I’m so sick of people talking about people on “welfare”. I’m one of those people who have no extended unemployment benefits. Laid off of a making well over 70K a year and haven’t found anything yet in the IT field. Let me tell you… The system is horrible - I have one child and get $234 a mouth in cash benefits, 308 in food stamps, have a mortage, car payment, and all the rest like other working people. My child’s father, is also unemployed due to laid off’s as well - it took a lot for us to even think about going to apply for TANF benefits. Coming from a well paying jobs and then down to nothing was just Devastating. The $294 goes toward gas, personal items and a few other things…but surely doesn’t pay for shelter, utility bills and etc. However, we have stay afloat because we both took out portions of our retirement money to pay for the mortage and a few other things up for 16 months which is about to end soon. We are hoping that one of us find employment soon because we will be on the street or living with family members depending on the $234 a month. So please when you guys put others down, remember it could be you one day. Never say never, I learned that since being unemployed.

Hey Aid, what does this have to do with the story? And if you spent less time on the Internet being an Op-Ed writer and more time looking for work, you wouldn’t be in a financial predicament.