Food Stamps: Americans are Sucking Us Dry

    Food Stamps: Americans are Sucking Us Dry

     Food stamps are defined as a voucher exchangeable for food, issued by the government to those below or at the poverty line. But why is it lower middle class, middle class and even upper middle class families are abusing the generosity of the federal government. The actually intent of programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is to give struggling families a chance to get back on there feet, not provide extra grocery money for families that could otherwise afford it. The government needs to wake up and realize how our tax dollars are really being spent. Too often Americans take advantage of food stamp programs funded by our tax dollars.
     Day in and day out, I work hard for my paycheck but I feel as though it is all for nothing sometimes, a percentage of my hard earned money is taken out by the government. I was fine with doing my civic duty by helping my fellow America thru taxes, until I read Alexandra Carter's article, "Food Stamps: People Abusing Taxpayer Dollars". Carter discusses how easy it is to abuse SNAP and how hard regulating recipients can be. "The Food Stamp Surfer: Californian Jason Greenslate recently caused national outrage when Fox News exposed him for using tax payer dollars to buy lobster, sushi and alcohol with his food stamp card." Greenslate is a perfectly fit and able guy, he could go out today and find a job to support himself, instead of use tax dollars. The lack of embarrassment and morals is displayed as he nonchalantly admits to not wanting a job because he can live of American tax dollars. This great country was founded on integrity, our founding fathers put their blood, sweat and tears into our future. Greenslate and millions of Americans knowingly steal money right out of the government's pocket. Unfortunately, I have had an up close and personal argument about SNAP abuse with my sister-in-law. She buys all the name brand shoes and purses her little heart desires, recently she bought a Louis Vuitton purse valued at about $2,500. Louis Vuitton or not, it doesn't make a difference to me. But what does affect me is that SNAP card at the bottom of that Louis Vuitton purse. Maybe if you didn't buy thousand dollar purse you would be able to feed your two kids just fine. A family of four can receive $450 - $650 a month! Every time she mentions grocery shopping, I feel like I am footing the bill for her family along with the other leeches sucking America dry.
     Food Stamps do keep some families' heads above water and without some help they would go hungry. I've gathered that the people abusing government assistance programs philosophy is "Why not? It's free money. That's the beauty of America!", said by my sister-in-law. I will say this over and over again until I'm blue in the face, government assistance programs are for families at or below the poverty line, not the soccer mom down the street that wants a little extra money in her pocket for a new pair of shoes. It can't just be little ole me, the government needs to grow a pair and fight back. If there were actual consequences for these actions, people would be less likely to commit the offense in the first place.
     Federal assistance programs like SNAP are the difference between a family eating that day or not. But when these same programs are continually abused time and time again, there is a problem. The government and Americans are at fault. The government needs to implement a no tolerance policy for abuse of tax funded programs. And Americans need get some integrity and stop mooching off the hard working people, and work for what they want if life.

www.thepeoplescube.com

Public vs. Private

Private vs. Public

     Private or public schools? Which one is better? Is there a better choice?  When it comes to public versus private, public is a clear winner, hands down. There is more of everything, choice in curriculum, sports programs, fine arts programs and diversity. Public school is a better route than private school because public school provides more opportunities,that private schools can't, for your child. 
     In an article written by Valerie Strauss on The Washington Post's website, Strauss shares her thoughts on public school. She believes public school students can out do private school students. A recent study done proves her theory correct, "We analyzed instruction and performance for over 300,000 elementary and middle school students in 15,108 public, charter, and private schools.  What we found surprised us.  Students in public schools actually outperform those in private schools." Better performance and little to tuition, sounds like a win-win to me. When I hear private school, I think cha-ching. It seems crazy to me, for parents to pay for their child's education prior to college, when they can get the same thing or better for free. Why rush to dish out an extra five hundred dollars every month per child from the time your child is school age, about 5 years old, until he or she graduates, about 18 years old. By their senior year you would have spent approximately $78,000, and let's not forget you have not even begun to pay for their college education, which will be an additional $240,000 if you continue on the private school route. Personally, I have attended public schools my whole life, I have been very successful in school and sports. Out of 1056 students in my graduating class, I'm in the top 8%. College-level classes have been a must since freshman year, those classes kept me challenged and continually prepare me for college. While keeping up with school work I also played soccer for my school. Being apart of a team provides you with experiences not offered anywhere else. Teammate and friend relationships leave a lasting impression and survive a lifetime.
     Don't get me wrong, there are a few perks to private school, there are smaller classroom sizes, challenging curriculum, and specific topic focus. But smaller classrooms aren't always what there are cracked up to be, just because your child is in a smaller classroom doesn't directly mean the child will be a scholar. It is up to the individual to decide their destiny no matter the obstacles. Challenging curriculum? Nothing a few AP or dual credit courses can't fix, plus possible college credit. Why spend all your time on one specific topic when you can spend time learning everything, the more you learn, the more you know.
     Choosing the "right" school is overrated and over speculated. Whether you choose public or private, your child will receive a quality education. But if the only difference is $78,000 and a few more students in the classroom, the decision seems simple. Your child's must influential years will be sent day in and day out at school, so why not provide your child with every opportunity possible. 
   

                                 

www.educationbug.com

Be Honest or Be Employed?

Be Honest or Be Employed?

     There are 3.3 million elementary and secondary school teachers in America. There are 8 million people who identity as LGBT. It is estimated that there is at least one LGBT teacher in each of the 98 thousand plus public schools in America. Being LGBT has not been proven to make you a better or worst teacher than a straight one. But why is it openly LGBT teachers are being prosecuted and pushed back in the closet by school administration. LGBT or Straight, Black or White, Male or Female, teachers should be judged for their ability to change lives and cultivate the minds of our future.
     As a junior in high school, I have come across many teachers through out the years both good and bad. One teacher in particular inspired me to become a high school teacher. She saved me from my darkest days by showing me how to overcome frivolous school drama. Now, just 5 years away from having my dream job, my dream has become obscured by some recent headlines in the media. "Gay Teacher Fired For Obtaining Same-Sex Marriage License", "Gay Teacher Canned for Pregnancy" and "Openly Gay Teacher Forced to Resign", just to name a few. When a teacher is open about their family it makes them become real people in the eyes of their students. They have a crazy cousin everyone avoids at gathering just like you, their young child gets in trouble for biting another student just like your little brother, their weekend was crazy too because of holiday shopping, these teacher 'story times' are what helps build a healthy teacher-student respect. I plan to be completely honest with my future students about my family, which I hope includes a wife and children. Before seeing the recent headlines I never thought I would have to go back in the closet just to live my dream and keep my job. 
     Many people in way higher positions than I, disagree. A North Carolinian mother of three, argued her years of Christian belief based parenting would be threatened by openly gay teachers in her sons' lives. She felt so strongly about this topic she then took it to the principal of her sons' school. As a result of her and others alike actions, a snowball of teacher resignation letters and unexplained terminations followed. Quality teachers were fired for being honest, just because a teacher is LGBT doesn't mean they are trying to teacher there students to accept the LGBT community or convince them to reconsider their sexual orientation. 
     The more than 98 thousand estimated LGBT teachers should be free to build healthy and honest teacher-student relationships without fear of being pushed back into the closet or terminated. The ability to make a positive difference in someone's life doesn't become hindered by one's sexual orientation. 

www.e-learning.com