If you haven't already seen this clip of Melissa Harris-Perry this weekend, its totally worth the time. She begins to really lay it on the line around the 8 minute mark:
MHP on Poverty in America
This is totally my experience. Under-employed, on food stamps, with kids to feed and clothe something as simple as a broken window or a doctor's appointment can make it impossible to pay rent.
And the idea that anyone is "giving" you anything when you are receiving assistance is ludicrous. Do you know the hoops you have to jump through to qualify for even a small amount of food stamps? Tax returns, months of pay stubs, bank statements, proof that you are a citizen, affidavits about where you live... Mitt Romney would never qualify for foodstamps given how little information he's given the public about his finances.
God knows I wish I didn't need the help. I wish i could manage to keep us all housed and clothed and fed on our income. We are working and in school and we would not be making it without help -- from the Government, from our friends, and family. (Also the idea that your family can always help you is equally ridiculous. a, not everyone has family and b, most of them are in the same damn boat.)
So you "job creators" - If you are bringing home $250K a year, you are by my definition rich. You can afford to pay 0.03 per dollar more. It's only $7500 for cryin out loud.