If you know how deductions work, you know that most people don't qualify for itemizing.

Did you miss the fact that this is not government-run? And please stop comparing those people who fall on hard times and who have legitimate needs that would prefer not to have their pets put to sleep with those who abuse the system.

Gee, I don't know what the fuss is all about - it's not government funded. Get over it.

The problem is that if you're on Social Security, you probably shouldn't be trying to work anyway. Believe it or not there are actually disabled people who have to work in order to qualify for medical benefits that they once qualified, but because the poverty line is not raised to keep pace with inflation, they no longer do. The COLAs, which are supposed to be "cost of living allowances" to keep up with inflation, worked against them, supposedly raising them above the poverty level, when in fact, if you're living at 98% of the poverty level and the cost of living goes up by 3% and you get a 3% increase, it doesn't raise you above the poverty level - it merely keeps you at that 98%.

Not oppression by the rich - it's oppression by the State - it's the State taking the increases.

Hammock??? You think it's "comfortable"??? We are also talking about elderly who can no longer work; the disabled on SS - and you must have no idea how honest working poor struggle to make it when they lose benefits 3 ways whenever they get a COLA or slight salary increase. If anything, it's a "hammock" for the state who reaps the benefits of any increases. The poor don't get to keep it.

Absolutely agree!!!

Food stamps are cut more like $2 for every dollar you get extra - it's like they expect your cash to go twice as far. And it is a loss of all benefits - in addition, if you're on medical assistance, they take it all - and housing assistance takes another chunk - no amount of increase in pay or COLAs help the poorest people because the state takes every last increase.

You'd actually trust the government to invest the money for you? *SMH*

What about the subsidies???