How is it allowed that the USA has become an "International" welfare system?
482278
"Give me your tired, your poor, \nYour huddled masses yearning to breathe free, \nThe wretched refuse of your teeming shore. \nSend these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, \nI lift my lamp beside the golden door!!" \n\nI believe there is a caveat to what is on the Statue of Liberty; Be willing to work hard and contribute to the fabric of America, not come here and expect the citizens to give you handouts.  That is what the idea of legal immigration is all about.  Do you have a job lined up?  do you have a means of support?\n\nPeople that are against illegal immigration are not racist or against the people, but are against the idea that we should have immigrants that come into the country and expect us to give them the life they dreamed of.
531903
You may find this site helpful.  Basically, S.I. means the US cannot be sued for issues stemming from its implementation of policy.......\n http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/s103.htm
956033
the US has a history of trying to be the healer of the world.\nbut there is a line between helping and supporting.\nthere is a bigger line between supporting and suppling weapons to people
615234
The illegals get welfare by stealing social security numbers and identities and using false papers. Therefore, the time limits under the Clinton welfare reform doesn't apply to them because once the time limit is up, all they have to do is get new stolen social security numbers and identities and false papers and start all over again. American citizens who draw welfare are limited to the time limits from the welfare reform and are then cut off. American citizens who fall on hard times and have to turn to welfare assistance have a harder time finding jobs that pay enough to live off of because the illegals have taken jobs and depressed the wages of those jobs still available to American citizens. Therefore, those in the lower working class are highly unlikely to ever be able to "work their way up" since the opportunities have been stolen which will entrap these people into poverty with little to no way out.
1088659
Truth to tell, first world (or what now are called the industrialized countries) are socially stratified just like societies themselves are.  In a society, you have the filthy rich and the dirt poor.  The filthy rich like to stay that way, so they offer "answers" to problems so they look like they're working for the people who need the help the most, but in actuality, they're not...they're maintaining if not increasing their power.  As you've noticed, the world is becoming a global community more and more every day.  The same thing has happened on the global level.  There are the rich, industrial countries who don't want to lose their power and influence.  Therefore, they offer "solutions" to problems which don't work...and honestly, weren't meant to work.  I have no idea what third world (developing) nations could do to better their situation, but they definetely need to stop letting the United States run their governments, economies, and such.  And this is coming from an American.  America is really doing its darndest to be the policeman of the world-trying to keep everyone playing on our terms, and its really starting to make some influential people REALLY mad.  Maybe if they'd all get mad together, something good would happen.
644466
Do you often poke at hornets nests with a stick?\n\nThey have already improved their quality of life immensely just by coming here.\n\nBut some sort of community based program for basic health care for infants and children would be a good idea if you can get any jaded Americans to subscribe to it.
396235
You can't, USA is a monarchy, Only people who come from elite family can involved in and elected as a politician.
1020230
The reason for the success of the US and other western countries is that we have adopted a system of government which allows for free enterprise and equality. A generous welfare system cares for most of the needy. We are allowed to suceed and excel. We also donate generously to the third world.\n\nIn third world countries politics and corruption and dictatorial governments repress freedoms and try to control and restrict free enterprise. NGOs with idealistic delusions of the 'noble savage' attempt to block useful new technologies from entering third world countries in an attempt to maintain them as some kind of museum of the past. Third world countries that have adopted our system of government are the ones which are making the most progress, yet even these countries are still beset by rampant corruption and nepotism which strangles incentive and achievement.
377956
By definition, those on the lowest incomes are poor - this is true for all countries.\n\nHow poor - well, if peoples' income is insufficient to buy the very basic food, shelter, healthcare, education and clothes then those people are in poverty. And most countries would 'step in' at this level to ensure that these basic needs are met and citizens do not die of starvation, primary illness or exposure\n\nHistorically, the US has relied on immigrants arriving and working in poverty as a base and not supported these people as they are not in the truest sense citizens. As the US restricts immigration, more of its own citizens are in poverty. Which then presents a dilemma - does the US let its own citizens die of poverty? Given the TV footage of people requiring 2+ jobs and charity food aid just to survive, the US answer is yes\n\nSo a mixed economy (some socialism, some capitalism) is the preferred model in Europe where the appalling poverty of the post WW2 years are still more than a memory\n\nBTW - France has the best medical care system in the world according to most measures - the US varies between 4th and 10th
596311
The original income tax system established by the New Deal was necessary to provide federal support to thousands of Americans during the Great Depression.  At the time of its institution, it greatly assisted in spurring the American economy out of the desperate times.\nThe prior 126 years of American history details a financial different picture than today's America.  For one, the country was a lot smaller with few people.  The great immigration boom did not occur into the earlier part of the 20th century.  Governmental obligations were not as substantial as today's responsibility, and this is not just social programs.  We could not raise enough money through tariffs, excise taxes, and property taxes, to overcome our current debt obligations.  Furthermore, if this was the only form of tax, it would place a substantial burden on the middle class and imports.  Considering our current export/import ratio, foreign importeres would simply have to cease distribution to stall the American economy.\nI do however feel the system created by the New Deal has been bastardized into the current system, which is excessively in equal towards corporations and wealth Americans vs. middle/low income Americans.  I believe the system could be streamlined at both the federal, state and local levels.  Currently, although we do not pay high income tax (countries in Europe fair a lot worse) we pay additional taxes and government surcharges every day.  Ex. total taxes and fees on your personal cellphone bill average approximately 24% - 28% over your usage charge.\nNow, as to find ways to cut spending....yes, there are definitely areas in our budget to cut spending? will this get done?...only by the perservenence of the American people and the general understanding of what are taxes are paying for.  The "pet projects" or massive government failures (thing Boston Big Dig) continually drain our economic resource, and when our governmental debt is so strangulating that we have to keep increasing our cap, we will never be able to recede our government spending to levels able to sustain our American People.\nSome of the solutions presented: flat tax, purchase tax, etc, all sound equitable but each do have their own loop hole.\nPersonally, I would like to have a flat tax.  I would like to at the beginning of each year write a check for a fixed amount of money to the government for a percentage of my forecasted earnings for the upcoming year and not have anything come out of my check for the rest of the year.  But with this money that comes out, I would like programs which make sense - good education, good healthcare, good social security.  Our children should not have to suffer, our elder should not want for anything and every American should be able to get quality healthcare/preventative maintenance to sustain life.
558473
As a European it is relatively straightforward to work both in the European Community but also in many other countries. However, we do need some control at the borders, we do not want too many Americans coming back home all at once. The US could make it easier to enter other countries if they offered reciprocal arrangements. What is curious about your comments is that you think everyone wants to go to the good old USA, I do not thinks so, there are nicer places to visit.
1065326
Ask the INternational Monetary Fund, then ask the American State Department.
439320
check out this site for details on US and other countries + ILO etc..\nhttp://www.bls.gov/bls/other.htm
1053741
America could, but he free Enterprise system could not. You know gun not better keep people employed. I just wish we would fight the war on crime and education and housing for children here first.
899644
you're right, we are the only country in the world that allows for the anchor baby syndrome.  no other country in the world allows children born from guest-worker, visa or visiting parents to become a citizen.  US is the only country that does this and this was allowed when we were still a young country with a lower populace than today.  we should get rid of that law and not allow anchor babies.  you want to bet, that would cut the numbers drastically.
793707
Do you have anyone to help you pack? And, please, when you're applying for visas, don't put Canada on your list. We don't need an obese, illiterate, negative slob using our health care system and contributing nothing back in return. There is poverty everywhere in the world. Travel brochures don't distribute photos of homeless shelters/welfare lines in the UK or anywhere. Americans are not better than anyone else but in the US and Canada, there are more opportunities to make a good life for yourself. Takes work, though, and a positive attitude. Your community/government are only as good as the people who are in it so try bitching less and doing more.
884655
Kinda hard to answer...welfare in Canada?  US?  UK?  Germany?\nItaly?.....????\n\nOk...in the US many states have enacted a 2 year maximum benefits policy and after that the person has to work on some sort of community improvement program...I agree with this as long as affordable child care is available.  Also, some states have welfare rules set very low...if you work at mcdonalds, you don't qualify, even if the cost of living is so high in the area that you have to live in a tent at a KOA or national park (ie. Georgia or the Sun Valley area of Idaho)...this is getting too extreme.  The question is...is it worth it to society to pay a little to single parents working at underpaid jobs and have kids taken properly cared of, or let them go as they will and have latchkey kids running wild and ending up in prison later.  I think that the welfare system in MOST of the US is too stringent and more money should be allocated for it...if we can afford a trillion dollars for Iraq, we can afford a hundred million more for struggling and working single parents.