast to the schoolboyish-dumb looking photo they ran yesterday with the story about how he’s headed out for another Jamaica trip in the middle of the mess/crime that is DHHS’s current situation. Funny stuff from the Photo Dept.
so what would you rather do?
Issue more bonds to keep this state in debt for our children to pick up the tab?
Really sucks when you run out of other people’s money to spend doesn’t it?
Everybody gets their money from someone else!
That is NOT the way it works. Money is not a finite item. It is either created or destroyed.
Or groveled over.
That’s true but most have earned it !
11 / 6 / 2012 = ” Dies Irae” for the penguin and R’s.
This story shows the real “two Maines”. It’s not Northern Maine vs. Southern Maine or rich vs. poor. The real two Maines is the compassionite vs. the heartless.
One Maine has compassion and will do the right thing and not let the unfortunate suffer. The other Maine, which this Governor seems to be part of is heartless, selfish and as long as I get mine, anyone and everyone else can suffer.
That is where this Governor has taken Maine. How sad.
Then vote against him in 2014 as I am sure you will. But at least participate in addressing the problems of non-workers abusing these programs that were designed to TEMPORARILY help those truly in need.
looks like 156 people are getting their free ride cut short. Self responsibility is hard!
The money is gone. When are the liberals going to realize this?
when they are standing in bread lines…and not a moment sooner
the liberals understand the inappropriate appropriating of millions. the money is NOT gone, just gone to the WRONG places.
They will see it when someone from OWS, the homeless shelter, a 99 weeker, or some other parasite breaks into their home, car or robs them in person. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone but I have known more than 1 liberal change their stripes when catastrophy has happened to them by “one of their own”.
Yes, no problem with “it sucks to be you” philosophy. These people will cost society one way or another. Figure it out. You can’t stick your head in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist. (Hands to ears and “lalalalalalalalalalla……) Bravesface, some day you may not be as arrogant as you are now. One day, you, too, will be vulnerable, dude.
It is time to tear down the wall between the two political extremes. It is time to develop a moderate plan that doesn’t penalize the truly needy while forcing the taxed to support fraud. It is time for our elected officials to look at the whole picture and not whom will re-elect them. America has become jaded and hateful due to politicians rebel rousing rather than healing and building understanding and love. My life chances have given me the unfortunate and fortunate experience of both sides and I have realized that money is security but a loving family and caring friends are more important. Ask a stranger how they are doing and enjoy their smile once the shock fades. Call your local Council on Aging and see if an elderly person would like a visit. Just reach out and show someone you care; it doesn’t cost a cent.
Tell it those who will not compromise.
Good luck.
I bet your tune will change if you or a loved one ever needs help to keep a roof over your head.
What have you done personally to help people like Roberta Duncan? Do you cook a meal for a homeless shelter, volunteer at a local food pantry, visit the shut-ins? The easy way out for all of us is to say just take it out in taxes, but the better way is for ALL of us to help physically and monetarily locally. When we come face to face with the marginal in society then maybe we’ll begin to find real solutions rather than pass it on the the state to take care of OUR problems.
I pay my taxes, that’s more than enough.
No, its not. You do not live in a vacuum. Every action, or in your case inaction ripples out into the world and creates reaction. Unless we all endeavor to help others, on a personal not “governmental” level we are doomed. BTW, we are doomed.
Wow that’s the lazy way out.
I do what I can…I am not far from being “marginal” myself, but what I have I am willing to share. I also pay taxes…
This isn’t American…If your going to throw Grandma and those hurting under the bus then you’d better hit the wealthiest too! As a hard working man and patriot I’m disgusted with what both political parties are doing and if you can’t see that this man only cares about big business and corporate greed then you must be blind sir.
so somehow it’s american to forcibly take one persons hard earned money and give it to someone else that doesn’t earn it?
…
No, that’s called taxation and its prescribed in the Constitution (that’s the really old document that some very smart people thought up and so many people are screaming that so and so is not following it). It’s called living in a modern society.
Sure is buddy, its called “society”. feel free to check out whenever you like.
The worst part is there would be plenty of funds to go around for those in need if these programs went to those actually in need. Instead, so many people abuse the system that cuts like these must take place. This is the way it works in the real world. Sad isn’t it.
As a progressive liberal who believes in personal and civic responsibility I agree with most of your statement. At least in part, but not in conclusion. In 1978 a Democratic piece of legislation was passed in Maine allowing municipalities to utilize “workfare” in lieu of welfare. Municipalities don’t use it because they do not get reimbursed from the State. Thus, how does a common goal of an efficient and effective program assisting those in need, compounded by a sluggish economy that has existed for more than a half a decade now? For a solution between the two sides the devil will be in the details. How do we help those who need help while weeding out those who willing work the system – not trying to be a contributing part of society?
It would be an ideal use of BDN’s posting page to have some “serious” solutions, of heart and mind, displayed. That would call for reactionaries of both sides to cast aside snide and absurd comments – which will not happen – but never the less, solutions will need to be found. In a democracy we do that through the legislative process – hopefully the political parties can stop their warring ways long enough and seek solutions. As a Democrat I want my government to efficiently serve the people, all the people, poor, well-to-do, middle class, liberal, conservative. But, the devil is in the how we achieve that balancing of minds on reaching efficiency.
If more progressive liberals like you would be as serious as you are about discussing this and finding solutions then we could find common ground and libertarian conservatives like me would not be so upset about the assistance programs.
The GOVERNATOR says, ” “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” = “Let ’em eat cake.”
Sound Familiar ? Parle’ vous Frenchy ?!?
It pays to have a bi-lingual politician in The Office of Governor,
Does it Hurt to be cut ???
Then be thankful that we have “OBAMAcare”,,, LOL….. what a Joke !!!
Seven more years. GO LEPAGE!!!!
How about this specific case, Bravest? Would you be in favor of eliminating any assistance for Roberta Duncan, were she still alive? I can tell your money is important to you. How about this particular eighty-six year old woman? Where does her sad life slot in on your scale of human worth? Any compassion, conservative or otherwise, for Roberta?
Lepage kicks puppies and small children, Bangor daily news says.
He said himself that he used to steal other kids Halloween candy, too.
He also used to pull the girlies pig tails and bully the sissies on the playground for “hush” money.
And what do the proponent say?
Nice work Governor LePage!! Keep cleaning up the mess in Disgusta…
It is time to tear down the wall between the two political extremes. It is time to develop a moderate plan that doesn’t penalize the truly needy while forcing the taxed to support fraud. It is time for our elected officials to look at the whole picture and not whom will re-elect them. America has become jaded and hateful due to politicians rebel rousing rather than healing and building understanding and love. My life chances have given me the unfortunate and fortunate experience of both sides and I have realized that money is security but a loving family and caring friends are more important. Ask a stranger how they are doing and enjoy their smile once the shock fades. Call your local Council on Aging and see if an elderly person would like a visit. Just reach out and show someone you care; it doesn’t cost a cent.
Show me the “extreme left” is that single payer health care and higher taxes on the rich to pay for services for the poor. I dont want to see moderate why do i want half of what the tea party nuts and the koch brothers want.
Time to get out in the real world and see the fraud and abuse… it isnt about being nicey nicey.
Hurting the most needy. These are the people Paul was talking about on his campaign for office when he said he’d buy them a bus ticket out of State. Having seen over the past year how often this guy lies, is anyone surprised that he’s now devised a way to get rid of these people without it costing him a dime? In the mind of someone like Mr. LePage if you’re so old, sick and poor that people like him can’t squeeze any more profits out of you, the best thing you can do is die. The sooner the better because you’re nothing but a burden on society. This is just the kind of thinking one would expect from someone who was raised without a family or concept of society. It’s a new world order that kinda makes me sick. But don’t worry, I stills feels goodsnuf to go’s backs to werk. Fer sure Mr. LePage I’ze canz stills do’s ma joob. Cans I’zes stills stays?
I find it fascinating that you, and so many others actually believe statements like “In the mind of someone like Mr. LePage if you’re so old, sick and poor that people like him can’t squeeze any more profits out of you, the best thing you can do is die”
First and foremost an individuals family and/or friends should be responsible for the well-being of their friends/family. Everyone always wants the government to take care of everyone else, and I firmly believe that nobody should go without food, shelter, or basic care. But what I would like to know, is where are the families of all of these people? Why are they not doing anything? I understand she didn’t have family nearby, but that doesn’t have to stop them.
People claim that people like LePage are cruel, but what kind of person throws a parent or grandparent out on the street when they are no longer able to take care of themselves?
Not to mention those who are abusing or defrauding the welfare system, who are literally stealing from people such as the woman described in the article. I would say that they are pretty evil too.
But one thing you should be happy about is that one of LePage’s goals is to remove people from welfare who are abusing or defrauding the system, this will free up money for people who actually need assistance.
It’s difficult for anyone to answer why some people in need don’t have family to fall back on. Every human is as unique as his/her surroundings. But we can see the results of poverty and lack of close family ties. Homelessness, mental illness, and often times anti-social behaviors. Whether they wither and die or become political leaders these characteristics seem to be carried with them until the end of their days. We certainly don’t want any more such individuals roaming around and suffering than we have now do we? Someone needs to care when political leaders don’t know how.
But …….but………..but we need to stop this welfare foolishness for people. Cianbro needs the State to give them money to fund a study for their “investor owned” highway.
Yes, society should care for these people when family and friends do not. But society, and government are not the same thing. There are a lot of charities that do a lot of good in this country, and world. And I would argue that they do a much better job than our government does. The people of this country give nearly $300 Billion to charity each year, and that is not counting volunteering. That is more than many countries collect in taxes. Charitable organisations are run much more efficiently than government, and only people who really need help get it.
What about the billions of our tax dollars that go to help other country’s needy when we have our own here? Why shouldn’t our tax money care for our own first instead others, and then raise our taxes to care for our own? That’s BS.
Somalia, Ethiopia, Niger, and others are starving while they breed themselves into oblivion. Take care of our own, and let natural selection take care of the others. They don’t have to be much smarter than a chimpanzee to realize that if they can’t care for the children they have, stop making more.
“First and foremost an individuals family and/or friends should be responsible for the well-being of their friends/family. ”
Okay, but not everyone is the Govenah, so not everyone can give their brother-in-law a $67,000/year job.
Yeah, I was thinking more like some groceries, or that spare bedroom.
Was the brother-in-law qualified?
Why do some cats a dogs chose to be wild!
It is very easy for someone who is living in a mansion rent free, gets all of his and his family’s food paid for, doesn’t have to pay for water, sewer, electric or heat , to talk about how someone else is milking the system.
This piece belongs on the opinion page but the BDN chooses to call it telling the news.
It is time to tear down the wall between the two political extremes. It is time to develop a moderate plan that doesn’t penalize the truly needy while forcing the taxed to support fraud. It is time for our elected officials to look at the whole picture and not whom will re-elect them. America has become jaded and hateful due to politicians rebel rousing rather than healing and building understanding and love. My life chances have given me the unfortunate and fortunate experience of both sides and I have realized that money is security but a loving family and caring friends are more important. Ask a stranger how they are doing and enjoy their smile once the shock fades. Call your local Council on Aging and see if an elderly person would like a visit. Just reach out and show someone you care; it doesn’t cost a cent.
Could I just be nice to someone without “reaching out”?
I always hated that expression. I even sopped giving money to a politician that called me at home to “reach out.”
There no reaching those who can’t compromise.
I believe it’s reporting actual testimony. I would call that news. Just because you don’t like what it says, doesn’t make it opinion. I forget taht many of you on here always consider facts opinion. Reporting what was said doesn’t make it any less fact.
Just another everyday negative article by the Democratic Daily Snooze. Simply step up accountability with people that receive them. I work in a small town food cupboard and know of at least a third of the people there that lie and buy alcohol and cigarettes in the local store but beg for food? Take care of some of those people and the rest that really need it could have it. You are ignorant if you blame the Gov. only. You have to go back and out some of the blame on your previous Gov. and congress too. Just saying.
Would you rather they purchase their own food and beg for alcohol and cigarettes?
I’d prefer to not see them panhandle for anything that’s not a necessity. If they feel that alcohol and cigarettes are necessary to support their lifestyle, so be it. You can’t change people’s perceptions of what’s necessary to keep body and soul together and what’s not. But you *can* legislate against providing them things via social benefits programs that are recognized hazards to their health and wellbeing.
It is time to tear down the wall between the two political extremes. It is time to develop a moderate plan that doesn’t penalize the truly needy while forcing the taxed to support fraud. It is time for our elected officials to look at the whole picture and not whom will re-elect them. America has become jaded and hateful due to politicians rebel rousing rather than healing and building understanding and love. My life chances have given me the unfortunate and fortunate experience of both sides and I have realized that money is security but a loving family and caring friends are more important. Ask a stranger how they are doing and enjoy their smile once the shock fades. Call your local Council on Aging and see if an elderly person would like a visit. Just reach out and show someone you care; it doesn’t cost a cent.
this is great maybe some of those that depend on this will find jobs i have a tenant now that depends on this monthly, been on it six years , its time for a change i told her and she agreed
I bet it’s not worth it is it, most people who don’t OWN anything don’t respect what’s given to them.
Its not worth it at all to even accept it, these tenants either come from Homeless shelters or a beaten down family
I bet you don’t turn away that rent subsidy though, do you?
I no longer take General assistance. Its not worth it and takes forever to get paid for it. I am still owed for last year. The tenant that used it was giving her thirty days, but is now fighting it in court
It looks like you’ve been depending on it too. (trickle-down economics)
It amazes me that a state that produced such distinguished politicians as Edmund Muskie, William Cohen and Olympia Snowe, has elected such an obtuse, inept buffoon as it’s governor.
Don’t be insulting self respecting buffoons worldwide.
You’re forgetting the most distinguished of them all…Maggie Smith. I’d agree with you on Bill Cohen but Snowe and Muskrat – not so much.
A good number of people where asleep in 2010!
They wont be in 2012!
They need to make sure there are enough overpasses laid out in the East-West Highway study for these folks to sleep under. Another 50K in government money for Cianbro should cover it.
Paul LePage is getting a good start. Once we elect a true Tea Party patriot as President and get rid of Social Security for all of the elderly freeloaders, we will be well on are way to being great again like when Hoover was president!!!
Just let them eat cake, I say.
Who approved the Penobscot Narrows Bridge? That elevated tourist tower has definitely paid for itself, not
Bangor can easily afford it – they are constructing a new auditorium.
But the taxes that are gonna increase are gonna pay for that
It wasn’t an increase in taxes – it is revenue from the (monopoly protected) casino taxes. Folks in Bangor feel a brand new auditorium is more important than taking care of the needy.
Tax Revenue generating events center and presumably other business as a result is a big no …. spending more revenue is a yes. How does that work exactly?
hahahaha yeahhh. It’s aint gonna cost us a cent right? :)
Anyone that has lived in Bangor for over 6 years had the chance to vote for/against the casino. Bangor voted for it and as a contingency, the casino has to escrow a percentage of their revenue to a fund to replace or repair the existing auditorium. This is what was determined by your elected officials was the best solution, given all the facts, for the city of Bangor. Is that easy enough to understand? Taxes will not go up due to this. But I am sure the same people that complain about any of this would have all the answers. Well take out the papers this October and run for council, 3 seats will be available.
Now go to city hall and get a copy of the budget. Take a look at how much money goes to those that claim they can’t provide for themsleves. Look at what our tax dollars pay for general assistance vs. what goes to the New Bangor Auditorium and get back to me.
You want to tax something that is tearing apart our City? Tax the Methadone clinics. We let almost 3k junkies in our city everyday to get their legal heroin. Many of them decide to pitch a tent here so they don’t have to drive so far, many don’t have a vehicle or license so it works. Then they stomp to Yardleys office and sign up for more free stuff while the Discovery House gets a ton of money and takes it out of state. They are allowed to come into our city without paying nearly what the casino pays but causes way more destuction.
Bath Salts, Bangor is the Bath Salt ground zero of the USA, anyone think the 3k junkies here has anyting to do with that? Those clinics are rolling in it at our expense, assisting with the destruction of families, children, lives amd so much more.
How can we let this continue, not only in Maine but in the rest of the US as well. As the conservative agenda continues to impact those of us who are most vulnerable it becomes clear that this is a ruthless
attact on the defenseless among us.
LePage goes after the poor and cuts taxes on the wealthy. 3 more years of this is what we face. I will stand against this redistribution of wealth to the 1%. Occupy
Let’s have Democrats occupy the State Senate and Legislature, ASAP.
Welfare and social programs are great!
Until you run out of everyone elses money.
Well Said.
Want to invest in the future,
Rule #1- OPM
Rule #2- Make ’em an offer they can’t refuse
Rule #3- Off shore bank accounts
If you don’t believe me, just ask Bernie MADoff… http://cdn.babble.com/famecrawler/files/2010/11/bernie_madoff_newyork.jpg
Why does it delight people so much to know those in need are going to be denied?
When was the last time you brought a meal to someone like Roberta Duncan? Or offered someone a place to sleep on a cold night? Or is that only Governor LePage’s responsibility?
That wasn’t the question I asked, I asked why do people cheer when they hear someone in need is going to get cut off. As for my contributions, I am disabled, my wife is disabled and we have no children. We won’t have children because we don’t feel we should have kids we can’t afford to provide for. I get about $7,000 a year to live on. I can’t help, I just want to know why it delights people so much when they hear people are going to lose services essential to their survival.
It’s none too surprising, that your original query about the delight some take in kicking those in need, has not received one decent answer.
I lived out of state for many years and upon returning and reading the comments in the BDN, can’t believe this is the same state I left. So many heartless comments about everything that isn’t
included in their personal lives. Every year my co-workers and I contributed to needy families with clothes for the whole family, things each individual in the family asked for. We also contributed food for food baskets. I never met any negative people when they were asked for a buck for this or that. I think a lot of the negativity comes from lack of employment and in some cases lack of education. Other people are just being pompous, because they have everything they need and can’t understand why others don’t. Best wishes to you and your wife.
My questions were meant to be thought provoking. I understand not everyone has money to spare, but we all have a civic duty to take care of people in our community. You say, “I just want to know why it delights people so much when they hear people are going to lose services essential to their survival.” I disagree wholeheartedly. Very, very few people are ever happy that people are suffering. Have a little faith in society, c’mon. However, many people realize that a welfare state is absolutely detrimental to society. We will ALL suffer in the end if we do not cut the size of these programs. I don’t agree with your ideology in the slightest- people are naturally able to survive, with or without government. The fact that you believe these people are alive because of the government is absolutely frightening. Our communities are better than that. Believe me, “welfare” existed long before the government took it over…
Do you? Because if you don’t, then your attempt at pointing out hypocrisy in others is baseless.
It is not about pointing out hypocrisy! It’s about getting people to THINK. Welfare programs reduce the need and desire to act out of charity. And that applies across the board. But yes, I do what I can, when I can. Should I do more? Yes, and hopefully there comes a time in my live when I’m able to contribute a lot more. My point though is: it’s our job, not the government’s.
It is our responsibility.
Wholeheartedly agreed! To put the pressure upon Governor LePage to maintain the livelihood of the poor and sick is twisted ideology. We should ALL be ashamed that the duty of “charity” has been placed upon politicians.
Twisted ideology is run amok tea party lunacy as perfected by Le Page and his sheepish followers.
Sadly, those, to whom that is somehow a political victory, feel like winners, now.
Next, they’ll want to throw the homeless in jail, too.
That’s a damned lie. The radical right does not want to throw homeless in jail, they don’t want to throw anyone in jail. It would cost them precious tax dollars. Their fix for everything is to shoot it.
First they come for those on sex offender register
and we did nothing.
Then they come for the public employee union members …
who is going to deny them, you?
the whole idea is that charity should be a voluntary action and not something that is coerced out of people through the collective force of government
if these citizens are denied anything, it is because people such as yourself have failed to provide for them under your own voluntary efforts. don’t force everyone else to do it and then cry fowl when they resist your coercive action against them….after all, they’re human beings and when was the last time you were forced to do something against your will and enjoyed it happily without protest?
People like me deny those in need? I’d do anything I could to help someone in need, I just don’t have the ability to help. If the survival of needy people were left up to those who voluntarily help, they’d all die. People just don’t care anymore. My failure to provide for people in need is because I don’t have anything to give. I wish I did make enough money to be taxed. I’d be honored to give to my country.
Once upon a time when I was left high and dry with 3 kids to support, the wonderful well to do folks in the church that I attended, supported and contributed my time to, ignored my situation, not even a phone call to see how I was doing, with the exception of one man, who had a large number of kids and was nearly destitute himself. This man came to my door and asked if I needed anything, if there was anything he could do to help. He would have gladly shared what little he had to help me out. This is a true Christian. I had found a job and was on the way back up so I thanked him kindly but refused his offer. Some of us do what we can…some actually do more than they can.
We all deserve a powerful political figure to take an interest and get us into a college we do not qualify for and pay our tuition.
If you don’t have that happen to you, it must be your because of the sins of your fathers,
or something.
The poster simply asked why do people “delight” in seeing those in need denied help.
No one is being coerced to help those in distress. The poster wanted to know “Why” people like you delight in cutting off their aid.
That’s all.
Evil!
Those sharing ignominious delight will defer their replies.
Bennett said, “… these programs have become too generous and are not sustainable.” Maine’s the oldest State in the Nation, Maine has more people dying or leaving Counties faster than we have people moving in to Maine to sustain our economy and, I believe the service industry is a growth industry in Maine. That’s the nursing, elder care and home bound services care industry.
Most Mainer’s seemingly need the supports provided by this service industry are likely of middle or below middle income. Many have no transportation, live in subsidized apartments or with family, have chronic health conditions, live on a minimal pension of Social Security from which thy must pay for Part B Medicare and prescription co-pays or drugs not covered by same. Then there are durable medical goods, many not covered by Medicare for dressing changes, diabetes or better not need a new wheelchair more than every 1o years, break your eye glasses or heaven forbid one’s dentures break or you need dental care or hearing aids more than every 10 years.
Its so easy to say “…these programs have become too generous and are not sustainable.” This may be true but it is also true that people who need help need the general assistance program supports. Governor LePage’s plan to pull funding from Towns/Cities, who are in the trenches, helping the most needy people in Maine is just plain wrong. Maine must have the resources to help our most needy. I applaud Town Managers, Councils, Mayors and Local Elected Officials who struggle to balance their community’s need while balancing taxpayer concerns.
Lets step back and look at the big picture. Pray there are no more Roberta Duncan’s ever again. This is so sad. Maybe a few pictures of Roberta Duncan and an invoice c/o Governor LePage might help this Administration realize that General Assistance to Towns is not generous ….
He would not care. If he did, he would never have proposed this.
The Governor must protect the interests of the wealthiest at all costs…… it’s in his DNA !
Where is Maine on this in regards to other states?
Who cares, I live and pay taxes in MAINE, I really don’t care about other states welfare problems, ours is toooo big!
I agree 100% ….. please chew on a piece of wood,, it helps relieve the swelling and bleeding of the eyes.
Rapidly catching up with California.
And Greece….
keep up the good work guvnah, you have support out here…to bdn:its obvious you try to pick the worst photos for people you dont like…and i dont see any of the regular peoples names who usually post here, did you block people you dont agree with?
Maybe they found a heart and realize how awful this is?
So… I feel lazy, can you please pay for me?
You have all kinds of disposable income right?
Shouldn’t you be providing for the “poor and needy”
?
see how this works?
The state doesn’t have any more money.
we’re broke, and the people of the state cannot afford to provide for everyone else.
The reason the majority of people ask for assistance has nothing to do with lazy. Why don’t you try volunteering at a homeless shelter and actually talk to some poor or homeless people and find out what it’s really like. Then maybe you might just grow a heart although I doubt it.
Also the state has plenty of money for corporate welfare and taxbreaks,maybe they should give a little or take less. Why are we giving Walmart a $450,000 tax break in, I believe, it’s Rockland? They can certainly afford to pay that amount of money . That could provide 900 families with $500 toward their rent one month each year.
And now he’s proposing more tax cuts. Absurd, especially if the state is broke as you say.
Budget IS policy.
There is nothing more to say.
This is an op-ed through and through.
I disagree, but I’d like to hear why you think so. An op-ed would contain my opinions. This story does not. It focuses largely on testimony given during a public hearing. I could have quote two dozen people who testified against the general assistance cuts, but I chose to focus on one compelling story. You can question that approach, I suppose, but that doesn’t make this an op-ed.
-Eric Russell
You’re right in the fact that I shouldn’t have used the term ‘op-ed’. This is much better described as a human interest story. Because, as other commenters have pointed out, the approach seems to overwhelming encourage emotion in favor of one party over another. Is that the goal of news-writing? I would argue it’s not. I have no problem with your stance on the issue, however, I do have a problem with persuasive stories like this being passed off as front-page news. Thanks for responding!
I am a supporter of Governor Lepage in many of his budget cuts. One must be careful when passing the buck as it can get more expensive as the buck is passed. If we are addressing the mentally ill often times revolving in and out of jail, due to mental illness. Shelters give them an inexpesive alternative to hospitalization or jail. Sometimes if given the right shelter with structure “institutional structure is what these people are often comfortable with and excel in. Just saying, cut their time in shelters and you will find them in Acadia or your local jail. Everyone has to live somewhere, and we aren’t all created equal. In a perfect world, these people would fit in and find housing and keep it. Unfortunately, they don’t have the tools, to do this. Is the state willing to pay someone to find them a home? Pay their bills for them on time and assist them in getting along with neighbors and homemaking? Once they get the shell of an apartment they also need to outfit it with furniture and housewears, then food. There are so many obstacles for the average person, let alone a person with challenges; that they quickly become overwhelmed. Panic and then end up hospitalized or worse, act out in aggression and commit a crime.
Cuts are always going to affect someone, but it has to be done in our state.
Great picture. Looks like he is ready to explode.
Just his normal look…….
BDN news should be ashamed, but they do their best.
hahaha!!! good one.
Theres no money but he can create jobs for family members and pay them 3-4 x’s the amount the rest of us are getting paid, but there is no money. I think the over paid and underworked employees under LaPage should be cut.
Here we go again….bangor daily news…wow can u just stop already ..hmm the schools didn’t close… dhhs is still open ..to the contrary of your other headlines…omg! you are doing your “job” tho I almost miss the democrat you loved so much… the one that created this financial mess baldacii……no wonder your sales r down….seriously try being an independent press? question for u …if lepage created this mess in such little time in office how is it that Obama in three years hasn’t created this mess the country is in? After all he still blames bush…so can lepage blame baldy? Or can we say lepage is not fixing anything or helping anything as the same as Obama?
The Bangor daily News looks for the worst pictures of Gov. LePage that they can find to lead on these stories. Makes him look like an imbicile. It is sooooo transparent. Anybody can look compromised with a camera on them 24/7 They never did this with Baldacci. It shows the BDN bias in living color. Come on BDN….stop being so one sided and have some sense of journalistic integrity.
He doesn’t have a camera on him “24-7”. This just shows he cannot contain his theatrics when he is in public. He himself supplied the image. BDN just captured it.
If you want to talk about cutting, let’s talk about holding TANF recipients accountable for their money! They get their moeny on a debit card and spend it any way they wish. NOT ACCEPTABLE! Make a percentage go to thier rent before they get it- hello basic necessities!!!!
So why do these liberals want us or the rich to pay more for unaccountable spending by those who have not earned it?
the only critics I hear are on this BB
Recall LePage!!!!!!
for the same amount of energy you spent posting this you could have
drafted legislation to create a MRSA that allows Maine voters to recall politicians.
Every other organizational entity in Maine has a mechanism to get rid of
someone not wanted by the organization. Look at
the case of Dale McCormick who was removed from the Maine State Housing authority
this week.
I know, I know you are going to say Maine is not Montreal, eh?
Massive student tuition march paralyzes Montreal
March stretched more than 50 city blocks at its peak
CBC News
Mar 22, 2012
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/03/22/montreal-student-protests.html
and elect who?
someone that will continue to kick the can down the road for our children to pick up the tab for decades of reckless spending?
Someone who will issue bonds? keeping maine in debt?
Someone that will say “oh, there’s no problem, bring your poor, your hungry, your lazy, your druggies, your insane, your criminals, your problems with you to maine, we have a great system that can provide for everyone!
Just as long as the few keep working hard to provide for many, we’ll be okay.
Are you trying to tell me that there is no one in the State of Maine qualified to be governor? What was Landslide LePage’s plurality in the election? Wasn’t it somewhere around 36%. If LePage is the best there is we are in real trouble.
YES – and replace him with someone more conservative who will eliminate the Maine corporate income tax – which would be good for consumers and the unemployed. Someone who will REALLY cut the programs you must be worried about.
When the Gov says, “there is no money.” It really means……there is no money for those in need, but we have plenty to appropriate to all the rich companies that are owned by politicians and or families. IE:appropriations committee taking 23 MILLION and giving it to their/spouses businesses. Greedy/dishonest folks amoung the politicians.
Keep cutting… It is about time!!
When you pay your credit card bill, do you use another credit card to make the payment… Well John Baldacci did that for 8 long, sickening, terrible wasted years, and now it has to be paid for…
Don’t worry my liberal friends in 10 to 20 years when the Republicans have it all fixed, you can take over and give to your hearts delight for 30/40 more years..
We are just fixing your crap so you don’t have to take the blame for being incompetent…
This is not American…If you’re going to throw Grandma under the bus then you’d best hit the wealthiest too! As a hard working man I’m sick of both political parties and the failure to do whats right for our country. If you can’t see that this governor is only out for big business and corporate greed then you must be blind.
Too much tea does that to some folks
I’m sure Mass will take them all in. I heard there is even room at the Kennedy compound for them. JUST DON’T TOUCH THE BOOZE!
The suffering of the wealthy with the lowest tax rates in decades is too much to bear! So let the poor take the hit. Good ol’ USA! And a Christian USA! So much for Jesus’s message of unconditional love for all fellow humans and a special compassion for the poor. Hypocrites and liars, one and all, in the Republican party.
The Christian message is a balanced one – to help the truly needy but those who can work but refuse to work are not to continuously receive help until they do work. And it is individuals, churches and charities that should do the help – not government.
Paul Lepage is a Goblin
That is what they want America to look like but it sure doesn’t work for Americans.
Anyone that has lived in Bangor for over 6 years had the chance to vote for/against the casino. Bangor voted for it and as a contingency, the casino has to escrow a percentage of their revenue to a fund to replace or repair the existing auditorium. This is what was determined by your elected officials was the best solution, given all the facts, for the city of Bangor. Is that easy enough to understand? Taxes will not go up due to this. But I am sure the same people that complain about any of this would have all the answers. Well take out the papers this October and run for council, 3 seats will be available.
Now go to city hall and get a copy of the budget. Take a look at how much money goes to those that claim they can’t provide for themsleves. Look at what our tax dollars pay for general assistance vs. what goes to the New Bangor Auditorium and get back to me.
You want to tax something that is tearing apart our City? Tax the Methadone clinics. We let almost 3k junkies in our city everyday to get their legal heroin. Many of them decide to pitch a tent here so they don’t have to drive so far, many don’t have a vehicle or license so it works. Then they stomp to Yardleys office and sign up for more free stuff while the Discovery House gets a ton of money and takes it out of state. They are allowed to come into our city without paying nearly what the casino pays but causes way more destuction.
Bath Salts, Bangor is the Bath Salt ground zero of the USA, anyone think the 3k junkies here has anyting to do with that? Those clinics are rolling in it at our expense, assisting with the destruction of families, children, lives amd so much more.
And eliminate income and property taxes with a higher sales tax. Then these freeloaders will help us pay taxes when they SPEND. The irresponsible escape income and property taxes but they cannot escape the sales tax.
DOWN with LEPAGE. I pay my taxes like anybody else, but he’s twisted this state budget TOO much.
Problems = solutions. Audit the DHHS.
It’s so obvious that this paper go out of its way to root out the most unflattering photos it can find of the governor. It’s pretty childish, but worse, it’s calculated and far from objective jounalism.
post removed
The picture is perfect. The image portrays the real “inner” Paul.
If you want to hear the truth, the most needy are the working class, overtaxed people like me who are paying for all of these programs that are long overdue for cuts!!
That is why the wealthier among us should be paying more taxes.
TEA! Taxed enough already – at ALL levels! These programs are a flawed concept – they allow the non-working greedy to steal from the truly needy. These programs should get no more tax money from anyone – not even the rich.
feel free to pay all you want there are no restrictions on paying more if youlike
You should talk to the guy that supplied the original image.
The image of LaPlague above is perfect. It definately worth a thousand words, portrays the real Paul.
It’s funny that everyone is mad that he is cutting all this money, but I have a feeling those people that are mad are using computers that I paid for with my tax dollars…. Keep up the good work LePage
Well I haul my butt out of bed everyday and work, pay bills etc., and I do not get one penney of welfare and I don’t agree with everything he’s doing. And by the way, my money from employment paid for my computer!
So why do you want your money and mine to pay for someone else’s who refuse to work and who hate us no matter how much we give them?
Sea, I don’t agree with everything Lepage is trying to do, however, I do agree there needs to be some revamping. We need to put programs in place to find jobs for these folks who are capable of working. If not, you are going to see higher incidence of break ins and theft. For 30 years I never use to lock my doors, now… I lock them. If you think they are stealing money from you now, just wait until desperation sets in.
Keep raising that tax on ALCOHOL too and don’t forget ciggaretts!
The higher the fuel prices go the deeper the cuts should be because if I have to go with less the less the welfare people should get. Because if I have to suffer and they should suffer with me.
All that matters is that the politicians get everything free, beyond that they could care less!!!
How true, the politicians get everything they want and need, free. We need to cut their benefits and maybe they would only stay for a year and not make it a career with massive benefits. I do feel bad for the folks who really need assistance and cannot afford it. It isn’t right. We need a million man march. We also need immediate measure’s to combat the fraud. However, we need to start with the politician’s as they all want to get on the election bandwagon to reep the free benefits, not help their fellow citizen. Just like our 2 party system, it’s so outdated.
The sad thing is that we will never correct any problem by voting! The election process no longer works as it was intended to, all we do is replace crooks with crooks. Until the American people take a direct and hard stand against political corruption, politicians will be the only ones to benefit!
Paulie the First is demonstrating, once again, that he has no connection to the average Maine voter given that he’s clearly determined to ‘clean up Maine’ at any cost. Fine, and in the process he’s going to do what with the many that are homeless thru no fault of their own, are struggling to put a roof over their families head and any kind of food on the table and, even more important, to keep healthy in the face of the State Senate’s blatent demonstration that Maine is suppossed to be some kind of 100% perfectly healthy, GOP-only, deserved Utopian society ?
Maine, as a State, was incredibly lucky that we had a winter like we did, the ski operations not withstanding the beating they took. Had this nonsense of LePage’s cutting GA happened prior to a really bad winter, like the one we had 2 years ago, LePage himself, and a large number of the State Senate’s GOP and Tea Party, would all be out at Mt Hope helping the crew’s there dig a whole lot more graves to bury the dead that would have been found frozen to death. Napolean had his retreat from Moscow and Hitler has Stalingrad, both having to bury the people they were responsible for. LePage is no different but his apparent concern is now out there for all to see, and suffer under given his recent statement’s. Given that LePage already has his escape route worked out, Florida being only 4 hours by air, it’s not surprising that he’s doing all he can to politically ‘clean up Maine’ by concentrating on eliminating the very needs that the GA fundng was created for in the 1st place. I just wonder if he’s got the ‘stone’s’ to put as much effort into getting the State, and these same folk’s he’s so intent on destroying, back on track by encouraging business to come to Maine and getting these same folk’s into those job’s, thru re-training, as he is on keeping his campaign promise’s to the GOP and Tea Party ? It’s time for LePage to put his money where his mouth is and show his ‘Hole Card’.
Disturbing story about Roberta Duncan. We know that living off welfare shouldn’t be a way of life, unless you are put there because of a severe physical disability or obvious mental one. So, what do we do with the other folks out there? As we take them off their proposed temporary assistance, is there a program out there where every single person meets with a representative that is making sure there is a job in place? Someone helping these folks workout daycare? Transportation to and from work? Are there families that could temporarily share housing and chores to help each other out to make this transition?
Funny, I thought there was plenty of money, I mean the repugs are proposing more tax breaks aren’t they? Must be the deficit has gone away. I guess they’ll just throw the less fortunate under the bus for kicks then.
Problem with tax breaks? If there is more money it should go to eliminate the income tax which was supposed to be temporary. Reward the income producers not the free-loaders. One of your “less fortunate” just fathered another kid on welfare and liberals do not want to hold these people accountable. If you really cared about the truly needy you would join us in stopping the abusers from stealing from both the taxpayers and the truly needy.
I watched a wonderful display of welfare in action yesterday. I saw a guy eating fast food in the Hannaford parking lot during his lunch break. He threw a french fry out his car window to a lone seagull that had been sitting there watching him eat. The seagull snatched up the fry and ate it and within a minute there were now 4 seagulls sitting outside his car window and more circling. He threw out a few more fries and even more seagulls came.
It’s sad to say but the reality is the Seagulls in almost all of the cases can feed themselves. Sure there may be a sick or injured one that your handouts will help to make it through the cold winter but more often than not the healthy ones are going to swoop in and steal the fries right out of the mouth of the unhealthy one.
When the left can correct the problem with the free fries and the seagulls then we can take that solution and apply it to the welfare issue.
In the meantime Bangor, the best way for you to stop attracting the freeloaders is to stop throwing out the free crap.
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from
me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and
his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you
did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after
me.’” Mathew 25:41-43
I don’t see anyplace where the man from Nazareth advocated charity funded by contributions extorted at the point of a Roman spear.
While he’s trying to take away the safety net for many families in Maine he and his family are rubbing it in those people faces by partying in Jamaica and living the good life. What a hypocrite. Keep smoking that Jamaican whacky weed Gov. as that explains alot.
Funny thing I have noticed, “proposed cuts” of the past have always “hurt needy” according to critics, BUT we have more “needy” now then we had then. Either the wording or the concept is incorrect.
Hey Bangor Daily Rag
Your negitive pics of the Gov. are getting old.
I agree with the cuts, alot of the people (not all) are doing work to get extra money under the table , alot have Ipods and cell phones and what ever, but you see them in the free food lines. I feel if you are in need then help should be given. But on the first of the month you go to Wal-mart, you can see people buying new TVs, phones and so much stuff that is not needed. if in fact you are so bad off why not buy food stuffs, can goods what ever. they know that they can buy this and a hand out is around the corner if they cry loud enough. Way to many hand outs and ABUSE of a system that was made to help people that helped themself, but not for living of the working people who have PRIDE in making a living the old fashion way, WORKING
Thats about right for all these people that like supporting others.The systems allways gives to people moving into Maine for the easy welfare, that is what needs to be cut off. All the ones wanting to support 1st, second, third generations on welfare open your eyes, out of staters are moving in for the easy welfare. PLEASE let the Gov. do his job and curtail this free living society.
We spend billions more welfare dollars overseas on people who hate us then we do at home. Hell will freeze over before LePage gets relected. He needs to take his big mouth and hate and be gone. He’s a ledgend in his own mind.
The new Obama care death oh I mean health squads will deny the most needy care and I don’t hear you screaming about that…
Because what you say is not true.
Not true? Quit denying the obvious. Liberals are so quick to accept without question all stories about how private insurance beaucracies hurt people but are blind to the problems of government beaucracies. Replacing private insurance beauracracies with even bigger and even less resposive government beauracracies guarantees worse problems. Cutting 1/2 Trillion from Medicare to help fund Obamacare – probably because Obama lost and is still losing the senior vote – is more proof of how putting liberals in control of health care will be disasterous to anyone who opposes them!
Again, that is more nonsense. The money that you say is being cut from medicare is actually coming from Medicare Advantage which is a PRIVATE program costing our government a third more than regular medicare to NO good advantage. Guess where that windfall goes. It goes to the private insurance industry. It was a trial program which by ALL accounts does not work better than traditional medicare. In other words another giveaway to your precious insurance industry. The savings from ending Medicare Advantage go directly BACK to medicare, so no, medicare is NOT being cut. Your facts here are not factual. Are you an insurance industry plant or just another person who believes Republican lies.
LePage doesn’t control our foreign policy or the Federal budget. But I have a feeling if he did, he would be putting a stop to a lot of the waste. Refreshing. Really refreshing…
I think he stands a good chance at being re-elected by working Mainers.
I’m a working Mainer who didn’t vote for LePage. Even the Republicans in the house and senate feel uneasy with his extremism. No second term for Le Rage.
So what is the end result of all the “unease” and “extremism”? Policy changes that are smart and sustainable? Albeit politically uncomfortable?
We humans do not like change! It makes us uneasy and then causes us to call the change “extreme” to allay our discomfort. If you want, we can go soft and easy and keep doing the same things over and over again hoping for a different result.
if there are any working Mainers left when he leaves office. He’s created two jobs his first year both family related. The only way he will get relected is if he runs unopposed and than I have my doubts. He the big mouth guy at the end of the bar, the one we are all glad we are not. Most Mainers I talk to are digusted with him and his behavoir.
Seems to me he is governing as Obama said he would – without worrying about re-election. He is dealing with issues that have hamstrung this state and been kicked down the road by every Governor for at least the past 4 administrations. He is shaking things up and making the entrenched very uncomfortable. He is plain spoken and not a teleprompter diva. I can relate. And the Mainers I talk with, feel the same way.
Why do we have to pay for either? Stop welfare there and here. It is a flawed concept for both foreign and domestic policies!
What a bunch of cold hearted people. For God sake she was 86, come on wakeup.
Hospitals have to treat people who come to the ER, no matter if they can pay or not. And society will rally around to help someone obviously old and enfeebled. I’d like to see both sides of stories presented instead of sob story after sob story. How about the stories of people who’ve been on the “temporary” system for years but continue to pop out kids, trade bennies for cigarettes, etc.? I think they’re probably more common than the lady featured in this story.
“…Tax breaks could be reconsidered, taxes on alcohol could be raised, or a review of the tree growth tax law could be conducted.”
Taxes, taxes, taxes…
the pathetic scum that does not allow anything to happen in Augusta without some sort of bias crap needs to be addressed.Since Mr lepage has cut off the public money going into private pockets schemes of the past.The democrat attack squad has been working overtime.I hope the voters of Maine realize and show it at the voting booth.This is what has been running our state for the past thirty years.
You feel the Repubs steal fewer tax dollars than the Dems?/?
The way I see it is that politicians steal, expecting them to “be fair” “cut spending” or “help the middle class is akin to expecting a male rabbit to remain celibate.
I disagree all, so far i believe Mr lepage is out to fix maine not steal from it.
Just another daily attack on our Governor.
He’s doing the best he can with what he’s got to work with. Gotta give him credit to take on such a horrible mess.
Ahhh yes, another photo that truly encompasses the baffoon’s personality! I’ll be so happy when he’s gone!
Obama care coming soon!!!! No health care for you!!!! Obama health squads will decide if you deserve that medicine or not.. (what political party do you belong to again?? sorry that procedure is unavalabile to you, it has been determined that your value as a stakeholder is to low for us to spend money on you)
2 years of Obama Care. Insured children, lower drug prices for those on
Medi Care and insurance cost trends mirroring the Massachusetts health
law.
The beauty of the republican propaganda machine is in how they convince
people to vote against their own interests to support the corporate world.
The Republican propaganda machine? As opposed to the Democrat propaganda machine? Or do Dems not have a propaganda machine?
A quote from a phamphlet I got last night promoting Obama care…………..
“Young adult may be able to join OR stay on their parents health insurance plan, EVEN IF THEY ARE MARRIED, HAVE JOBS, MOVE AWAY FROM HOME OR ARE (this is the best one) FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT!!!!
Now you tell me, that’s letting young people take their OWN responsibility!
This is getting to be a terribly DEPENDENT Nation!!!
That is absolute nonsense. There are NO ‘health squads’. Funny that you do not express any concern about how the insurance industry gouges and harms the country. The Affordable Care Act offers protections against their practices.
Nonsense? Quit denying the obvious. Liberals are so quick to
accept without question all stories about how private insurance beaucracies
hurt people but are blind to the problems of government beaucracies. Replacing
private insurance beauracracies with even bigger and even less resposive
government beauracracies guarantees worse problems. Cutting 1/2 Trillion from
Medicare to help fund Obamacare – probably because Obama lost and is still
losing the senior vote – is more proof of how putting liberals in control of
health care will be disasterous to anyone who opposes them!
That is more nonsense. The money that you say is being cut from medicare is actually coming from Medicare Advantage which is a PRIVATE program costing our government a third more than regular medicare to NO good advantage. Guess where that windfall goes. It goes to the private insurance industry. It was a trial program which by ALL accounts does not work better than traditional medicare. In other words another giveaway to your precious insurance industry. The savings from ending Medicare Advantage go directly BACK to medicare, so no, medicare is NOT being cut. Your facts here are not factual. Are you an insurance industry plant or just another person who believes Republican lies.
How do you know? Nobody has read the whole bill!!! Even Polosi said “We’ve got to pass it to see what’s in it!
That was an offhand remark made in jest 2 years ago. Lighten up. The bill has been available online for years now. If you want to know the facts, go read it for yourself. Somehow I feel that is unlikely to happen and you would rather rant about what you do not know because that supports your own prejudices.
Who is prejudice? We all have our biases including you. It seems your bias is to not trust numerous private insurance beauracracies with decisions about our health but instead to trust one giant government beaucracy with it. A government that has a proven record of failure with every bureaucracy – far more failure than most large private companies. And with a law that has too much vagueness and allows these bureaucrats to fill in the blanks in the futuere. That is not using good sense.
Should the lady in this story not be on social security.
Why then general assistance?
She no doubt didn’t work enough quarters to qualify for social security. With the health problems mentioned she was maybe too ill to work. Anyway social security alone often times doesn’t give you enough money to buy, food, medicine, utilities and pay rent. Sad, sad case.
The key words being “didn’t work”.
And she still got a proper burial and more news coverage than my passing will generate. That evil LePage, surprised he wasn’t at her funeral protesting…
2 years of Obama Care. Insured children, lower drug prices for those on Medi Care and insurance cost trends mirroring the Massachusetts health law.
The beauty of the republican propaganda machine is in how they convince people to vote against their own interests to support the corporate world.
You elected him one more great job MAINE
Unfortunately 9 out of 10 GA recipients are between 20-35 years old and are COMPLETELY healthy and able to work. The system is being abused and these cuts actually do make a lot of sense.
Let’s hope the cuts happen! General assistance is a state program designed to provide emergency assistance to those in need….not to live on year after year for people who do not have jobs and do not intend to get one so they can feed their habits.
Yaaaay~ I couldn’t agree more.
What would Heisenberg do , I wonder ??
I can’t wait to ask him. I hope he comes back around by July…sniff…I miss him…
Once again an example is given of a worst-case scenario. How about some balance here. Where are the examples of all the non-workers, people who milk the system and REFUSE to work, who think the working class owes them a living? Where are the stories of how these people are using taxpayer money to play, to buy new products and sell them on a yardsale a month later, to buy candy, tobacco, alcohol or worse? Where are the stories of these hard-luck people buying top-of-the-line food like steak and lobster at a rate that workers cannot afford? The workers who are paying for the nonworkers! Why not require all assistance programs to be like WIC – where only certain HEALTHY low to moderate cost products can be bought? Liberals have to get on board and take these concerns seriously and conservatives must do more to hold the liberals accountable for their lack of concern and denial of abuses of these programs. Liberals have to stop using these worst-case scenario examples as a way to obstruct the reform, replacement and the reduction of these widely abused programs.
I’ve got a plain ol trac phone with no camera even. But here I see and KNOW people on the system that have these “smart phones”???? I can’t afford to pay the monthy fee for these phones and they can???? So, I’m wondering …. if I know and see this stuff thats going on, the people pushing these programs, must KNOW it’s going on too!
Looks like the good Gov is bungling his way into becomming a lame duck. Do what damage ya can now Gov while you still got time, cuz your time’s up in Nov. you’ll have lots of time to travel and see the sights.
We are broke and can no longer afford all this free stuff
I simply can’t stand to see anyone suffer. Have some of you looked around lately? What? Not your problem? Think again. These cuts will effect us ALL in one way or another. Question: How many of you either own a gun or are about to purchases one? We are all going to have to start protecting ourselves and our homes. In desperate times, people do desperate things that they normally would never even consider. Consider that….. There are so many out there that have become addicts/ alcoholics and I think much of it is to do with wanting to kill the pain they are in. Don’t get on me about this addict/alcohol statement with all of your it’s their choice, they are less-than, they are lazy and all of your negativity about the worthlessness of these unfortunates. Many of them suffer from grave emotional and mental illnesses and are not at fault. Some are born like that. Alcoholism is a disease. Without help it is too much for them. We all need to step up and help our fellow man. Offer a helping hand where-ever and when ever we can. There is so much greed and so many who believe ” It’s not our problem”. You are dead wrong…. It IS OUR problem! Please consider random acts of kindness and see how great it makes you feel. Do something nice for someone in need and don’t get caught. :)
So lets continue to pay more and more “protection money” to those who refuse to do anything for what we give them? So it is those of us who are working and producing and paying for these programs who are at fault for the self-destructive decisions of those who are abusing these programs? The only thing we are at fault for is paying the bills. These programs are not helping these problems – they are exacerbating them! Subsidize self-destruction and we get more of it.
Yes, it’s the people that are working that are paying for the ones that could care less if they work or not. It’s truely a shame but I see it every day. Once you get all this free stuff, you get in a rut. Some have it much better than me as far as a nice place to live, don’t have to pay lot rent or property taxes, have their lawns mowed for them and snow removal. Think about it.
You are right, we need to help our fellow man … but not by building all these Methadone clinics here in Bangor. Has it helped? No. It’s just a joke to many of them and you should know this if you know people that go to these clinics. Some of them laugh all the way to the bank! And, I’m a very compassionate person. We take FOOD, CLOTHES, and help where ever we can to make a difference in a persons life. You just cannot GIVE free housing, healthcare, money, do all peoples chores for them, free phones with renewable free minutes and free shipping, etc., etc., and have a society that cares. People need to work for what they are getting in order to appreciate it. And as for greed, this Country as a whole, gives like no other. I do feel good HELPING someone but draw the line at HURTING them.
ok
Pull at the heartstrings a bit harder to advance the Cause,, Eric. That’s what a good reporter is supposed to do, right??
LOL
Doesn’t Adrienne Bennett kinda throw up in her mouth every time she has to put out a public posture and “explain” what this Neanderthal is “thinking” … ???
YEA for the PEOPLE that pay the bills!!
Love the picture with this article!
This is UnAmerican…If your going to throw grandma under the bus you’d best hit the wealthiest too!
We need to get LaPage out of the Blain House now. He is going to destory Maine just like Little Bush distoryed America. We have people in Maine that through no fault of their own can not work and need public assistance from the state. Their has to be provision made for these people. I want to know why the Hell the Shelter did not report the old woman to the State as she should have become a procted person and been placed in a Nursing Home if she in deed had a cognitive dificit. What was the shelter doing to help this person?
I think LePage needs to implement the Snowe Welfare Plan which he was dependent upon as a youth. We can send all our most needy to live with Olympia and Jock, have them fund their college education and give them a headstart in life in one of their companies.
Seems like LePage has forgotten his own roots and the advantages he got from a handout from a wealthy family.
“It is also in the interests of a tyrant to keep his people poor, so that they may not be able to afford the cost of protecting themselves and be so occupied with their daily tasks that they have no time for rebellion.” Aristotle in Politics, J. Sinclair translation, pg. 226
I’ve known a few people getting GA to pay their rent for a prolonged period and they were just out partying — “couldn’t work” — but could walk all over the place from party to party.
Go after those who are dishonestly using the system. Allow cashiers to report chronic abuse of benefits. If some of those people were cut off from assistance, those who truly need it might be able to get it.