On this page you will find a couple of opinion pieces based on my own experience with our broken governmental aid programs here in the United States. However, there are many other programs out there that I have not mentioned. With that said, there are many things that need to be changed to help uplift the people. This website has a wide variety of issues listed that need to be addressed.
The problem with social security is that the amount of money you qualify for is lessened based on how much you’ve paid into it, there are exceptions of course but usually in extreme cases. With everything getting more expensive, the money you are provided doesn’t get you much, let alone save; nor does the government like when you save money in your account because they will punish by reducing the aid you’re given or flat out remove you from said governmental assistance programs. Furthermore, we must raise the substantial gainful activity amount for those on Social Security. The wage index which is used to calculate how much one can work and earn needs to be adjusted to reflect actual cost of living by country, state and city or town. Such changes would allow someone who is on Social security to work without having to juggle their hours as much and how much they can earn, which makes it more difficult to find employment in the first place. Furthermore, Social Security needs to have policy changes in place that prevent the government from taking one off Social Security if you are permanently disabled, this would allow those who try to work and are unsuccessful to have something to fall back on and not be homeless.
When it comes to Food Stamps, we need to upgrade how they work, with them being far less means tested where at minimum, people should receive at least $300 every month for individuals (with it being adjusted based the cost of living in each state, city/town, instead of a flat rate for all, and of course, it would need to scale based on household size. Furthermore, the government aid should NOT be taken away or garnished if your household is under $40,000 a year for individuals, again this would scale based on the household size, annual income, and cost of living.
Michele Mashburn joins Jaybefaunt to discuss disability rights and how it affects working and non-working disabled people.
(September 6th, 2022)
Food Insufficiency and the expiration of the Child Tax Credit (2022 Study)
On a related note, when it comes to food pantries/food banks: Aside from small donations from individuals, and various food drives that happen on occasion, grocery stores only donate food when it's nearing expiration or is no longer sell-able, Therefore, it is my strongly held opinion that we need policies put into place that force grocery stores to donate any and all food to pantries at least 1 month before expiration date, with incentives for grocery stores if they donate it a month before its sell-by-date. When it comes to produce, it should always be as fresh as it can be when donated, not rotting and disformed.
For housing assistance, I view it is an extremely underfunded program with confirmed wait times that can last years. Housing assistance needs to be re-evaluated and cover more of the rent, especially with a large chunk of your paycheck going to rent alone, in some areas it's 40-60%. This leaves very little left over for other expenses and puts a family, regardless of their size in an even more difficult financial situation. Moreover, the financial hardship doesn't get any easier if you're on additional welfare programs since they too are means tested and provide just barely enough to survive. The preferred solution however, would be guaranteed housing for all and I don’t just mean run down shacks either.
Now, to some who have never been disabled or ever dealt with social security or any other welfare system in any way, this may come across as me and others just wanting "free" stuff. That is not the case, me, my family and many others around the country just want a better standard of living, better opportunities to succeed without worrying if we're gonna become homeless because something went wrong. We want to be able to save money in the bank without the government taking away our services for trying to save for an emergency. I personally feel the cap an individual should be able to save in the bank without losing benefits should be $20,000, with the cap raised with each additional member of the household. With all that being said, I know these benefits aren’t meant to be permanent, they are meant to provide temporary relief to help people get back on their feet but without guaranteed social safety nets, these programs can quite literally be the difference between life and death.
The government should NOT be allowed to take away or reduce any aid one is getting, including: Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security (SSI/SSDI), Housing Assistance, etc., when after taxes and monthly expenses you're still struggling to get by and have no means to save money in a reasonable manner for emergencies. | SSW
Services and Substantial Gainful Activity
I'm disabled, and on Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid. I can not make too much money, nor can I accept any money outside of what little work I'm allowed to do while under the restrictions of substantial gainful activity. Otherwise, I will be punished if found out. This could come in the form of reduced coverage/financial aid, or I could be completely kicked off of them. I'm particularly worried about Medicare/Medicaid myself, as I can not afford my medications without them. Both myself and my family, along with millions of others, rely heavily on Medicare/Medicaid to cover prescription and healthcare costs. I don't know how many people will suffer and quite possibly die without said coverage. This is why we need a single payer healthcare system. We also need to address the hold Big Pharma has in our country and on our politicians.
In terms of social security I would like to add that far too many are looking at social security from a retirement aspect, but many people are on it as a form of UBI because they can't work or they don't make enough, which I happen to fall under and am stuck due to how broken the system is. If the United States had a single payer healthcare system, I could work more. I personally would like to abolish or at least drastically reform substantial gainful activity as well, where you can have a part-time job with full shifts and not lose your social security (SSI/SSDI). I believe this would help those who can't work full-time and are disabled to be more financially secure.
There's a lot to these topics I mentioned, but I am not an expert on them, far from it. I just know that the system is broken and needs to be changed. People shouldn't have to choose between poverty and fulfillment. I should mention that although I support more help for the people, I also know that work can be fulfilling in its own right and provide a sense of purpose. It's important to note that for those who may be reading this that communists aren't opposed to work, but what we do want is to be properly compensated for our labor.
Speaking of, arguably, the minimum wage should be at least $30 an hour, some have suggested figures as high as $60 an hour or more. What I feel should happen is for the wage to adjust for the actual cost of living by location, down to the city/town you live in. With neighboring cities/towns not being too drastically different as to cause worker shortages in one area. In addition to this, I think we should subsidize small to medium-sized businesses so that they can afford to pay higher wages and maintain business costs. Chains and giant corporations like Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. would not receive any governmental aid, nor would any business that is owned by an asset firm. However, I feel that a higher wage without policies to prevent hyperinflation and price gouging would be futile and quite possibly would cause more problems. With that said, I should mention that these are just ideas I'm throwing around and that I don't know how it would work in practice.
Transportation
In the United States we have an incredibly poor transportation infrastructure system, and you pretty much need a car to go anywhere or do anything. It's not like China, which has advanced, extensive, and well-maintained transportation systems. It is my opinion that the United States needs government funded services that help low-income people get a well maintained used car, ideally a service that allows you to customize what you're looking for to an extent. For example, I'm relatively tall, and I absolutely hate small compact cars as I can not fit in them very well. There are also jobs out there where certain vehicles wouldn't be a good fit. Furthermore, it would also be helpful if the United States had a government funded program to assist in car repairs and maintenance for disabled and low income individuals and their families. For the elderly and/or disabled with a low income, having no reliable means of transportation can be an absolute "life-killer".
Retirement, Life Insurance, and Inheritance
I feel that everyone should be able to have/obtain a 401k and life insurance policies without losing any benefits. For life insurance policies and inheritances, only after an individual receives $500,000 or more after taxes would benefits cease. However, household size would have to come into play as well. For example, a family of six, half a million wouldn't last very long.
Other Related Material
From what I have heard, the UK is dealing with budget cuts, too.
(October 16th, 2021)
(February 27th, 2025)
(February 28th, 2025)
(March 5th, 2025)
(March 8th, 2025)
(March 9th, 2025)
(March 11th, 2025)
SSW Reported that Elon Musk has announced the plan to ELIMINATE Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
(March 12th, 2025)
As Lee Camp reported: The White House wants to cut $12 Billion from the school meals program.
(March 13th, 2025)
(March 14th, 2025)
(March 17th, 2025)
DOGE’s Cuts at the USDA Could Cause US Grocery Prices to Rise and Invasive Species to Spread
Medicare privatization: A plot to rob seniors and disabled people
(March 19th, 2025)
As Breakthrough News reports: GOP Nebraska Rep. Mike Flood said he supports DOGE and plans to axe Medicare and Medicaid.
Millions Will Face Benefit Delays as Social Security Ends Phone Verification
USDA halts millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks
(March 21st, 2025)
(March 22nd, 2025)
(April 8th, 2025)
(April 15th, 2025)
(May 3rd, 2025)
(May 5th, 2025)
(May 8th, 2025)
(May 20th, 2025)
(May 23rd, 2025)
(May 24th, 2025)
(June 9th, 2025)
(June 18th, 2025)
(June 30th, 2025)
(July 1st, 2025)
(July 3rd, 2025)
(July 4th, 2025)
The One Big Beautiful (Surveillance) Bill Hands Total Power To The Military-Intelligence Technocracy
Mike Johnson's Constituents SPEAK OUT Against Budget Bill's Medicaid Cuts
(July 7th, 2025)
(July 8th, 2025)
(July 13th, 2025)
(July 29th, 2025)
(July 30th, 2025)
(July 31st, 2025)
(August 7th, 2025)
Social Security Predicted to Run Out of Money Sooner Due to Trump Bill. (Note: MMT States that the US can't run out of money)
(October 27th, 2025)