Well, I am sorry. I think it is really bad when the State of Wisconsin can only give my family $16 for food per month. And my father has been without a job since January. Before he was let go, he had a good job for almost four years and I did not need to ask for this kind of help before.
Asher. I think the people here at RPF are trying to help you see things from a different perspective.
I feel sorry for you and your family, you're going through some rough times right now.
Yet a lot of people on here are saying you sound like a welfare state victim instead of a Ron Paul supporter who wants to eliminate the welfare state. You are asking WI tax payers to take better care of your family, you are complaining they are not doing enough for you.
What everyone here is trying to say is, "Dont have the VICTIM mentality." You have a financial problem, why not doing something about it?
No one is saying you haven't tried, but try harder. Especially, right now it's summer time you can dedicate much more time earning. And it doesn't make sense to give ALL your time to charity so that another charity must then PAY you to keep from starving. Save the tax payer's money and help yourself first.
Try a couple things, either the old fashioned way:
1) Grocery stocker.
2) Paper Boy.
3) Mow lawns.
4)
Any type of helpful physical labor. (this is pretty much limitless).
5) Lemonade stand.
6) Baby Sitting.
7) WASH CARS.
Or try new ways:
1) Sell your stuff on ebay or help others sell stuff on ebay and take a commission.
2) If you are good with computers, help people setup computers or get setup online.
3) Create an interesting entertaining blog and bring in google adwords.
These are just a few ideas I've come up in 2-3 minutes. There are a lot of creative ways to earn income. You can ask for a real low amount like $4-$5. (My son was thrilled when I told him he can wash my car and earn FIVE BUCKS. That includes waxing!) If you work 10-15 hours this week you've already earned your TWO t-shirts.
People on the streets in Miami sell cold bottled water for $3-$5 while standing on the sidewalk. They sell shrimp, flowers, mangoes, limes, newspapers, HOLD up STUDENT car wash signs and everything else you can imagine. All year long various high school team sports have fund raisers which are car washes and things in order to attend distant tournaments and such.
I'm not saying you need to stand on the sidewalk and sell something, but I'm saying there are LIMITLESS ways to earn $50.
And if you find something that works pretty well, then maybe you can keep earning and help out your family. I'm sure they'd be thrilled if you were earning $100 a week (that's 20 - 25hours) and able to help out the family. I knew kids in high school that worked 20 hours a week DURING school and maintained good grades, so that's not a lot of hours in the summertime.
Asher. Please EARN your t-shirt. That's being a true Ron Paul Supporter.
Please don't take offense. You are young and we want you to have the correct mindset as you are our precious next generation. We don't want our next generation NEEDING handouts or expecting handouts or being victims.
We want them to find creative solutions to their problems and not need the government or someone else to bail them out.
Please understand we want to help you get that T-shirt but without you needing a handout.