Quote:
Originally posted by kath@Feb 3 2003, 04:02 PM
After filling out the forms ourselves twice, waiting a few weeks for an appointment, adding our Social Security numbers, disclosing our previous financial information, tax information and account data we were told that we didn't qualify for anything. Because I was the "bread-winning" spouse on our taxes the year before (I made more money than my husband) and was still "gainfully employed" as an apartment manager (I received NO CASH, only rent & utilities) that they could not help us. Where did all my taxes go?
What kind of bullshit is that??? I paid taxes. I paid Social Security. I am a LEGAL citizen. My husband served in the military. Yet I don't qualify for HELP when my family is down and out - but ILLEGAL people who have no previous record of contributing to the society that is helping them out DO???
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I had a similar experience several years ago. Laid off from my job, having to wait for Unemployment benefits to kick in, and with a 3 year old suffering from a rare disease -- mind you, I was only looking for medical coverage and maybe a few bucks in food stamps to feed my kid.
Though I had every document they could possibly require to show who we were and why we needed a little help, I was made to feel as though I had no business being there. By the third visit with a social worker, I was at the end of my rope and went OFF on her AND her manager (and I'm sure everyone in the place heard me -- not that they could understand me). "I have paid taxes in this state for 20 years, and all I'm looking for is enough to feed my kid and get her some medical treatment, and I'm being treated as though I'm trying to rip off the State. What the fuck? Tell me: Do I have to dye my hair black, speak with an accent and change my name to one that ends in a 'Z' to get some fucking help?"
Adding insult to injury, not only did I walk away that day no closer to getting any assistance, but I was chastised by the manager for using foul language AND "racial slurs." I told her that I wasn't sorry in the least, that the "system" drove rational people to the edge of sanity and they were lucky that bad language was the worst they had to deal with; and as for "racial slurs," what more could they expect when legal tax-paying citizens were left out in the cold while anyone who could run, jump or swim moved to the head of the line and got everything on MY dime.
I have NO problem with people coming here LEGALLY and trying to make a better life for themselves, especially since most of them do so by taking jobs the white folk would never lower themselves to. I DO think it's long past time that legal taxpayers are given precedence in their time of need. If the illegals looking for financial assistance can take the time to jump through the bureaucratic hoops at the Welfare office, they should damned well be required to take the time to do it at the INS office FIRST. I had to have all my paperwork in order before they'd even LOOK at my request and I was BORN here and paid tens of thousands of dollars in taxes prior to asking for a mere few months worth of help. I don't think my opinion that anyone else asking for assistance at least be able to prove they're here LEGALLY is unreasonable, and it's certainly not racist.