People need help to climb out of safety net

This idea from the Trump administration of requiring those on state aid to work prompted me to write. These programs are meant to be a safety net for people and help them get back on their feet. The majority don't want to be on them forever, nor are they lazy or exploitative.

You want people to work while receiving aid? Many already do. The income limit to receive food stamps for a family of four is around $4,000 a month. Yearly, after taxes, this family would have to live on $33,000, or $2,750 a month. Make a few dollars more, you're over the limit and can't receive aid. Do the math. Rent or a mortgage for that size family is at least $1,500, utilities another $300, Day care per month near me $800. Gas for your car? Car and health insurance?

Now what, after all that, is left over to feed this family? You want people to work? Then create jobs that actually have a wage families can live on. Do something about exorbitant day-care costs in which it almost makes no sense to work a minimum wage job because the whole check goes to pay for day care.

A worker making $9/hour, 40 hours a week after taxes comes to less than $300. That isn't enough for anyone to live on.

"So go to college." Average debt for college students is now $37,000. Even if you start out at $50,000/year, after taxes you are still right there at that poverty line.

These problems are our nation's problems. We can't afford to make these closed-minded statements. We need a leader that will actually work to help people climb out of this safety net, not just rip it out from under them while they fall to their death.

Sarah McKenna

Sugar Grove