Ohio to limit food stamps for some adults

[OhioChick]

Source: Newsnet5

Posted: 09/07/2013

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The administration of Ohio Gov. John Kasich plans to limit food stamps for more than 130,000 adults in all but a few economically depressed areas starting next year.

According to The (Columbus) Dispatch, the requirement will cover able-bodied adults without children.

They will be required to spend at least 20 hours a week working, training for a job, volunteering or performing a similar type of activity unless they live in one of 16 high-unemployment counties.

The requirements begin next month but those failing to meet them would not lose benefits until Jan. 1.

More than 1.8 million Ohioans receive food stamps.



Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/national/ohio-to-limit-food-stamps-for-some-adults

[pitbullgirl1965]

1. People without kids get shafted on social services

It pisses me off. I didn't qualify for HEAP b/c I have no children. They were kind enough to tell me this after I drove 30 minutes one way and had to wait around.

[ColesCountyDem]

28. Yes, we do! n/t

[darkangel218]

2. That makes sense.

I have nothing against that.

[closeupready]

5. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[beerandjesus]

64. You're being way too generous

...in assuming good intentions!

[philosslayer]

13. No actually, it doesn't

Why should the poor have strings attached in order to get basic food assistance?

[cstanleytech]

20. Mm maybe because the programs are only supposed to be an aid to assist them in a time of need

and not meant to be a lifestyle choice?
I to see nothing wrong in limiting the program somewhat to encourage people to as the article said "20 hours a week working, training for a job, volunteering or performing a similar type of activity"
The only thing I think they should be doing though is they should fund the training and also provide the people with transportation or pay a bus pass if the the people lack a means to get there to the training and or to where they are working or volunteering.

[philosslayer]

25. So you're judging food stamp recipients now?

And categorizing it as a "lifestyle choice"? How progressive of you.

Basic food assistance should NOT come with strings attached. How about we make basic assistance available to whoever needs it instead of categorizing "who is more worthy than others"?

[cstanleytech]

27. Look the fact is some do choose it.

I say this btw as someone who struggles week to week to pay bills and figure out a way to budget in food so dont think for a moment I have no sympathy for those on assistance because I do but I am realist.
Certainly not the majority on assistance choose to be there (I know my mother didnt choose it) but statistically some who do and there is nothing wrong with the government imo trying to encourage the ones who have both the physical and mental ability to work to work or to attend job training (provided the government is funding it and or providing them with affordable transportation) that might lead to work and a better life for them in the future.
If I had had that option 20+/- years ago I might not be in the position I am now.

[philosslayer]

29. It's still judgemental

... to immediately determine "need" when someone asks for food assistance. And do we know the background stories of these folks, and how they got where they are?

Its a very slippery slope when we start breaking down people into categories... those who truly need assistance, and those who "aren't trying hard enough".

Availability to proper nutrition is a basic human right.

[cstanleytech]

34. Everything is judgmental phil.

We all make judgments all the time.

[philosslayer]

35. Yes we do...

But it doesn't mean we have to turn those judgements into public policy.

[cstanleytech]

36. How do you think such policies get set? People got together and judged x

policy was good.
Example..........the 18th amendment, later overturned by the 21st Amendment.

[LanternWaste]

63. Much like stating recipients of food stamps are merely making a "life-style choice" is simply a judg

"We all make judgments all the time...."

Much like stating recipients of food stamps are merely making a "life-style choice" is simply a judgement-- regardless of how ill informed it may be.

I imagine those same judgement we make also clearly illustrate parts of our own character.

[cstanleytech]

66. Way to go push for the dishonest cherry picker award there Lan, best of luck in your efforts.

[dkf]

52. And availability is a right, it just comes with obligations.

Isn't that how everything works?

[beerandjesus]

65. It WAS a slippery slope....

.... but we're past that point now. We've slipped down the slope into the mud and shit.

The business about "ensuring people need assistance" is based on nothing but sanctimony. If someone needs food badly enough to ask a stranger for it, he probably isn't playing games... and even if he is, it's STILL worth the infinitesimal cost so that we can be the kind of society that helps the needy, rather than the kind of society that marginalizes and stigmatizes our brothers and sisters.

[JustanAngel]

82. Good point. nt

[samplegirl]

37. So lets just make everyone

suffer who is on food stamps???????? This is bullshit! This is Kasich's way of appeasing his base!

[cstanleytech]

42. The only one saying that is you. nt

[cstanleytech]

57. In the eyes of some it would appear so

I could understand the complaint if this was about cutting assistance to the disabled, elderly or say families with children but none of those list are having their assistance cut.

[mainer]

93. Working is "suffering"?

Wow, I've been suffering a very long time.

[NOLALady]

76. Food Stamps

is now a lifetime choice, except for your Mom.

Have you met or talked to people who decided to make Food Stamps a lifetime choice?

[JustanAngel]

81. Truth is

there are not enough jobs, nor living-wage jobs. Those jobs left the country. When manufacturing left, it left these workers with no place to go. Can't we bring some of these jobs back? How rich must one be?

[cstanleytech]

88. Oh there could be plenty of jobs if government would scrape the entire trickle down

economics plan of taxing the rich a little which has failed yet again to help the country grow.

[marble falls]

41. What the heck is wrong with you? Poverty is not a lifestyle choice. Shame, shame, shame.

[cstanleytech]

44. If you had read my post rather than respond with a knee jerk reaction

you would have seen that I had said that statistically speaking some (and some doesnt = all or even most) make it a choice so shame, shame, shame on you for not reading.

[Lars39]

46. Back it up with some links, then...what %?

[cstanleytech]

56. Nope no links I can find to anything thats done

research into how many choose it, plenty about fraud though but on the plus side thats actually done since the program changed from its old model of supplying printed food stamps to the current ebt card one.
As for those who choose it the number is probably below 1% but statistically speaking only a fool would assume its 0%.

[Lars39]

61. And only a fool would think less than 1%

is worth squawking about and punishing with further hardship.

[cstanleytech]

67. Might want to reread then what the discussion is about then before you sound like one

because the discussion isnt about punishing people but rather its about going back and doing whats required by the federal government.
If it was say about cutting assistance to the disabled, elderly or parents with children I could honestly see that as a legit reason to be upset but since its not............

[Lars39]

70. If I agreed with the mandate to work, yes.

[alp227]

62. In the real world not all people are employable.

What should they do, be beggars?

"Lifestyle choice"? Did the Heritage Foundation hack your account?

[cstanleytech]

68. Got some examples alp?

[alp227]

74. OMG, are you really that naive?

But fine...I'd say due to a diagnosed disability, health problems, or criminal record, or poor personality, or long-term unemployment.

See these articles:
http://news.efinancialcareers.com/139078/ten-signs-that-youre-becoming-unemployable/
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/08/18/its-true-long-term-unemployment-can-make-you-unemp.aspx

[cstanleytech]

87. First off

" diagnosed disability, health problems, or criminal record, or poor personality, or long-term unemployment."
The two bolded are largely unaffected I thought as doesnt this whole thing revolve around the issue of those able to work having to work or attend job training and or volunteer and if you cant due to poor health they should be fine shouldnt they?
Criminal record one though is imo the hardest one probably to find a job next to the long term unemployment but tell me why do you believe they shouldnt be required in your opinion to attend job training (which might help them find a job) and or volunteer for a few hours a week if they arent working?

[Bandit]

71. What if many of the people are in their late sixties or early seventies?

What job opportunities are available to them?

[noamnety]

89. this whole thing doesn't apply to anyone over 50. (nt)

[JustanAngel]

78. The suggested requirements for funding transportation would cost more than the food stamp reduction

saved. I know of one who one receives 7 hours part-time, is a hard worker, applies for every job possible, and still, does not receive a full-time job. Do you know why? For every job-seeker, there are 100-1000, applying for that job. Do you see where the problem lies? There are no jobs for the masses of people left unemployed when major manufacturers went overseas. There are other reasons why somewhat able-bodies citizens are unemployed. Many of these do not have training, nor can they afford training for a new career. Some have a felony on their record, which can predispose them to starving to death. Until we do something about the criminal justice system and undo the damage there...how long does a person suffer for an action for which he has been severely punished already and has met all those severe consequences? The most cruel and unrealistic consequence of crime is the lifetime punishment of low, part-time wages, and no benefits, if any job at all. But, no, I think again. The ultimately most brutal consequence is while enduring your lifetime of punishment, you are judged for needing food for which you cannot pay, and have your food stamps taken away. There must be some way we give all our citizens a chance, especially those trying so hard to improve their circumstances, but with no success, and only blame. Let's get out of the war/police-state/surveillance mode and move into peace-building/job-building/citizen-building mode. How many who never had criminal records attained one in the past 12-13 yrs? Why is this so, if crime has dramatically fallen? Why do we lock up more and more of our citizens? How many of these citizens were poor and/or unaffiliated with "who's who" of power, which is usually associated with money, somehow? How many does this effectively push into unemployed categories with no way out? Could some kind of clean slate program be introduced after a certain number of years? Let's be careful that we do not blame the victims. We could half the funds (or take a larger percentage even) going to Intelligence/Surveillance and place these funds into helping citizens by creating manufacturing jobs, training programs, and building up the US.

[YarnAddict]

55. Because there is dignity in earning benefits?

Since volunteering is included, I think this is a very good thing.

Everyone needs to know they have a purpose in life. There is a sense of accomplishment in doing things for other people, which many of the poor need. Many have been downtrodden and made to feel worthless. This is a way they can say they have value, and can do things that matter.

At the animal shelter where I volunteer, we have an elderly gentleman who shows up every single day, works all day, shovels dog poop, does small maintenance tasks. Anything that needs doing, he will do it. He needs to feel needed.

I think everyone needs that.

[JustanAngel]

83. Sounds like a job!

We can employ the unemployed there! Problem solved. Otherwise, without money/transportation, it's not conceivable.

[YarnAddict]

86. Actually

The guy I was telling you about had his car repo-ed recently. Some of the workers and the other volunteers chipped in to purchase bus tickets for him. I think lots of people would be willing to do this, because volunteers are needed and appreciated.

[bitchkitty]

92. Volunteering can't be compulsory.

Then it's not volunteering any more.

[iamthebandfanman]

32. I think right wing fever

is spreading to other policy matters here on DU

[cstanleytech]

58. Nope, the right wing fever version would be calling to cut the entire assistance program

entirely and throw the people under the bus.

[HardTimes99]

10. Why, it's just "common sense":

WASHINGTON — The White House asserted Sunday that a “common-sense test” dictates the Syrian government is responsible for a chemical weapons attack that President Barack Obama says demands a U.S. military response. But Obama’s top aide says the administration lacks “irrefutable, beyond-a-reasonable-doubt evidence” that skeptical Americans, including lawmakers who will start voting on military action this week, are seeking.

“This is not a court of law. And intelligence does not work that way,” White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said during his five-network public relations blitz Sunday to build support for limited strikes against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

“The common-sense test says he is responsible for this.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-working-to-rally-lawmakers-american-public-behind-obamas-push-for-syrian-strike/2013/09/08/66cfb932-1868-11e3-80ac-96205cacb45a_story.html

[99th_Monkey]

12. Yes. all reasonable people agree

That nothing says 'WE CARE' like 200 Tomahawk Missiles!

[JohnnyRingo]

15. Really? SNAP and Tomahawk missiles?

I'm not one for Middle Eastern intervention, but does everything have to revolve around this stupid Syrian affair this week? I'm not going to question your concern for humanity, but Kasich manipulating state funding has nothing to do with Pentagon spending.

I opened this thread because I have family members who will be directly affected by this heartless Republican ruling, and I have to run right into a reply announcing what 99th Monkey thinks about freakin' Tomahawk missiles. At least you didn't feel you had to use Ohio's distribution of SNAP as proof that John Kerry is a liar. Thanks for that at least.

[99th_Monkey]

17. No problemo. I'll self-delete. Sorry to offend.

hope everything works out well for your family members in Ohio.

[theHandpuppet]

19. You have a right to be pissed

It's incredibly arrogant and rude for others to have hijacked this thread.

[Bandit]

72. You see absolutely no correlation between our immense "Defense" spending and our very small

in comparison, spending for the less fortunate and for the American people in general? No correlation at all??????

[JohnnyRingo]

85. SNAP funding and Pentagon spending are separate.

Albeit, the defense is certainly more protected by our politicians, but there's a fiscal wall between the two.

John Kasich is absolutely not doing this to divert funds to his favorite defense program- not even the Ohio National Guard- and any claim to that effect is absurd... so no, I see no correlation at all.

You can rightly say that we need to spend more on infrastructure and the needy, but that won't take a single penny away from the defense portion of our budget.

[gopiscrap]

4. Gee whiz just think if we had our god damn priorities

straight, there would be enough money to give everyone a dignified life and not have to worry about hunger.

[liberal N proud]

6. Because some rich fucker needs abtax cut.

[salin]

22. This is the issue...

Over the past 12 years we have given tens of thousands of dollars of additional tax breaks to the wealthiest among us. The quickly evaporating safety-net is the cost. On the surface I can understand why a work/training/volunteer requirement resonates with some. However, I would guess that the weekly amount of food stamps for a single adult, is pretty meager - and would want to know the average value - before demanding a specific work amount - that is... if the dollar amount is $60 - then a 20 hour work requirement is at a $3 an hour wage. Is that reasonable?

Why are we asking service from those getting a small monthly benefit - and not asking for service - or any qualifications (per investing dollars in ways that expand the economy) for those who are now keeping 10K more a month per tax cuts?

[raccoon]

30. Ding, ding, we have a winner! nt

[Thinkingabout]

7. Did I miss the part where the gov said he was bringing good paying jobs to Ohio?

[HardTimes99]

11. To steal a quip from Lenin, the capitaists will sell us the wood to

erect the guillotines with which we shall dispense justice

[delta17]

90. Wow, celebrating the Red Terror.

This is a new low.

[jtuck004]

33. “The way to make money is to buy when blood is running in the streets.” John D. Rockefeller

The way to stop it is to simply quit enabling them. Cooperate and work with each other, quit making wealth for the wealthy. Go ahead and have the stupid guillotine if you want - it won't accomplish what one thinks. The French tried that, after de la Boetie (about 1450-1500) pointed out that the tyrant, today's wealthy corporations and others, only have what the people worked for and gave them. Suggested that if they would just quit supporting them the tyrant would fall of their own weight.

They ignored him, of course, and when they killed off the tyrant the rich simply moved in and took their place.

What we need to do is enable each other, make each other stronger and more capable of no longer living on the plantation as most of us do today. The killing off of the tyrant is a kind of action that some people think is going to free them, but is simply seen as a buying opportunity for those with real wealth, and those that live will be in the same place after it is over.

I don't suggest there won't be violence, but if you truly try to get strong, the violence will be perpetrated on us by the wealthy. And if they are successful, as they were by the 1930's in this country, those that survive will be in exactly the same place they are today.

[TheMastersNemesis]

9. It's The God Damned Rich Who Are The Welfare Queens. They Steal The Money.

And get tax breaks to boot. They hide their income and so many pay few taxes.

[cstanleytech]

21. Oh I agree that the rich are not the job creators they were supposed to be

and that they should pay a more fair share of taxes because of that fact.

[Thinkingabout]

23. And companies like Walmart pay such low wages which allows many to qualify for programs.

Another form of corporate welfare.

[TalkingDog]

14. Oh Yay. State Sponsored Slave Labor.

Just fantastic.

[hunter]

39. Yep.

Imagine some of the "volunteer services" that could arise from this.



There are already privately run "charities" taking government funds to look after disabled and elderly people that would not be acceptable for stray animals, much less people.

Able-bodied people generally want good jobs. If there are no good jobs that's a problem. If they are "able-bodied" and there are good jobs and they are still not working, that indicates another problem, probably some sort of mental illness, PTSD, addiction or some other affliction which ought to be treated with compassion, not starvation.

This nation is wealthy enough that nobody should be hungry, homeless, or lack access to appropriate medical care.

[dkf]

51. Do they consider people with serious mental conditions "able bodied"?

In that case what does keeping them on food stamps with no requirements do?

That sounds like a perpetual dead end anyway.

It's too bad this program isn't aimed at eliminating all the reasons a person is unable to work that it can.

[greymattermom]

16. They should line up at the airport and at all important events

Begging and trying to braid your hair. Good publicity for the state of Ohio. Just like Jamaica, right?

[Iliyah]

18. Got to love them Tea-evangelist

So Christian of them.

[mike_c]

24. because, you know, needing to eat is just a sign of personal weakness....

We shouldn't coddle these takers.

Do I really need this: ?

[Sunlei]

26. who will decide if every lone adult is 'able bodied' without mental health and physical exams?

[JustanAngel]

79. In many situations

animals are treated better.

[JEFF9K]

31. Kasich

Kasich was a Fox News personality and a Wall Street money-changer before becoming Ohio governor.

He will face a stiff election challenge from former FBI agent and current Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) Executive Ed Fitzgerald.

[jtuck004]

38. Doing a similar thing in Kansas, but I think they are just kicking them off. n/t

[hunter]

40. My guess: It's about getting black people out of white counties.

Don't hire them, don't give them food stamps, and make them move to a designated "economically depressed area" if they want to eat.

The statistics might prove interesting. If they bother keeping records.

[ode2joi]

53. Real Agenda

BINGO !

[killbotfactory]

43. Everyone should get food stamps, rich and poor alike

The only reason for all these hoops to jump through is to degrade the people who need help.

[demwing]

91. Why should the rich get food stamps?

this should be interesting...

[The Last Dem.]

45. You mean,

Walmart works won't get an more food stamps?

[workinclasszero]

47. The pentagon ha 92 BILLION dollars to wage war with..this year alone!

All kind of money for killing brown peoples.

But a big FU to hungry americans! Sorry no money for food citizens! (lololol)

[SoapBox]

49. + 1000

...what you said.

[cstanleytech]

59. Hey, something we agree on here. Cut the pentagon budget. Wont happen though I have

another suggestion that might which is shift alot of the DoD budget to the Army Corps and put the Army to work repairing the bridges, roads and dams.
Atleast then we actually get a good use out of that money.

[SoapBox]

48. Starve the citizens to death.

Isn't that the PukeBagger "Death Panel" plan?

Oh yes...there are SO many PukeBagger plans to kill off Americans.

[YarnAddict]

54. If someone CHOOSES to starve to death

rather than do a few hours of volunteer work per week, that's their choice, right?

[Lars39]

60. 80-100 hours per month

Depending on the month, and possibly on top of already working a full-time minimum wage job. Yes, indeedy, let's give these poor moochers something else to do besides try to survive.

[YarnAddict]

73. Read the article again

If they are already working a full-time job, this requirement does not apply to them. I don't think requiring someone to do something that isn't necessarily their first choice for 80--100 hours per month is onerous.

Lots of us do that for many more hours per month in order to get a paycheck.

[Lars39]

75. But you are paid at least minimum wage, right?

20 hours per week does not work out to $140 for food stamps for that week. Times 4? Anybody getting close to $600 per month in food stamps? No. Slave wages to eat,

[november3rd]

69. Jobs

Why not just tax the rich, raise the minimum wage, and give everybody a job instead?

[MADem]

77. So....if you are able bodied and

...already work 20 hours a week in some shitty job, which isn't enough to make ends meet, you are covered.

...if you are training to find work, like say, in college, or a vocational program, you're good to go.

...if you're volunteering to get experience for a resume, or just to stay busy while unemployed, all well.

If you're disabled, physically or mentally, you don't have to prove anything. If you're elderly, same deal. If you live in a place where there's just no damn work, you're off the hook.

People who are working under-the-table might find themselves with insufficient time to meet their 20 hour requirement. There might also be challenges when it comes to people without transportation (no need to worry about child care; if you have kids under eighteen you're exempted)--the state will have to provide a bus pass or something if they want the able-bodied population retrained and on a "welfare to work" path.

It will be interesting to see how this works out. They did something similar in MA years ago, and included child care.

"It's important that we provide more than just a monetary benefit, that we provide job training, an additional level of support that helps put (food-stamp recipients) on a path toward a career and out of poverty," Ben Johnson, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, told the newspaper.
For years, Ohio has taken advantage of a federal waiver exempting food-stamps recipients from the work requirements that Kasich championed while U.S. House Budget Committee chairman during the mid-1990s.
"The governor believes in a work requirement," Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said Friday. "But when the economy is bad and people are hurting, the waiver can be helpful. Now, fortunately, Ohio's economy is improving."
An estimated 134,000 adults will be subject to the work requirements. They are ages 18 to 50, without children under 18, and deemed to be physically and mentally able to participate, Johnson said.


Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/national/ohio-to-limit-food-stamps-for-some-adults#ixzz2ePxsYHDW

[OhioChick]

80. Beachwood, Independence Bank of America mortgage centers, which employ 1,000+, to close in October

Beachwood, Independence Bank of America mortgage centers, which employ 1,000+, to close in October

Posted: 08/29/2013

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Two Bank of America mortgage operations centers in Cuyahoga County will close at the end of October.

NewsChannel5 learned on Thursday that the centers in Beachwood and Independence, which employ more than 1,000 people, will be closing on Oct. 31.

“We were contacted today by Bank of America representatives. They indicated that with the increase in interest rates, their home loan and refinancing applications are down substantially, and that as a result, there were pending layoffs in multiple cities and states housing this line of business, including ours,” Beachwood Mayor Merle S. Gorden said in a statement on Thursday.

A total of 1,200 Bank of America employees in the state of Ohio are affected by the cutbacks. That includes 660 mortgage operation and 340 call center workers in Beachwood, and 55 mortgage center employees in Independence.

More: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_cuyahoga/beachwood-independence-bank-of-america-mortgage-centers-which-employ-1000-to-close-in-october

Gov. Kasich's tax plan for Ohio: Tax the poor, reward the wealthy


?1360341465

?1360341437

Ohio's Gov. John Kasich must be trying to earn back his extremist stripes after his decision to accept Obamacare's Medicaid expansion. He helped out Ohio's lower and moderate income folks with that, only to screw them with higher taxes—higher taxes that will pay for a tax break for wealthy.

The proposal would provide a $10,369 annual tax cut on average to taxpayers in the top 1 percent of the income spectrum, who made more than $335,000 in 2012. The bottom fifth of taxpayers, making less than $18,000 a year, would see an average increase of $63. Those in the middle fifth, making between $33,000 and $51,000 in 2012, would come out about even, averaging an annual tax increase of $8.

The plan includes an income tax cut for those at the top, along with extending the sales tax to services that aren't explicitly exempt. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy [ITEP] analyzed the plan for for Policy Matters Ohio, and estimates that the "top 1 percent on average will pay $781 more a year, while middle-income Ohioans will pay $165 and low-income residents, $71." But that $71 for low-income residents is a much larger share of their income.

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/02/08/1185567/-Kasich-s-tax-plan-for-Ohio-Tax-the-poor-reward-the-wealthy

FitzGerald for Ohio Releases Kasich Tax Shift Calculator

9/6/2013, 3:03 p.m.

COLUMBUS, OH – The FitzGerald for Ohio campaign today launched a digital tax calculator that lets working Ohioans instantly measure how Gov. John Kasich’s new tax plan rewards the rich and stiffs working taxpayers and middle class families.

The governor’s skewed priorities will give the wealthiest Ohioans on average a $6,000 tax handout while working Ohioans will pay higher sales taxes, the elderly on fixed incomes will lose their homestead tax exemption, and homeowners will suffer a 12.5 percent sticker shock on future levies for schools, libraries and public safety.

“Gov. Kasich’s extreme tax plan is a window into his priorities: rewarding the wealthy and well connected and sticking everyone else with the bill,” said Nick Buis, FitzGerald campaign manager. “When working taxpayers use the calculator, they will instantly see how John Kasich is giving the wealthy a windfall and shifting the tax burden onto the middle class.”

Gov. Kasich’s tax plan increases the sales tax and eliminates the homestead exemption for the elderly and the 12.5 percent property tax rollback for local homeowners altogether. The governor is attempting to trade a meager income tax reduction for working and middle class families in return for higher sales and property taxes, but it is a bad deal for everyone but the wealthiest in Ohio.

More: http://citynewsohio.com/news/2013/sep/06/fitzgerald-ohio-releases-kasich-tax-shift-calculat/

[KamaAina]

84. Apparently "a similar type of activity" does not include education

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023627603

Can't have those poor folks trying to make something of themselves, can we? Not as long as Walmart needs greeters!