Sunday, April 17, 2011

Is it Worth It?

  • Former Homewood supermarket cashier Cecilia LoCicero recalls seeing shoppers using state Link cards to buy steaks and lobsters, a shopper who fumbled for his second or third card when the first one had no money on it and other customers who took cash back from the cards to buy cigarettes or alcohol.

    The Link cards are “abused so much, you just don’t know,” she said.

    As state lawmakers mull a plan to study abuse in the food assistance program known as Illinois Link, some say putting users’ photos on the debit card needlessly invades privacy while failing to curb larger abuses. Others believe the program is hobbled by abuse.

We imagine if a real investigation was undertaken, the fraud would be staggering. And this nonsense about having a photograph on the card being embarrassing? Grow up - you're getting free money from working people. You can damn well get over any embarrassment and make sure that OUR money is being spent properly and not funding rock habits, luxury items and international terrorism.

Labels:

199 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hate the LINK card and anybody with one that is abusing the system. Incidently, most are abusing it. There, I said it!

4/17/2011 12:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's funny how this fraud and abuse is finally coming out now that Mayor Daley is leaving office. I can't wait for the day they take that jagoff away in handcuffs!

4/17/2011 12:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They will never expose the dumorat voters for the thieves they really are, more bullshit personally I am excited that we will have a real President running the country soon, looks like Donald Trump will be turning things around unlike barry who worries about gang bangers basketball brackets!

4/17/2011 12:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There's a photo on my fucking FOID card and Lisa Madigan wants to release it to the public. Are they even talking about making the LINK card public information?

Fuck all the Madigans, Daleys, Quinns, and Ryans out there. Wow. That's a lot of Irish communist names. Let's be fair. Fuck all the Alvarez, Guitierez, jacksons, Mells, Rush, Carothers and davis pussies too.

4/17/2011 12:47:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Could not agree with you more! The abuses that take place with this card is astronomical!

Shut it down! The people that do not actually need it, are the one's abusing it, cash, baby, cash!!

I have no problem helping those that need it, such as as my departed grandmother, but those that use it as a cash cow, f... them!!

4/17/2011 12:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen. Saw Arab dude load up a shopping cart full of pepsi, 7 up etc. 345.00 worth and he whipped out a link card. I'm sure he nought that for some cash and now gets to resell the pop. And city workers pensions are the problem?

4/17/2011 12:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What month did you have NutraLoaf?

UPS a box monthly to residence-- LINK problem solved!

4/17/2011 12:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was a cashier at Jewel fifteen years ago and I saw the abuse of the LINK cards back then. Folks in mink coats with a wallet full of gold cards and a wad of cash using a link card and then asking for help with their groceries out to their $60,000+ car (insert make here).
The best ones were the people that would buy a candy bar and then get FIFTY bucks cash back!!!!!!!

Forget the investigation. END the program all together and start from scratch. It's a lost cause!!

4/17/2011 01:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How would a photograph on the card be any more embarrassing than using it in public?

4/17/2011 01:11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about mandatory drug testing for ALL free money recipients? If you fail the test...you lose your benefits. FOREVER! I would guess that 60-70% would lose their cards. Its our tax dollars, it should be our vote.

4/17/2011 01:14:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It use to be embarrassing to need a hand out.

4/17/2011 01:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about this, those corner stores that take link funnel money back for terrorists organizations that kill our troops. Keep re-distribution of wealth, and keep kill our troops.

4/17/2011 01:18:00 AM  
Anonymous Westside, Inside Do-Nothing said...

A resounding "YES"!!! says it is worth it, but with at least one more stipulation:

All LEGITIMATE recipients have to piss-test clean to get one, and then piss-test clean monthly to maintain any benefits.

No 3-Strikes policy, either. One "dirty drop" and it's curtains. Same goes for assisted living via Section 8 programs, utilities, etcetera.

Too bad the cowards that run this floundering country are afraid of the backlash that would accompany an instant 50% or greater reduction in welfare recipients.

Simple economy says the money saved could be used to hire more police and military to quash any kind of uprising the Entitlement Generations might try to coordinate.

Damn shame the Democrats have the Sheeple brainwashed to the point where even entertaining such an idea is dismissed as horse shit.

Revolution - coming to parts of the good ol' USA near you in the very near future.

4/17/2011 01:21:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen, SCC! Your last paragraph sums it up. While they're at it, how about monthly or bi-weekly drops? If we have to be drug free to GIVE them the money, they should have to be drug free to GET the money.

4/17/2011 01:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe the folks in Springfield who run this program don't want it investigated. There is more to this than just some mopes at the store abusing the cards.

4/17/2011 01:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, what a terrible liberal headline "Is it worth it?" Well yes "it's worth it" to CHANGE. Case and point. I know the media does it's best. Especially the awarding winning super duper Suntimes to do it's research. But look at A/2 Gangs who did a SW on an individual who was the target and lived off 89th & Loomis. Well this individual was home and was found to be in possession of 15+ grams of crack cocaine. Wow you might say! Well not only was this individual in possession of a quantity of cocaine but this individual was in possession of link card readers, machines etc etc. Yes customers were using link cards to pay for crack. Well one might ask "how" "gee" this is terrible. Well this is how, the same target of said search warrant has been targeted before and has been found to be in possession of crack cocaine. Here's the kicker, this same person has owned or been involved in the ownership of the gas station off 87th & Racine. This individual connected the "LINK" link from the gas station to their apartment off 89th & Loomis thus letting customers pay for crack from the LINK CARD. I'm sure it's tough for the media to look into this but it's right there and there's plenty more examples.

4/17/2011 01:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So having your picture on a link card is an invasion of privacy but having your FOID card information, something I am required to have, released to the public is called freedom of information?

4/17/2011 01:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

".... some say putting users’ photos on the debit card needlessly invades privacy ..."

What a bunch of crap!! These worthless 2nd and 3rd generation abusers needlessly invade my paycheck!!

Drug testing needs to be instituted, STAT, for any kind of handouts er I mean benefits, but of course the liberal pukes who run this state/country won't do it.

4/17/2011 02:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The "Problem with Shields" post got me thinking. We all know the media reads this blog. They usually choose not to follow up on any stories which would embarrass Shanks or otherwise irk his sensitive temperament. Will Rahm be allowed to ride roughshod over their integrity with the same reckless abandon or was the greasy little leprechaun some kind of sawed off Svengali?

4/17/2011 03:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My ex-wife was a social worker. What I learned from that (besides never marry a social worker) was that the State agencies MUST ALWAYS advocate for the children because stupid adults don't always accept the responsibility to do so. The problem with denying financial assistance, or lets say, a LINK card to a family, is that it can severely affect children's actual survival and even the worst critics among us realize that innocent children do not DESERVE to suffer for the actions of ignorant parents.

ABSOLUTELY, clean up and secure the system to prevent fraud but don't penalize the kids for something they have no control over, (regardless of the monsters that they may or may not grow into!).

4/17/2011 03:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a detective for 24 years, I will take that job of being in charge of investigating IL link fraud for only 75,000 year. That is a hell of alot less than whatever moron clout exempt hack they would hire.

4/17/2011 04:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Saw a democrat having to pay for groceries with cash because she couldn't find the LINK card, she was west side pissed, m-f'ing all over. Having to waste good cash like that on goddam food. Shit, it ain't right.

Fucking Animals. Can't wait to leave.

4/17/2011 06:11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This shit is exactly why this country is broke.

4/17/2011 06:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Check out this 60 Minutes video clip about Medicare & Medicaid fraud....and the government wants to control ALL health care??? Ok, sure.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5419933n&tag=related;photovideo

4/17/2011 06:23:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guy in front of me at the store bought groceries with a Link card, then a 12-pack of Heineken with a credit card. I drink Miller Lite--I can't afford Heineken!

4/17/2011 06:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Screw the photographs.

Use an eye scan. It will take them months to figure out how to scam that.

4/17/2011 06:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Give the Link to people who truthfully need it. Put a photo id on the card and don't look back. That is a simple, straightforward approach.

4/17/2011 07:19:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The LINK card is absolutely essential to the survival of people who find themselves in trouble and cannot afford food for their families. Yes, there is abuse and it needs to be stopped. My daughter and her two kidsfound herself on Link when she lost her job and her home. No one really knows the extent of fraud in this system and a few stories from people who work in a grocery store are not a guage of how deep the problem goes. Photos should be on the card, a pin number issued and look for other security measures to ensure the cards are only used for food. The liberal democrats by refusing to clean up this corruption just inflame people who then want to end a useful program. Just be thankful that you or your family members do not have to depend on Link to eat. Have some compassion for the needy and go after the greedy.

4/17/2011 07:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

nonymous said... (OT) How about this not a rumor but 100% TRUE! Daley is getting a % MAN yes boys and GIRLS a 5 man cpd security detail complete with 2 city cars when he leaves all D-3 paid "team" WTF!! 4/17/2011 12:17:00 AM



Well, duh! Daley is still going to run this shit. Rahm just gets to sit on the 5th floor...

4/17/2011 07:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's funny how this fraud and abuse is finally coming out now that Mayor Daley is leaving office. I can't wait for the day they take that jagoff away in handcuffs!

4/17/2011 12:38:00 AM

I mean as much as I cant stand daley either, this has nothing to do with him. Its a federal program that has been in existence for decades. Each state is responsible for its recipients. Gosh, I hope you're NOT a cop!

4/17/2011 07:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe because the names on the cards are probably all fake, but a picture would be real....

4/17/2011 08:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The problem with denying financial assistance, or lets say, a LINK card to a family, is that it can severely affect children's actual survival and even the worst critics among us realize that innocent children do not DESERVE to suffer for the actions of ignorant parents.
$$$$$$$$$$


Your argument is flawed because we all know the so called benefits of the link card rarely get passed down to children.

4/17/2011 08:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some news agency in Chicago should file a FOIA request to gather information on where LINK cards are actually used. The LA Times conducted such an investigation and found a staggering number of out-of-state transactions. Illinois is probably in the same boat.

4/17/2011 08:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Recently I took the family to Universal Studio in Orlando Florida. While there I noticed something very interesting: Certain individuals had residents passes to the park. Not only did the park scan their passes but the visitor was also required to have their fingerprint scanned as well. My first thought - have these people run the welfare program for Illinois!!

4/17/2011 08:11:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Comrades, how do you expect the Peoples Democrat Party to continue to buy votes for our continuing Socialist agenda? With your help, you helped elect our great leader Obama and we are in the process of changing this once great nation into a Progressive Utopia!!! Blindly, continue with your apathy and continue to bicker amongst yourselves.

4/17/2011 08:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have to have my photo on my Sam's Club Card and Bally's just took a picture of me to match to my card on their computer, what is the difference?

This is just common sense, which is why it will never happen here.
Just like the requirement of having photo ID to vote and proof of citizenship to register to vote.

I have a copy of my birth certificate and I was born 1,000 miles away from Chicago, it isn't that hard. I haven't been to my birthplace in 20 years and I got a copy of mine through the mail.

I too, have seen the expensive food bought with a LINK card. I can't afford it, but some welfare abuser can? That's a bunch of horsehockey.

4/17/2011 08:25:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I tell you what....Go to the Bowling Alley at Western & Grace. And just sit and watch how many people pay for bowling, beer, food etc on a Saturday night, all bought with the Link Card cash they get from the ATM at the bowling alley. I see it everyday, people paying for items I cant afford with a link card, and then driving off in a brand new car all dressed to the hilt. They act like its their debit card. I hear people all the time....some while at work state, just put it on my link. I am all for the photo ID and I also say their should be a finger print verification. And guess what. At the holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas etc they get extra money put on their cards so they can buy extravigant holiday dinner, and the best part GIFTS! Doing this will cut out at least 40% fraud on LINK! I am waiting for the Government gas cards next. What the heck, they already get a free cell phone!

4/17/2011 08:27:00 AM  
Anonymous The Devil's Advocate said...

Anonymous said...
... Drug testing needs to be instituted, STAT, for any kind of handouts er I mean benefits, but of course the liberal pukes who run this state/country won't do it.

4/17/2011 02:22:00 AM


OK, drug test 'em.

Oh, oh! Shaniqua and Jamaal test positive.

Let's cut off their benefits.

Now what about their 6 kids who have NO food? What? Take 'em away and put 'em in foster care. Good idea. Theres no abuse in THAT system.

The government does not make a very good parent or family for all of these kids who didn't ask to become part of all this. Kids are simply like a puppy. They just want food when they're hungry, a place to lay down when they're sleepy and when they're cold, a roof over their head and a sweater.

Hey, I don't know the answers either, but the questions make the system even more burdensome. It would be nice if we could "corruption proof" the system, but human nature being what it is, it isn't going to happen.

Also, unfortunately, as government budgets have gotten crunched and jobs have been eliminated, the investigators who root out the corruption seem to be the first ones to go. All of THOSE jobs would have to be reinstated to even begin to get a handle on the problem. It seems the WHOLE system is beyond saving.
Blow it up and start over?
What do we do in the meantime?
Holy crap. I'm sooo depressed!

4/17/2011 08:30:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

even the worst critics among us realize that innocent children do not DESERVE to suffer for the actions of ignorant parents.

I dissagree! They only grow up to be the kind of individuals we are trying to stop. So whats the damn difference. I say Photo, Finger print, and DRUG TEST! Let them rebel and riot...its called CLEANSING!

4/17/2011 08:31:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh my GOD!! The LINK cards are the most absued form of government entitlements next to the fake SSI disability checks all the crack heads and drug dealers get by making up some disorder. we arrest these people all the time and they all have LINK cards and some type of government check. Some will openly say that they got a lawyer who knew a doctor that disagnosed them. If we fixed the LINK and SSI system Illinois would probably have a budget surplus.

4/17/2011 08:32:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
There's a photo on my fucking FOID card and Lisa Madigan wants to release it to the public. Are they even talking about making the LINK card public information?

4/17/2011 12:47:00 AM


So file a FOID request and force Lisa to respond to THAT, and see what her response is.

4/17/2011 08:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Went to the car wash at 17th & state about a month ago. M/1/40s who was wearing 1k wardrobe, a couple more in jewelry, drives up with his Porsche cayenne. He's next in line at the register. As he pulls cash from his wallet he's holding his link card. Wtf? Then proceeds to bitch in typical ghetto fashion about how the order of cars are being washed and that he was in front of me when he was actually 3 behind me. Yeah, its all legit.

4/17/2011 08:36:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not only the Link card, all those fed disaster funds thru out the country, they are distributing ATM cards that have shown purchases from tv's to casinos and the local Arab store. Why are the Democrats turning a blind eye at the fraud ?
Nobody can find real jobs due to outsourcing yet Obongo & Quinn-Jellyfish want to build railroads and Walmarts, further increase entitlement funding because nobody wants these type of jobs when standing on a street corner pays more.

BRING BACK THE GOVERNMENT CHEESE PROGRAM.

4/17/2011 08:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
How about mandatory drug testing for ALL free money recipients? If you fail the test...you lose your benefits. FOREVER! I would guess that 60-70% would lose their cards. Its our tax dollars, it should be our vote.

4/17/2011 01:14:00 AM



Catch the parents, penalize the kids?

4/17/2011 08:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To 4/17/2011 12:38:00 AM

LINK is a state program not a city program. I'm no fan of Daley but for people like you, Daley will be dead for thirty years before you stop seeing everything bad linked to him. Please polish your tinfoil hat-it's not picking up the signals anymore.

4/17/2011 08:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can always depend on part of this blog to give reason to pause. Ignorance is bliss and quite frankly dangerous. I read one intelligent and unbiased response thus far. Democrats and republicans are all the same - they feed on our insecurities be it finances, entitlement, religion, and indifference. We have to pick the lesser of two evils and sometimes we are blind by these insecurities. Social programs are not the enemy here. I hope no one here fall on hard times because it would be an eye opener. Just think, if you lose your job. Domino effect - your house, benefits, and ability to enroll your kids in the best schools. Life not so grand after all. Welfare was supposed to be temporary and should be reformed. However, government - republicans and democrats keep dropping the ball. Return back to the basics but set guidelines, rules, and regulations. Link recipients are set up to fail. You give them a link card and section 8 but don't educate them about nutrition and how to conform to their new neighborhoods instead of the neighbors fearing their existence. Ensure bad behaviors (drugs, alcohol, littering, criminal behavior, and laziness) are not tolerated. Parents not working - mandatory teacher's aide, community clean up services. Children refuse to go to school - lose benefits. children not performing to norm standards unless below borderline mental capabilities - lose benefits. Children in gang and/or criminal behavior - loss benefits. Everything is about accountability and politicians on both sides should know this. We are all pieces on a chessboard and they play us well. Democrats too liberal, vote republican, republicans take away your collective bargaining, vote democrat. The politicians are rich and will continue to be rich. we will continue to complain about policy that they set and take sides because of our insecurities. It's so easy, people are predictable.

4/17/2011 08:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

These mutts are "embarrassed",but to protect myself, I wrote "Ask for ID" on the signature line of my Visa.
Very few cashiers ask for my ID.
I have to ask them to read the signature line.
This is all ass-backwards.

4/17/2011 08:56:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about just doing away with the Link program? Enough with all the freeloading, get a job or starve. Let the church feed and clothe the despots like they did in the past.

4/17/2011 08:56:00 AM  
Anonymous bobbo said...

Ever notice why they're so happy on the westside? There's no cares in their world. Uncle sugar takes care of it all.

4/17/2011 08:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Once an illegal gets legal residency status they may legally bring their entire extended family here. After a 90 day wait, the elderly and sick can receive SSI and free medical and Link cards. Wheeee!

4/17/2011 08:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"My ex-wife was a social worker. What I learned from that (besides never marry a social worker) was that the State agencies MUST ALWAYS advocate for the children because stupid adults don't always accept the responsibility to do so. The problem with denying financial assistance, or lets say, a LINK card to a family, is that it can severely affect children's actual survival and even the worst critics among us realize that innocent children do not DESERVE to suffer for the actions of ignorant parents.

ABSOLUTELY, clean up and secure the system to prevent fraud but don't penalize the kids for something they have no control over, (regardless of the monsters that they may or may not grow into!)."

I agree with the point you are making. We all see the way kids are treated out there by these savages. However the system is in such need of reform. The way the link program is run now does not guarantee that any of the money has to go to the kids. The shitbag adults are using it for booze, smokes and to get cash for their fake NIKEs and hot cheetos. The kids get whatever scraps are left over. They need to open a few "link only" stores where they can only buy items in those stores with the program, and the only items available are the essentials. And if people feel too "embarassed" to be singled out in such a manner, maybe it will motivate them to get a fucking job!

4/17/2011 09:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The problem with denying financial assistance, or lets say, a LINK card to a family, is that it can severely affect children's actual survival and even the worst critics among us realize that innocent children do not DESERVE to suffer for the actions of ignorant parents.

Well if that is the case, then the children should be made wards of the state while their criminal parents serve their sentences in prison.

Fuck this, I am tired of having over one third of MY MONEY taken to support this lazy, evil segment of society that only wants to screw, get high, and not work, all on our backs. I am all for taking care of truly needy people, but these people are playing the taxpayers for fools.

Funny how the asshole with the link card in front of me in the check out line always looks relatively wealthy, well fed, and arrogant.

Come on media, do your fucking jobs for once instead of picking the low-hanging fruit. We are about to crash and burn. Where do you think you will be when the dust settles?

4/17/2011 09:02:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

we're the ones getting fuck*d.
All those yahoos you named are
living large, sucking at the City
Jobs/Payroll "teats" and never had
a real job or did a honest day's
work in their greedy, sorry lives.

4/17/2011 09:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Link cards are payment for voting democrat. The only thing that is required of these people is a democratic vote. The government will give out welfare, link cards, and anything else for those votes. The democrats would never win an election again without those votes. That's why the democrats promote and nurture a permanent underclass.

4/17/2011 09:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I worked for Jewel Foodstores 30 years ago when I was in High School. People were abusing food stamps back then and nothing has changed. I was constantly telling people they couldn't use them for booze & cigarettes. They always looked at me in disbelief saying "Gosh. I didn't know that. When did that rule take place?" Nothing but thieves.

4/17/2011 09:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Its' interesting that the point was
raised regarding the abuse of the
Illinois Link Card, and back in the
Day, Food Stamps.
But when the powers that be wants
to reduce spending, the first to
targeted is Social Security and
Medicare/Medicade. And ninety-five
percent of the recepients have paid
into the fund via payroll deductions when they were employed.
The shi*ts fuck*d-up.

4/17/2011 09:29:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since welfare is given to families for the children, I say if your child(ren) commit a felony, you lose benefits for that child(ren). You bet your ass if a mother is going to lose her free money, she will be watching the child(ren) a whole lot better.

4/17/2011 09:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
What month did you have NutraLoaf?

UPS a box monthly to residence-- LINK problem solved!

4/17/2011 12:58:00 AM


Love it!

Or how about a LINK food store attached to the welfare office that stocks only the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM food staples. Milk, bread, baloney etc etc and payment will be made by a thumb print scan at the register.

All you need to watch out for then, is people in the checkout line with an extra thumb in their hands!

4/17/2011 09:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said, but I'm sure we will never see reform because it would be like trying to take one fry off of a fat mans plate. We could lose a finger. Trix

4/17/2011 09:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i am 100% sure this program is being abused.

just go to FAIRPLAY food store at 46th & Halsted.

people are getting cash back and then buying lotto tickets at the door.

not to mention the cartload of meat i couldn't afford on a cops salary.

something is wrong with this system big time........

4/17/2011 09:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Unless they change the law to make it madatory for the person who owns the card to be present when it is used then pictures don't mean shit. Current law PERMITS these card to. e used by people it wasnt issued to. With that in mind, unless the rules are changed the photos will be nothing more than a cash cow for some clouted company.

4/17/2011 09:58:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

how about the middle easterners buying 50-60- boxes of cereal, then taking it to their west-side corner store and RE-SELLING it at 4 times the price..all on our dime..this is f'n nonsense

4/17/2011 10:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thats why I carry LINK PLATINUM, never leave the crib without it.

4/17/2011 10:04:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a probation officer I am required to show my picture ID and badge every day to go thru security .
The vast majority of my families are section 8, some with beautiful apartmets and townhouses , much nicer then where I live. Virtually all get LINK cards, yet their children get free meals all year long at school,(if they go to school, although many will go late , eat , and leave early). A large percentage get disability SSI for themselves and their children.
These same families have had numerous children go thru the system , committing criminal act after criminal act.Yet, they can never show up for report card pickup days , special ed IEP's, etc.
We are constantly told to refrain from violating, ask for holds (despite the detention center being half filled)and to keep providing services and interventions. These people are held acccountable for nothing, and given everything.

4/17/2011 10:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Reopen Hoover Hotel (lower Wacker Dr) and start soup lines again. This would be a great opportunity for the Madigans and Alvarez to show how much the really love the peoples with the Link cards.

4/17/2011 10:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My wife was in Wal-Mart when she was approached by two women who wanted to sell her their link cards for cash, that same day when she was checking out a well dressed man wearing a Rolex watch pulled out his link card to buy groceries. Upon leaving he entered his newer BMW auto. I told her that it happened all the time it took her to finally see it to believe it.

4/17/2011 10:18:00 AM  
Anonymous ELJEFE2489 said...

If you can afford the car payment on that Mercedes sitting on them 22s then you can afford to pay for your own food.

I'd be more red faced if I had to pull out a link card while I am wearing expensive clothes and drive an expensive car or SUV that guzzles gas. If your poor, at least try to look poor jagoffs.

4/17/2011 10:28:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fucking have nots have more than the haves thanks to all the scumbag Democrats !

4/17/2011 10:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've often wondered why recipients of any handouts aren't required to to work for the communities they are living off. One brave person in southern Illinois I knew implemented a "workfare" program for people who went to the trustee's office for relief money. He said that after people were expected to give something back to the taxpayers, more than half of them gave up welfare and found jobs, and the others moved to Kentucky.

4/17/2011 10:39:00 AM  
Anonymous fuck it! pay me said...

Everyone should get one and run the program into the ground. What they should do is only allow the purchase of fruits and vegetables, bread, and ground beef. There are a hundred different things you can make with that. Since they will never do that, get one and think of it as getting back some of the taxes that come out of your check. Screw em

4/17/2011 10:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

About thirty-some years ago I received food stamps. That was before link. My husband had been out of work for about 9 months and I was pregnant. We really needed them.

We weren't allowed to buy toilet paper or soap because they were not food items.

Things have sure changed.

4/17/2011 10:39:00 AM  
Blogger Michael said...

they used to have the "link lane" number 5 where they all had to check out where I shop--- now all lanes are good for link--- they either have multiplied in number forcing the grocer to open more lanes or the linkers beefed that they were being singled out and discriminated against--- it just makes me want to puke every time I see one of those cards come out because 90 percent of the people using them look healthy and should be working.....

4/17/2011 10:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Bluedude said...

Our team in 007 helped the USDA (thats who handles LINK issues...) a few times during their search warrants. 2 stores 4 blocks away from each other had the MOST corruption. They were exchanging 50 cents on the dollar and they were Palestinian owned. It's such a screwed up system. Imagine the uprise if ALL section 8 and LINK were eliminated. We would absolutely be under Marshal Law then

4/17/2011 10:49:00 AM  
Anonymous Captain Crunch said...

Property crimes are up 20 percent already...Take away these entitlements and you wont believe the crime wave that will follow...We call ourselves a moral country, well lets lift up the curtain and see just how moral....

4/17/2011 10:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

best idea i heard , ups food to homes , powdered milk , rice , beans , soups etc
have every person reapply , be fingerprinted
this also solves problem of embarrassment
if people want better food , then they can work
this will definetly stop abuse and needy people will not starve

4/17/2011 11:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well it has been abused by the same group of people's for years. It will never get better, I know because I was in the jewel at Cumberland / lawrence and the link was being used by a polish man and women and he looked like he just spent all day doing construction. What a great country for the low life's of the world.

4/17/2011 11:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This type of stuff is the 600 pound gorilla in the room. Nobody will talk about cradle to grave entitlement programs. The state and federal governments are broke because of cradle to grave entitlements. Public pensions are not the cause of the state's current financial situation, although there are cases of abuses no doubt. We're broke because we give money to healthy people who have been categorized as "unemployable" because of diabetes, learning disability, asthma, attention deficit disorder, etc. etc. We pay the bills when they were born, get sick , get injured, get stabbed or shot, and die. We pay to house, cloth, and feed generation after generation of families.

4/17/2011 11:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All these nit wits in Springfeld have to do is ask any police officer anywhere in this state and they could tell them about all the fraud.......But you notice which legislators are against the investigation..

No but lets keep attacking the senoir citizens

4/17/2011 11:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

have you ever heard of 70 cents on the dollar.

4/17/2011 11:37:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sickens me to no end. Seniors in this country who worked all their lives get no raise in social security checks, have to live on a fixed income whereby they struggle each month to make property taxes, utility payments and food is a luxury for some.
When will this country wake up?

4/17/2011 11:38:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i went to fresh farms in niles and was watching the person who was speaking a foreign language to another family member unloading baskets full of fresh cuts meats, etc. and pay with none other than the LINK card.
Why are foreigners getting these cards on the IL taxpayers's back??

4/17/2011 11:46:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it s a big selfish grabbag. i d say at least 40% fraud and waste involved.

4/17/2011 11:54:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the dept of agriculture is supposed to the the agency in charge of the LINK card. fraud has been going on for YEARS, sep in those mom and pop s tores that are owned by middle eastern merchants as well. dopn't think for a minute that LINK card fraud hasn't been involved in funding terrorism. Shit the funds are electronicalloy transferred into the merchant's bank account from the gov. It's crazy and the general public DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE. They need to do more than putting a photo on a card. How about strict scrutinizing at the applicaqtion level. If you are driving a brand new friggin Lexus, why do you need a LINK card???

4/17/2011 11:55:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The savages should also be entitled to a free cruise off the coast of Somalia.

4/17/2011 12:10:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe the folks in Springfield who run this program don't want it investigated. There is more to this than just some mopes at the store abusing the cards.

4/17/2011 01:37:00 AM




1. merchants don't care where the money comes from, only that it's spent buying their merchandise.

2. politicians don't care where the votes come from, or why the voter votes for them, only that they get the votes and get reelected.

3. public aid recipients don't care where the money comes from, only that it keeps coming.

4. lenders don't care how their borrowers get the money to make their loan payments, only that the payments are made.

5. employers don't care who their employees are, only that they show up, do the work and work for less.

6. manufacturers don't care how much their products cost the consumers, only that the consumers continue to buy their products.

7. no one cares about doing an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, only about getting more for less, doing less for more and getting theirs' while the getting is good.


the motto of human nature is what it has always been, namely, 'we have met the enemy, and he is us'.

4/17/2011 12:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good article on a state rep who is proposing reform as well. I called his office and gave him some examples of fraud on the west side. They don't seem to understand the true extent of it.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_cdb5bc4f-afc9-5a0e-a99f-9488222c1651.html

4/17/2011 12:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Savage.Austerity.Now.

The IMF says the same in so many words. Worry not, it's nigh inevitable.

Solves problem, which has been going on since these programs were initiated. You can go back to the 60s, or if you like ancient Athens and Rome. It's how Democracies Perish.

Before this card it was food stamps. As good as cash. In fact in Newark a few years ago there was an armed smuggling ring that took them - and by arms I mean all the way up to tanks, aircraft and missiles.

As far as feed the hungry chilin - see SCC post below on handgun "accident".

4/17/2011 01:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

has 1 politician mentioned cutting off all benefits for illegal immigrants as a good way to save money in city , state and federal
agencies , just think schools , health , police , correctional , courts
arrest them , assign them to work programs , hard labor and ship them back to country of origin

4/17/2011 01:18:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ABSOLUTELY, clean up and secure the system to prevent fraud but don't penalize the kids for something they have no control over, (regardless of the monsters that they may or may not grow into!).

4/17/2011 03:45:00 AM


Since the issue here is an economic one, the following pertains only to that aspect of the problem:


1. Serve breakfast, lunch and an early dinner via public school cafeterias.

2. Require all public school students to wear a uniform attire and distribute same to students. This means a reasonably limited selection of clothing, including footwear.

3. Provide all necessary school supplies to students, on a quarterly basis, with each initial issue being sufficient for the average student, and additional supplies being given on an individual request basis only.

4. Eliminate all monetary amounts of 'public aid' previously intended for the parent/legal guardian's purchase of all of the above.

5. Satisfy the state requirement to fund education by instituting a total voucher system of financing. base the voucher amount on student age/grade level and make the voucher(s) valid at all state certified education facilities, both public, private, parochial, etc.

Since it is presumed that any parent/legal guardian who has chosen to enroll their minor dependent(s) in a private/parochial school has done so because said parent/legal guardian actually cares about their minor dependent(s) receiving an education worthy of the word, it may also be presumed that said parent/guardian is trustworthy enough to not be subjected to the above subtractions from any public aid monies intended to provide food, clothing and school supplies to said dependents, thus, private/parochial schools, and their students/parents/legal guardians, would not be required to submit to the previously outlined restrictions upon receiving public aid monies.


As we are addressing only the concerns about the economic effects upon minor dependents, and not the fraudulent actions of their parents/legal guardians, the economic solution to fraudulent actions engaged in by said parents/legal guardians is to economically remove the parents/legal guardians from the equation.

The above does not address the issue of fraudulent actions being engaged in by those individuals who administer the public aid programs.

4/17/2011 01:36:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why doesn't the state have commissaries with only the merchandise available that is ALLOWED. It would be so simple to have them in areas with the most issued Link cards and it would eliminate abuse. For those that can't shop at a commissary allow orders on-line and free delivery. This would eliminate any and all fraud, including fraud perpetrated by the store owners--period. Too simple I suppose.

4/17/2011 01:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Amen to that.

4/17/2011 02:04:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

is should be embarassing ... it should be a naked picture

4/17/2011 02:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I worked at Jewel Osco for 5 years. I would say 4 out of 5 customers with Link would abuse it one way or the other. Just plain sick!

4/17/2011 02:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

On a serious note, does anyone know how to go about having a referendum introduced to make mandatory drug testing for LINK card holders? I know that there would still be fraud, but in the long run, it would still save us loads of taxdollars. Oh yeah...hair test, not the pee test as baby momma would juat have baby pee in a cup for her.

4/17/2011 02:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have you, as a police officer, ever tried to report fraud?
Good luck trying. Yes we have had these people in custody, no one wants to listen when we tell them that there is fraud.
Yea, we tried the hot lines and everything else.

4/17/2011 02:38:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where might I get one of those Link cards ?? I could use a little free surf & turf in my diet !!!

4/17/2011 02:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Damn you right!

4/17/2011 03:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well I'll tell you something SCC.

My mom is on social security, she's 83 and has a link card. I do the grocery shopping for her.

So we're saying that I nor any other family member can shop for her anymore and she has to risk falling down and breaking something again because the cashier needs to see her face and match her picture?

Sorry but while there may be rampant fraud going on in this system I don't see how a picture is going to fix it as I assume that there are many seniors in this same situation. How we gonna solve that little problem?

Think of all the disabled on this card too. What are they going to have just one designated family member do the shopping for them?

Who's picture is going to be put on the card in that case and if you make an exception then what point does taking the picture serve?

Sure it's an emotional talking point to get behind. Yeah let's get 'em and kick them off link. But I don't see how this will accomplish that goal.

Just wasting more money like the gun registration fails to get hand guns off the street that's all I'm sayin'.

On a final note who the hell is this Former Homewood supermarket cashier Cecilia LoCicero and why should we use her anecdotal statements regarding her observation of people using a link card?

Who made her the expert on Link card use/abuse?

If we're going to do this then let's use peoples anecdotal observations on handguns for example.

Oh wait that's right the media already does that too right? We don't like that either because then it's us that gets stereotyped?

I mean I hate to come off as an apologist for the link card abusers, it's wrong, they should be punished.

However you know it's the same thing that all of us complain about when we hear some stranger on the street portrayed as an expert on guns talk about the evils of handguns and they should all be banned.

Should we ban all handguns because some other cashier that we never heard of, heard or saw someone getting held up at gunpoint? I think not.

Don't demonized the entire group of link card holders anymore than you would demonize the entire group of gun holders you know?

One final thing. I hate this shit slinging contest where blame is assigned to one political party of the other.

As I stated before the food stamp case loads have been growing since 2000 when they stood at only 16 million people nationwide to where it stands today at about 45 million people.

I know that many political poster would like to stick their head in the sand and ignore the fact that this increase has been unabated for the last 11 years, currently adding about a half million people per month thru both democratic and republican control of congress and democratic and republican presidents. It's not all the democrats fault it's both parties and not holding our own parties accountable for their actions or inaction's is the problem.

4/17/2011 03:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Screw the Madigans, daleys, alvarezs and the rest of the goddamn chicago democommies they should ALL be imprisoned. They will fight to the end to keep the status quo with the link cards.

4/17/2011 03:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What about this? How about stopping this?

--clip--

IRS paid $513M in undeserved homebuyer tax credits

Investigator: IRS paid $513M in homebuyer tax credits to people who probably don't qualify

...

The popular credit provided up to $8,000 to first-time homebuyers and up to $6,500 to qualified current owners who bought another home during parts of 2009 and 2010.

IRS spokeswoman Michelle Eldridge said the agency worked hard to enforce a complicated tax credit that provided nearly $29 billion to more than 4 million taxpayers.

The agency audited nearly 448,000 returns and blocked or denied nearly 426,000 questionable claims, she said.

<< that's over a 90% fail rate isn't it? >>

...

Among the findings:

-- More than 47,500 taxpayers claimed the first-time homebuyer credit even though there was evidence on previous tax returns that they had already owned a home, including deductions for mortgage interest, real estate taxes and mortgage insurance. The report estimated these people claimed $326 million in credits.

-- More than 13,400 taxpayers claimed the credit even though they had not yet purchased a home. These people listed future purchase dates on their tax forms. The report estimated these people claimed $97.8 million in credits. The IRS said it believes these estimates are overstated.

-- More than 1,000 taxpayers said they purchased homes while they were incarcerated in prison, claiming $7.7 million.

-- More than 2,500 taxpayers claimed credits for buying homes for which at least one other taxpayer also claimed the credit for buying. These taxpayers received $11.4 million.

-- More than 2,700 taxpayers claimed credits for homes that were purchased before the tax credit went in effect. These taxpayers received $17.6 million.

-- The IRS disallowed $531,134 in tax credits claimed by 96 taxpayers who were under age 18, making it unlikely they purchased a home.

more >> http://finance.yahoo.com/news/IRS-paid-513M-in-undeserved-apf-4212763607.html?x=0

4/17/2011 04:00:00 PM  
Anonymous big-dewey said...

Helping someone is my choice, yet somehow the govt has decided how much of what I work to earn can be taken from me and given to some sect 8/link card/welfare abusing trash. All I see is a system that continues to support multiple generations of welfare breeders who behave as though it's their birthright and whose criminal children I must also support by paying for their arrest/prosecution/incarceration/probation/parole costs.

No one should go hungry? Hunger is a powerful motivator. Our country's welfare system was established as short term assistance program, not a multi-generational cradle-to-grave social engineering project.

There are some that deserve the assistance, but sadly the urban communities have learned to game the system to their advantage thereby polluting it for those deserving.

Bottom line: I work, you don't. You are in no position to make demands on me or the tax money that is taken from me.

4/17/2011 04:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

4/17/2011 08:55:00 AM

Although I do not agree with everything you said. I do agree with the fact that the biggest problems we are currently facing is that the fact that Democrats and Republicans are the same. We need change, and it will not come in the shape of a liberal or conservative.

4/17/2011 04:56:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Around 2003, I was a Sgt in 007 at the old station at 61st & Racine. There was a liquor store/grocery store (maybe still there) run by arabs (go figure; isn't America great?)on the NE corner of 61st and Racine. I noticed on one certain night, I think around the 1st of the month, at about 2300 hrs., lines would start at the entrance; by midnight the line was at a minimum a block long, sometimes up to two blocks. At 0001hrs the people would start filing in and out rapidly. The people coming out were carrying liquor bottles or nothing at all, no groceries. I saw this happening two months in a row. I started asking informants what was going on and they all told me the arabs were paying 50 cents on the dollar on the link cards, cash money. I notified a friend I had in Financial Crimes and he notified th US Dept of Agriculture, US Postal Inspectors and another Fed agency and they raided the place the following month after checking the Link records. The place remained open, but the beginning of the month night lines stopped. The fraud is unbelievable especially with the arab stores. An arab store owner, I arrested for dealing coke out of his store, refused to give me info on his supplier. I told him he was going to prison and deported afterward back to Iran. He screwed up his face and said fuck you, I'm not going anywhere, Immigration won't deport me back to Iran. He told me I was stupid, he will buy his way out of this, America , is a big candy store, you take what you want. I checked with Immigration and found out it is true, they don't deport to Iran, Cuba and a few other countries. Who are the fools?

4/17/2011 05:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't believe it's taken this long to start talking about re-vamping WELFARE programs.

I hope this is just the beginning. Nothing but fraud. Pimping the system, collecting the checks while selling drugs and such.

4/17/2011 05:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How would a photograph on the card be any more embarrassing than using it in public?

4/17/2011 01:11:00 AM

Exactly, but they're not ashamed. That's the thing. Handouts should not be comfortable or without a time limit.

4/17/2011 05:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Have you, as a police officer, ever tried to report fraud?
Good luck trying. Yes we have had these people in custody, no one wants to listen when we tell them that there is fraud.
Yea, we tried the hot lines and everything else.

4/17/2011 02:38:00 PM


Just YOU try to commit fraud with a LINK card and see how fast the hard hammer of justice comes swinging down upon you.

It only is farud when a cop does it, when a shithead democrat does it, oh well, it's gettin' over.

4/17/2011 05:20:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...

Screw the photographs.

Use an eye scan. It will take them months to figure out how to scam that.

4/17/2011 06:50:00 AM


They will be finding agg bat victims on the west side with an eyeball missing just as soon as eye scan goes into effect.

4/17/2011 05:22:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My son (13 years old) said it best: "there are MAKERS and there are TAKERS."

Not enough Makers these days and too many Takers. There is something the matter when 47% of the tax paying population doesn't pay any sort of income tax.

4/17/2011 05:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another drop in the bucket of fraud. Tax cheats to SSI abuse. Ask families with autistic children rarely do they get any help but a shithead in the jail says hes depressed and poof he gets SSI. Democrats will save your pensions but give awy your tax money.

4/17/2011 05:39:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

4/17/2011 08:55:00 AM

It doesn't matter your race or political affiliation. I think I LOVE YOU. Wish there was a feature that I could "like" your comment. I was laid-off for 10months and unemployment benefits weren't extended in 2005. After not getting any offers of employment and exhausting all my savings keeping a roof over my family's head,the lights on, doctors visits paid. I was forced to apply for LINK. I am college educated with multiple degrees and sitting in the office applying I was made to feel like I had done something wrong to be in my present predicament. I felt bad for being dressed in nice clothes that I had purchased while I was working. It was truly humbling and humiliating.

4/17/2011 05:55:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

4/17/2011 08:31:00 AM

Its not the kids fault? How about this dont have F&&@in kids. People like you that feel sorry for these savages are why they have so many honor roll students in the first place. Why should they curb their loins when you and i will pay for their spawn. I want to have 10 kids but guess what? I cant afford it. SimPle math. Its time to STOP feeling sorry. Are you going to feel the same when you are giving up 50 percent of your income? Its coming my friend.

4/17/2011 06:08:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about them housing foreclosures eh? Yeah we know...people shouldn't of bought and signed a contract to pay for something that they obviously could not afford.

However, it's takes more than one signature to make a contract and what excuse do we give the highly educated loan officers and bankers that made the deals knowing the loans would fail?

Look at this mess.. The only reason foreclosures were down in the first quarter of this year is because banks put a temporary halt to the process as it's riddled with fraud and corruption. Not a single banker in cuffs or going to jail though. Not one.

With the loss of more homes we lose more property taxes and Chicago's budget goes deeper into debt. Nice job, praise the mighty politicians that brought this to us. Let's have a $10,000 dollar a plate dinner to reward the new royal families Woot!.

--clip--
Foreclosure activity in Illinois was on the rise again last month, after a slowdown earlier this year caused by investigations into lenders’ foreclosure processes.

During March, lenders filed notices of default and started foreclosure proceedings against 7,428 homes in Illinois while scheduling court-supervised auctions against 1,919 properties and repossessing another 2,706 homes that became bank-owned. The overall number of properties caught up in the foreclosure process last month, 12,053, was a decline of 15 percent from March 2010 but up 25 percent since February.

In the Chicago area, 10,821 homes received some sort of foreclosure filing last month, a 23 percent spike from February, according to RealtyTrac, a web site that tracks foreclosed properties for sale.

For the quarter as a whole, processing delays in states like Illinois where courts oversee foreclosures led to a substantial decline in the number of homeowners at risk of losing their properties during the year’s first quarter.

During the first three months of the year, 20,991 Illinois homes received default notices, 4,014 were ordered to go to auction and 8,086 were repossessed by lenders and became bank-owned.

more >> http://chicagobreakingbusiness.com/2011/04/illinois-chicago-foreclosures-on-the-rise-again.html

4/17/2011 06:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
How about mandatory drug testing for ALL free money recipients? If you fail the test...you lose your benefits. FOREVER! I would guess that 60-70% would lose their cards. Its our tax dollars, it should be our vote.

4/17/2011 01:14:00 AM



Catch the parents, penalize the kids?

4/17/2011 08:46:00 AM

Why always the answer of the kids? Who takes care of my kids? Me, not the fucking government. If you can't get a job(or won't get a job) then don't lay down with every swinging dick and pop out baby after baby!!! Have some fucking pride and take some damn responsibility.

4/17/2011 06:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm tired about hearing all the whining about the kids of fucking shitheads. What about my kids, you liberal assholes? Fuck me? No, fuck you!

4/17/2011 06:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know some Jagaloon who has been on unemployment since AUGUST of 2008. What the Fu-K is that. Baby sitting checks, Crazy checks, SSI given out like candy at haloween. We are the jags for working everyday. The problem is the politicians promising the world for votes. We need to have the system turned around. You cant vote unless you pay taxes, Work , Property, income. You cant have a say about money unless you put it in! Maybe then the politicians will work for us then. Fu-k all of you leeche sponge motherfu-kers.

4/17/2011 07:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

they will cut pension but never cut link or asthma ssi

4/17/2011 07:10:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...don't penalize the kids for something they have no control over, (regardless of the monsters that they may or may not grow into!).

4/17/2011 03:45:00 AM

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

4/17/2011 07:18:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old Retired Guy Here:
I shop a lot around the northwest side of the city. I could fill pages and pages of the obvious abuses I see of the link card. Did you know there are other forms of assistance in addition to the link card ? I see people using the link card with coupons. Whats that about ? I have also seen many young,apparently able body people, on Medicade. They are getting prescriptions filled at Walgreens and CVS on the public dime. What's that about ?

4/17/2011 07:22:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have written to newspaper columnists about the abuse of the LINK Cards. None of them will touch it.

4/17/2011 07:26:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

All those welfare programs need to just go away. Food stamps, social security, medicare, medicade, all of it. It's all socialism and inconsistent with the capitalist philosophy our founding fathers imagined.

4/17/2011 08:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only thing we should keep is the military, tax reductions for the wealthy (which creates jobs!), and tax incentives and subsidies for big business (more jobs!). ALL other government is irrelevant.

4/17/2011 08:04:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shit like this has been going on for years. Before the arabs it was the koreans. Do any of you old timers remember the Koreans?

4/17/2011 08:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Buy ammo.

And booze.

Just a matter of time...

4/17/2011 08:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Educate yourself my friends.

Here, here's a breakdown state by state of the number of people collecting food stamps. Read it and weep -- we're on the road to the new majority soon.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/29SNAPcurrPP.htm

Food stamps is not a Chicago thing, not an Illinois thing. It's run by the USDA and it's nationwide program.

Something is terrible wrong with society when you have 1 out of every 8 people on a food subsidy program with 1 in 5 qualifying regardless if they are cheating or not.

They are adding 500,000 per month to this system. Ask yourself or do the math on how long it will be before this represents a majority of the population!

How in the heck did we end up creating an environment like this where 29 million people in the last 10 years just said the hell with it I'm going on food stamps eh? yeah what's wrong with this picture, this country?

Illinois population is roughly 13 million people and we have 1.8 million on food stamps.

Cut it all off and watch the crime rate soar.

Who's the real slim balls scamming this system?

The big banks like JP Morgan that get a piece of the actions from each and every transaction by running the Link debit cards.

By the way... what bank was it again that shortshanks brother worked for?

Yeah think about it.

You may all be singing a different tune here shortly as the politicians pull your golden parachute safety net union health care and retirement packages and this will be all that's left to fall back on.

Let's lump you and your parents into the line that you want to supply only baloney and bread when the establishment is done with you.

Oh but you're the entitlement culture. You went to school and worked and earned your living and people OWE you a job. Wait till you see what's coming. You are owed nothing. There's millions of people right now that recently got that rude awakening about being owed a job because the played by societies rules and done on the right things.

4/17/2011 08:35:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I could go on and on about this. I was part of 3 long term link card investigations. The fraud and abuse is incredible! But we'll cut to the chase here... The Arab store owners give the link card holder cash for a non-existent purchase and gives a receipt for that BS purchase. The Arab rips the name of his store name off the top of the receipt of course, to avoid a physical evidence problem. The link card holders link account is charged lets say $100. Card holder gets $70 in cash and the Arab keeps $30. Card holder leaves and promptly goes around the corner to the dope man. The Arab puts all the money in a suitcase and when a couple of suitcases are full, his cousin takes them back to Syria or someplace to fund terrorism and kill our sons and daughters. Believe me, because I know. Some of the Federal agencies want to follow the money abroad and see which terror cells it goes to but the lead Agency says screw it and closes down 40 arab stores that open up the next week across the street. Is this a great system or what? Its time we demand reform. They're draining us dry. They have the media pissing all over our pensions saying that we're stealing the money. Maybe when they finally destroy our pensions they'll give us Link cards instead!

4/17/2011 08:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You will never see drug testing as a prerequiste for an entitlement program. The last I looked, alcoholism and drug addiction is considered a disability and you can apply for SSI. I do not have the numbers, but something tells me that the money that goes out for social secuity, medicaid and medicare is far more then what goes out for /federal/state food programs. You do not have to be unemployed to get a link card, just underemployed and have children. The mantra of the democrats is redistribution of income, that is why we have a progressive income tax, but a progressive tax that the wealthy can reduce of with tax shelters that are unavailable to the middle class. There are many people who are truely needy in this country who get govt. assistance. They are not all slugs. They need a way to weed out the fraud, but something tells me they are overwhelmed, just as overwhelmed as the police who cannot investigate most of the crimes that occur in this country. And, after working my life as a cop in the inner city, ( 10,006,007,021,005), I have never met an arab store owner in the inner city who was honest. They all cheated everyone that they could, evern each other and bought stolen goods and sold alcohol to minors. All corrupt and pieces of shit, but some protected by the cops who get discount liquor from them.

4/17/2011 08:49:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't demonized the entire group of link card holders anymore than you would demonize the entire group of gun holders you know?

One final thing. I hate this shit slinging contest where blame is assigned to one political party of the other.

As I stated before the food stamp case loads have been growing since 2000 when they stood at only 16 million people nationwide to where it stands today at about 45 million people.

I know that many political poster would like to stick their head in the sand and ignore the fact that this increase has been unabated for the last 11 years, currently adding about a half million people per month thru both democratic and republican control of congress and democratic and republican presidents. It's not all the democrats fault it's both parties and not holding our own parties accountable for their actions or inaction's is the problem.


There is always another side to the story, but few get posted.
Thank you for that other side.
Your Mother is blessed have a child like you.

4/17/2011 08:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why doesn't the state have commissaries with only the merchandise available that is ALLOWED. It would be so simple to have them in areas with the most issued Link cards and it would eliminate abuse. For those that can't shop at a commissary allow orders on-line and free delivery. This would eliminate any and all fraud, including fraud perpetrated by the store owners--period. Too simple I suppose.

4/17/2011 01:55:00 PM



not too simple, just not what the program is designed to accomplish.

it's not about feeding the hungry, nor is it about the children, it's about ensuring an ample flow of cash into the hands of the merchants.

think of it this way, if you work and pay the taxes that finance these handout programs, you have had, in effect, an additional 'mouth to feed', 'ass to clothe' and 'body to shelter' imposed upon your family's budget.

on the bright side, at least you don't ever have to live with the anonymous mooching prick.

4/17/2011 08:54:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No one should go hungry? Hunger is a powerful motivator. Our country's welfare system was established as short term assistance program, not a multi-generational cradle-to-grave social engineering project.


I agree. However get just as angry at Corporate Welfare. They are the Real thief's who are turning us against each other. The Fraud wall street and the financial instructions have been selling us because they own the Media. Why aren't you angry about record profits on the backs of middle America - Lets give them another tax break. Hell no pay your fair share- their bank accounts are flushed with cash yet we have no accounts.

4/17/2011 09:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Holy crap. I'm sooo depressed!

4/17/2011 08:30:00 AM



angling for that ssd benefit?

4/17/2011 09:04:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The military has a very high number on link cards.

Lets be fair and not judge others when you don't know. My daughter shops at the Jewell for my neighbor who is 87 a world war two vet, She uses his card for him. My daughter says people look at her funny and make remarks under their breath, she says she just smiles back at them then gets into her little red jeep.

Don't be so quick to blame.

4/17/2011 09:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Madigan letters offer glimpse of clout in Cook County judge selection

House Speaker Michael Madigan and other politicians often weigh in on the selection of Cook County associate judges —a process supposed to be free of political influence.


http://tinyurl.com/3ugnayv

4/17/2011 09:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did you know that you do not have to be a US citizens to win the lottery? AND - most do not have to pay the taxes! WTF is that. It was on a documentary today about lottery winnings.

4/17/2011 09:18:00 PM  
Anonymous Cafe World Cheats Master said...

This is just one of many ways this population is robbing us all blind. Now, only 45% of the population has a job. They are sucking the life out of us. And I have yet to see a malnourished ghetto rat.

More and more, I believe IL elections are fixed. Not everyone can be so moronic to continue voting for dems. I just don't get it.

4/17/2011 09:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Whoever drove over the shitbag in 7 in connection with shooting,,,, KUDOS !!!!!!

4/17/2011 09:48:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was in line at jewel and an elderly man was in front of me with a small amount of groceries. I thought nothing, just standing there when this man looked back at me a couple times. I was in uniform, (buying a beverage!)I just said hi, how are you today? this man looked at me with such sad eyes and proceeded to tell me how bad he felt because he had to use a link card to buy groceries. He continued to let me know how hard he had worked all his life and how embarrassed he was that his social security was not enough to live on. I of course told him it was nothing to be embarrassed about. I told him that if anyone deserved a little extra help it was people like him that earned it. In the meantime a female with a 2 carts of name brand groceries and wearing a fur coat had no problem handing the cashier her link card! My heart broke for this man and how our country stripped him of his pride. Its not just our seniors but our hungry that need our help and I am willing to do all I can to conrtibute but not while the masses abuse and take advantage of the hard working tax payers. While our families are doing without and living on budgets, others are taking advantage of a broken system that needs to be revampt. Someone needs to seriously set new guidelines and enforce them. I am sick of a system that does not work! If we cannot control children having children and people having kids they cannot support at least control the purse strings! some people on this blog have a lot of good ideas. Maybe someone or group should get together and form a committee to create a proposed reform that we can take to whomever will listen until it is heard! Sharing stories, bitching and moaning is not enough.
1. mandatory drug testing
- if you fail, no more cash only food from designated food panty.
2. Anyone under 18 with more than one child will only receive food pantry access and required to be in school & part time job to supplement income.
3. Give monthly vouchers for clothing at second hand stores
4. Pay com-ed and peoples gas directly with a dollar amount limit. (based on size of living quarters....just like how property is taxed)
5. Work with CTA to give monthly bus cards with photo for people to go to work and home.
6. Already existing - government cell phone two per household
7. Single parents with one child plus will get redused benefits for each additional child after starting benefits.
8 - No more cash.
9 - Keep section 8 housing but if an occupant is convicted of a felony they will no longer live there or forfeit the housing.
10 - Benefits will only last for one year and then be re-evaluated based on need.
11 - Any adult receiving benefits will earn benefits by working in their community. Hours earned = cash benefits. ( no not minimum wage and not an hourly wage...max 500 per month for a 20hr week.)

Just my 2 cents.
I think anyone that has had a job, who has self respect will be glad to contribute to their community and earn their benefits.
Sometimes life sucks and bad things happen so it is up to our comminity to help others. Its called humanity. Unfortunelty its also our humanity that allows us to be taken advantage of. It is up to us to limit the abuse because the reality is that nothing is perfect and it will never stop.

4/17/2011 09:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was at the Jewel at Roosevelt and Ashland the other day and an announcement came over the loud speaker stating the link system was down annd link could not be used. The whole store had emptied out. One of the workers came to me and started to say the announcement. I told him, I heard but don't have link. WTF Are we the only stupid asses that work.

4/17/2011 10:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LINK= Democratic Votes.
Page one of the Obama Stimulus Package:Increase Welfare....Sad but true.

4/17/2011 10:46:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well I'll tell you something SCC.

My mom is on social security, she's 83 and has a link card. I do the grocery shopping for her.

.........
Well....unfortunately, your mom didn't plan well or budget properly for her retirement and elderly years! And that becomes OUR problem? Why?

I pay into a pension, maxed out in deferred comp and save $500.00 per month. I drive a ten year old car, I shop at ALDI's and my furniture is twenty years old. I don't have any flat screens or IPODS.

My sacrifices to secure my future becomes harder becauses I am taxed higher to compensate for those that don't! Doesn't sound right to me. Didn't your mother know that she would one day be 83? In the old days, people had big families to ensure that they would be taken care of in their old age! DO YOUR JOB and take care of YOUR mother! Why should I?

4/17/2011 11:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...The LINK card is absolutely essential to the survival of people who find themselves in trouble and cannot afford food for their families....

How long was your daughter on the link card? Where were you, her parent? I was a single mother who was without work at one time! I would never ever go on aid. I did side jobs, baby sat, cut grass and even delivered pizzas. I also would never let my children go on aid. If they hit a rough patch, they HAVE me, their loving parent that would help them out!!!!!

4/17/2011 11:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Link cards have TANF funds on them also. That is the cash assistance they get from the state to pay their rent and utilities.
It is impossible to buy non-food items with a link card if the funds for bill paying have been used up, the charges will get rejected. Donald Trump stinks and is just a big front. Celebrity Apprentice stinks and that is how he would run the county, sit on his but and have other people running around thinking of ways to bring in the big bucks when they could have opened their own business and made themselves rich instead of adding to his bank account.

4/18/2011 12:07:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't forget the hundreds of thousand of dollars wasted on the section 8 housing where in the middle of the winter. The tenants of these places put the thermostat as high as it can go yet they leave the windows open. Literally throwing money out the windows. Not just one apartment but the majority of them, costing who to pay for them...that's right the good citizen. How about putting a restrictor on the temperature the tenants can set the heat at.

4/18/2011 12:43:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

12:55pm and 2:30pm =- Link cards have cash benefits and food stamp benefits on them. It is impossible to spend food stamp money on non- The cash you see people getting back is from their TANF benefits. You two and most of the commenters do not know how the link card works and will get innocent people in trouble reporting fraud on the wrong people.

4/18/2011 12:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm disabled, and I get the LINK benefits.
What I wonder about is, why do they give me $36 in food stamp benefits, and $117 in cash every month? I am in the program because I need food, not cash - I end up spending the $117 on food anyway, only they get to tax it because its not food stamps!
Revamp the system, by all means...

4/18/2011 12:51:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

4/17/2011 07:18:00 PM




Bah! Humbug!

4/18/2011 01:44:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How would a photograph on the card be any more embarrassing than using it in public?

4/17/2011 01:11:00 AM

Exactly, but they're not ashamed. That's the thing. Handouts should not be comfortable or without a time limit.

4/17/2011 05:11:00 PM

I don't understand the need for the photo if the rules say it's okay for someone ELSE to possess and use the card and to have the pin number.

4/18/2011 01:58:00 AM  
Anonymous blah, blah, blah, "event #" said...

It's absolutely sickening, but slap an asshole who spits on you, that's a big deal. What a fucking joke.

4/18/2011 05:00:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have heard this idea before if your getting link you should only be able to get carrots, ramen noodles and vitamins. Nothing else.

4/18/2011 06:42:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

they will cut pension but never cut link or asthma ssi

What's next?? Bunions SSI?

4/18/2011 08:09:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ABSOLUTELY, clean up and secure the system to prevent fraud but don't penalize the kids for something they have no control over, (regardless of the monsters that they may or may not grow into!).

4/17/2011 03:45:00 AM


Since the issue here is an economic one, the following pertains only to that aspect of the problem:


1. Serve breakfast, lunch and an early dinner via public school cafeterias.

2. Require all public school students to wear a uniform attire and distribute same to students. This means a reasonably limited selection of clothing, including footwear.

3. Provide all necessary school supplies to students, on a quarterly basis, with each initial issue being sufficient for the average student, and additional supplies being given on an individual request basis only.

4. Eliminate all monetary amounts of 'public aid' previously intended for the parent/legal guardian's purchase of all of the above.

5. Satisfy the state requirement to fund education by instituting a total voucher system of financing. base the voucher amount on student age/grade level and make the voucher(s) valid at all state certified education facilities, both public, private, parochial, etc.

Since it is presumed that any parent/legal guardian who has chosen to enroll their minor dependent(s) in a private/parochial school has done so because said parent/legal guardian actually cares about their minor dependent(s) receiving an education worthy of the word, it may also be presumed that said parent/guardian is trustworthy enough to not be subjected to the above subtractions from any public aid monies intended to provide food, clothing and school supplies to said dependents, thus, private/parochial schools, and their students/parents/legal guardians, would not be required to submit to the previously outlined restrictions upon receiving public aid monies.


As we are addressing only the concerns about the economic effects upon minor dependents, and not the fraudulent actions of their parents/legal guardians, the economic solution to fraudulent actions engaged in by said parents/legal guardians is to economically remove the parents/legal guardians from the equation.

The above does not address the issue of fraudulent actions being engaged in by those individuals who administer the public aid programs.

4/17/2011 01:36:00 PM

All good suggestions, and others on this thread. But read again and you will realize that the people who receive benefits DO NOT COOPERATE with rules and regs on ANY level. Give them a hoop to jump through and they will find a back door to fuck up the best laid plans.

The only answer is to cut them off completely. You get nothing, period. Like when my grandparents came her. You plant a garden and depend on your relatives. And when your family gets tired of your shit you don't get to go loaf off the government. Welfare is NOT entitlement. It should be embarrassment. If you're not physically or mentally handicapped, you should be able to take care of yourself. Quit school? Drug problem? Illiterate? Too fucking bad pal. Should have made more of an effort at life. Buh bye. Go sleep on lower Wacker.

---not a cop

4/18/2011 09:06:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...

How would a photograph on the card be any more embarrassing than using it in public?

4/17/2011 01:11:00 AM

Exactly, but they're not ashamed. That's the thing. Handouts should not be comfortable or without a time limit.

4/17/2011 05:11:00 PM

I don't understand the need for the photo if the rules say it's okay for someone ELSE to possess and use the card and to have the pin number.

4/18/2011 01:58:00 AM
OK then have that person that obtains the alleged purchase of goods for the LINK Card holder 'also' have a PROXY LINK I.D. CARD with his/her photo on it indicating that they are authorized to purchase/deliver on behalf of another.
A stringent background check of the proxy coupled with the TWO photo I.D. cards would reduce 'some' of that abuse.
For those social workers that work exclusively with those that are too lame or lazy to work or have their items not only given for free but delivered as well... 'those' do-gooders should have their 2nd stage link cards stamped, "LIBERAL LINKSTERS"

4/18/2011 09:30:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Donald Trump stinks and is just a big front. Celebrity Apprentice stinks and that is how he would run the county, sit on his but and have other people running around thinking of ways to bring in the big bucks when they could have opened their own business and made themselves rich instead of adding to his bank account.

4/18/2011 12:07:00 AM

You are a fucking moron. The shows title has the word "apprentice" in it.

ap·pren·tice/əˈprentis/
Verb: Employ (someone) as an apprentice.
Noun: A person who is learning a trade from a SKILLED employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages.

4/18/2011 09:34:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do a FOIA on how much this state pays out a year for these shitbags. The politicians wont show you that because all the pussies getting the link cards will cry like little bitches and then the political hacks will respond by fucking the government worker right in the ass. Because they can.

4/18/2011 09:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find the photo on my drivers license to be embarassing...

4/18/2011 12:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bread Winner ... I was speaking to an emergency room physician this morning. He told me that a woman in her 20s came to the ER with her 8th pregnancy. She stated, "my momma told me that I am the breadwinner for the family." He asked her to explain. She said that she can make babies and babies get money for the family. It goes like this: The grandma calls the Department of Child and Family Services and states that the unemployed daughter is not capable of caring for these children. DCFS agrees and states that the child or children will need to go to foster care.
The grandma then volunteers to be the foster parent, and thus receives a check for $1500 per child per month in Illinois .. Total yearly income: $144,000 tax-free, not to mention free healthcare (Medicaid) plus a monthly card entitling her to free groceries, etc, and a voucher for 250 free cell phone minutes per month. This does not even include WIC and other welfare programs.. Indeed, grandma was correct in that her fertile daughter is the "breadwinner" for the family.

This is how the ruling class spends our tax dollars. Sebastian J. Ciancio, M.D. Urologist, Danville Polyclinic, LTD Is this a GREAT COUNTRY or what... Don't forget to pay your taxes!!! There are a lot of "Breadwinners" depending on you & me

4/18/2011 12:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Freeze ALL entitlements, until they are brought under strict control. Better yet, end them completely.

4/18/2011 01:29:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why are so many Irish Politicians cowardly Communists ??

4/18/2011 01:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Our Tax Dollars going to the US Government must be cut off by us. The Taxpayers. No taxation without representation. There are hundreds of thousands of complaints about stuff like this, and NOTHING done by our Politicians, thats NO representation, and grounds not to pay.

And why are Unions exempt from paying taxes???

4/18/2011 01:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This has been aggravating me for some time!! Last week I was at 7-11 waiting in line to pay for my $70.00 in gas and Milk for the kids the "young women" in front of me bought blunts and a slurpee with a link card!!!!! How is this acceptable!! It is also very common for smaller shops to give cash against the link card. If you ever get stuck in line behind one of them at the grocery store you can't help but notice their carts are filled with CRAP!!! Twinkies, ho hos, hot fries, grape pop, cheetos and all sorts of other junk, no meats or veggies just crap and frozen fish sticks. And Im standing there looking at the bare min and doing the math in my head to see how much this tri will cost me.THIS NEEDS TO STOP!

4/18/2011 03:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

George Soros -- buyer and seller of entire governments -- spending $50 million on a huge world financial conference designed to move the United States down the ladder and further wreck the economy, and not one comment here.

LINK card, LINK card, LINK card, someone "buying a steak," 146 comments so far.

"A PIN number should be issued!"

Sigh...

4/18/2011 04:01:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How long was your daughter on the link card? Where were you, her parent? I was a single mother who was without work at one time! I would never ever go on aid. I did side jobs, baby sat, cut grass and even delivered pizzas. I also would never let my children go on aid. If they hit a rough patch, they HAVE me, their loving parent that would help them out!!!!!

If you are suggesting that I am not a loving parent, you can go fuck yourself. My daughter is a grown adult in her 30s and lives by herself. I helped her alot. If you want to support your grown adults who make bad choices go right ahead. Just do not say bad things about a situation you know nothing about.I have seen aholes like you the first to cry a river when things go bad for you, and if you think they cannot, your are a dreamer and a fool. So you delivered pizzas for a living and you think you are qualified to be the police?

4/18/2011 04:13:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Get rid of all these entitlement programs and our country can rise out of debt

4/18/2011 04:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

they will cut pension but never cut link or asthma ssi

What's next?? Bunions SSI?

4/18/2011 08:09:00 AM



Yureka! I'm RICH!!


Yosemite Sam

4/18/2011 05:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you want to support your grown adults who make bad choices go right ahead. Just do not say bad things about a situation you know nothing about.I have seen aholes like you the first to cry a river when things go bad for you, and if you think they cannot, your are a dreamer and a fool. So you delivered pizzas for a living and you think you are qualified to be the police?

4/18/2011 04:13:00 PM



that's the point, honey buns; she's your daughter and you actually believe she 'helped herself' by getting a fucking link card, said benefits paid for by the taxpayers.

using your logic, you should be buying me groceries every week.

4/18/2011 05:59:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why are so many Irish Politicians cowardly Communists ??

4/18/2011 01:30:00 PM



cha-ching?

4/18/2011 06:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find the photo on my drivers license to be embarassing...

4/18/2011 12:09:00 PM



then, next time, don't smile.

4/18/2011 06:02:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you're not physically or mentally handicapped, you should be able to take care of yourself. Quit school? Drug problem? Illiterate? Too fucking bad pal. Should have made more of an effort at life. Buh bye. Go sleep on lower Wacker.

---not a cop

4/18/2011 09:06:00 AM



define: 'physically or mentally handicapped'.

therein lies one of the many rubs.

it's the cash flow, the huge cash flow that many, if not all, of those who are elements of the equation want their 'piece of the action'.

said elements of the equation do not care from whence the flow of cash originates, only that the cash keeps flowing.

and don't get me started on defining the meaning and valuation of 'cash', that will just give both you and I mutual migraines.

4/18/2011 06:10:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Most of you know whom to contact if you know this is going on in the stores. If not, contact CPD Intelligence out of Homam. They work these cases with the Feds.

4/18/2011 06:18:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fraud is so rampant with the LINK card its sickening and no body in government will do a damn thing about it. Totally pathetic that the screaming about LINK fraud is falling on deaf ears in State Government even more so with the Attorney Generals Office.

LINK fraud is a major reason as to why this state is bankrupt and no body gives a damn!!! I see it just about everyday!!! The taxpayers are getting hood winked and totally screwed over with the LINK program.

4/18/2011 06:41:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:34am -You are the moron. Titles have been used for centuries to cheat people out of what is rightfully theirs. Celebrity Apprentice is nothing but high school Junior Achievement. Students were divided into groups and given the task of raising money for a certain item exactly as on Trump's show. The group that raised the most money won. Republican and you have been harping about small businesses, so instead of opening a smnall business, you let trump's sorry behind trick you into making him rich with smoke and mirrors and a lot of garbage about working under him. Again, Trump stinks. One more thing, when you work as an apprentice in a beauty shop, for instance, the money you make is yours and the reason you are working under that person is because you do not have a license yet and she/he is teaching you also until you get your license and have learned everything required to get your license. All Trump does is sit back and watch those misguided individuals act stupid.

4/18/2011 07:26:00 PM  
Anonymous CookCountyJustice said...

It's not all the democrats fault it's both parties and not holding our own parties accountable for their actions or inaction's is the problem.

4/17/2011 03:55:00 PM

**************************

Sure, its everyone's fault except yours. How about taking care of your mother so she doesn't have to be on welfare? Too worried about your inheritance?

Fucking nanny state apologists.

YOU ARE the problem, you and the millions of breeding zombies that pump out more welfare boosters with no concern for their eventual success in life.

4/18/2011 07:44:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

omg I have been complaining about this for years. I'm on board for a fight, what next. We need to start a ban the link party. I will start by putting a sign on my lawn and got from there. Maybe if enough of us complain something can be done. Don't sweep this under the rug. We can make a difference. STOP LINK NOW!

4/18/2011 08:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"on unemployment since August 2008" sounds similiar to my case butonly because i am on disability and only get a small amouint of money. The clerk explained it by saying,"they take away a percentage each month from the amount of money I would receive if I were not disabled and then give it back the next month,which resulted in my receiving unemployment so long." I am not on SSI, the money I receive I worked to get. I have Lupus, Polysytic kidneys and am bi-polar and I am working very hard to get a job. I am not unskilled and will be adding up my college credit to guage if I can graduate with a degree in Accounting, if not, I only need a few classes then I can get my degree. Everybody is not lazy, but if you people want to complain, get the facts right. I am not working right not because of the human traffickers roaming the west side. April 23, 2011 is human trafficking Outreach day, so it is a matter of time until they get locked up.

4/18/2011 08:01:00 PM  
Anonymous CookCountyJustice said...

My daughter is a grown adult in her 30s and lives by herself. I helped her alot. If you want to support your grown adults who make bad choices go right ahead.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Are you freaking kidding me? I don't want to support my "grown adults who make bad choices" particularly, but I will if necessary as they are mine.

However, by implication, you fucking moron, you feel I should support YOUR "grown adults who make bad choices", as well as the children that you mentioned in your original post to tug at our heartstrings, but apparently are not important enough as grandchildren for you to help, rather you want me to support them on as well by being taxed into oblivion to pay their welfare.

You are something fucking else, that you are.

4/18/2011 08:21:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some of the previous posters had a great point. Let's cut out all cash and freebies. Expand the WICS program to only include nutritious food. It will save on health care too You want Flamin Hots, you need a job. Everyone will have to go to a WIC center if they want to eat. And how about some clothing basics. Some Sears gym shoes, you want Nikes, get a job. And how about expanding this Thumbprints idea? How many of these mooches collect in other states?

4/18/2011 10:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This has been aggravating me for some time!! Last week I was at 7-11 waiting in line to pay for my $70.00 in gas and Milk for the kids

7-11 sells gas?

4/18/2011 10:51:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How about this, those corner stores that take link funnel money back for terrorists organizations that kill our troops. Keep re-distribution of wealth, and keep kill our troops.

How about a corner store located in the 3300 w evergreen
The fucking POS owners used give $.50 on the dollar cash!
Every month you would see all the neighborhood mutts going in and out of the store with a big smile in their face, until one day the Feds and the State came down on them and lost it all

4/19/2011 12:53:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:34am -You are the moron. Titles have been used for centuries to cheat people out of what is rightfully theirs. Celebrity Apprentice is nothing but high school Junior Achievement. Students were divided into groups and given the task of raising money for a certain item exactly as on Trump's show. The group that raised the most money won.
-
I'm not sure what you were part of, but it wasn't Junior Achievement.
In JA, we had to organize a company, research, develop and manufacture a product, sell it at a profit, manage and reconcile our bookkeeping and our 'competition' was other companies like our own.

Sounds like you were part of some kind of fundraising operation, at best.

4/19/2011 01:21:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, and the unions too, they just get in the way of running government and are another kind of welfare. Why give special treatment to groups beyond what the individual can get for himself? They just cost the public more in taxes.

4/19/2011 09:01:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:34am -You are the moron. Titles have been used for centuries to cheat people out of what is rightfully theirs. Celebrity Apprentice is nothing but high school Junior Achievement. Students were divided into groups and given the task of raising money for a certain item exactly as on Trump's show. The group that raised the most money won. Republican and you have been harping about small businesses, so instead of opening a smnall business, you let trump's sorry behind trick you into making him rich with smoke and mirrors and a lot of garbage about working under him. Again, Trump stinks. One more thing, when you work as an apprentice in a beauty shop, for instance, the money you make is yours and the reason you are working under that person is because you do not have a license yet and she/he is teaching you also until you get your license and have learned everything required to get your license. All Trump does is sit back and watch those misguided individuals act stupid.

4/18/2011 07:26:00 PM

Did you not read the definition asshole?

First of all it's a tv show and all the money made goes to charity.

Secondly, if it was not for the tutelage you receive during your apprenticeship you would be worthless. If they didn't need the education they would be Bill Gates. Millions of people open small businesses that fail. People seek out and are willing to accept the small wages to gain the knowledge to become successful in their own endeavours.

4/19/2011 09:24:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A few facts...

The LINK program is federally funded but states operate the program.

No state has a picture on their EBT card. Some states have names but that is it. Guess what??? Same amount of fraud.

Democrats vs. Republicans - Under Bush, the amount of Welfare (i.e. food stamps) increased compared to the current admin. Most politicians on both sides turn a blind eye because cutting a program that "feeds" the poor is not good for your political career. What's it going to take? Following the fraud overseas to Hamas? Oh wait, that has already happened (under Bush might I add).

WIC vouchers - the WIC vouchers indicate what is suppose to be purchased on the front of the voucher. We all hear about LINK fraud but WIC fraud is almost as bad. Same premise as LINK. Mope receives WIC voucher, mope goes to store, mope sells vouchers at 50%, mope and store owner make profit.

Investigating - USDA OIG is the Federal Agency responsible for criminally investigating the fraud. They work along side with CPD, CCSP, USSS, FBI, IRS, ICE, Target and Sam's Club. If you need a LINK card to investigate the stores then give them a call. Some of you already know them because there are only 4 of them.

By the way, EBT (i.e. LINK) fraud is out of control in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, NY, etc. A state with a large urban center usually has a high rate of food stamp fraud.

4/19/2011 04:30:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, and the unions too, they just get in the way of running government and are another kind of welfare. Why give special treatment to groups beyond what the individual can get for himself? They just cost the public more in taxes.

4/19/2011 09:01:00 AM



so, if i 'get for myself' by hook or by crook, i'm okay in your book?

4/19/2011 05:00:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

9:24am -Lick me
1:21am - It was Jr Achievement, we did all of that with the exception of the bookkeeping and each group/company had their own product to sell. Whichever company made themost money won.

4/19/2011 09:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
Old Retired Guy Here:
I shop a lot around the northwest side of the city. I could fill pages and pages of the obvious abuses I see of the link card. Did you know there are other forms of assistance in addition to the link card ? I see people using the link card with coupons. Whats that about ? I have also seen many young,apparently able body people, on Medicade. They are getting prescriptions filled at Walgreens and CVS on the public dime. What's that about ?

The coupons are probably WIC ( Women Infants Children) It entitles one to buy milk, egg, cheese, cereal, formula, etc.

As with every governemnt program major flaws and fraud.

Not sure of all the rules, but here is one, the coupon lets one buy a certain weight of cereal.
So if a store had a buy one get one free special on cereal, no go since you exceeded the weight. The price does not matter, it is the weight.

4/20/2011 12:07:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Afuckinmen....If we have to be drug tested to work, link users should be drug tested to get our money.

***********************************How about mandatory drug testing for ALL free money recipients? If you fail the test...you lose your benefits. FOREVER! I would guess that 60-70% would lose their cards. Its our tax dollars, it should be our vote.

4/20/2011 02:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Afuckinmen....If we have to be drug tested to work, link users should be drug tested to get our money.

***********************************How about mandatory drug testing for ALL free money recipients? If you fail the test...you lose your benefits. FOREVER! I would guess that 60-70% would lose their cards. Its our tax dollars, it should be our vote.

4/20/2011 02:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll take it for 55,000 ;-) Anybody for 45?
***********************************
As a detective for 24 years, I will take that job of being in charge of investigating IL link fraud for only 75,000 year. That is a hell of alot less than whatever moron clout exempt hack they would hire.

4/20/2011 02:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe you should sell that nice laptop and provide for your daughter and her two kids...While you're at it, think you could help me pay my school loans? Times are rough.

**********************************
The LINK card is absolutely essential to the survival of people who find themselves in trouble and cannot afford food for their families. Yes, there is abuse and it needs to be stopped. My daughter and her two kidsfound herself on Link when she lost her job and her home. No one really knows the extent of fraud in this system and a few stories from people who work in a grocery store are not a guage of how deep the problem goes. Photos should be on the card, a pin number issued and look for other security measures to ensure the cards are only used for food. The liberal democrats by refusing to clean up this corruption just inflame people who then want to end a useful program. Just be thankful that you or your family members do not have to depend on Link to eat. Have some compassion for the needy and go after the greedy.

4/20/2011 02:20:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Names???? There are nothing but numbers on the card...They don't even have names on these cards. Leads one to think that this is done intentionally so auntie and babby daddy 3 can use it too
***********************************
Maybe because the names on the cards are probably all fake, but a picture would be real....

4/20/2011 02:22:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They're not middle easterners you ignorant fu**......50-60% of the time they are Indian and Pakistani...You do realize that they they're not middle eastern right? Do yourself a favor and go play in traffic will ya?
*********************************
how about the middle easterners buying 50-60- boxes of cereal, then taking it to their west-side corner store and RE-SELLING it at 4 times the price..all on our dime..this is f'n nonsense

4/17/2011 10:01:00 AM

4/20/2011 02:30:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

awwwwww, your poor granny...I say just pull the plugs out and let the old hag croak
**********************************
Well I'll tell you something SCC.

My mom is on social security, she's 83 and has a link card. I do the grocery shopping for her.

So we're saying that I nor any other family member can shop for her anymore and she has to risk falling down and breaking something again because the cashier needs to see her face and match her picture?

Sorry but while there may be rampant fraud going on in this system I don't see how a picture is going to fix it as I assume that there are many seniors in this same situation. How we gonna solve that little problem?

4/20/2011 02:41:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wonder if some of these generous great thinkers who like to support their grown adults also buy them dope when they need it and are withdrawing? Yes, go ahead and bleed your self dry, you are the fools. Tough love is what is needed for adults. They have to find their own way. A helping hand, yes, but support just because they are your kids, on and on, and then deny help to the truely needy? Wow, what twisted thinking and thinking of a douchebag who lacks reality and compassion for their fellow man. Well, when your pension runs dry, you can expect the same from the public, go out and get a job in your old age.

4/20/2011 08:17:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

However, by implication, you fucking moron, you feel I should support YOUR "grown adults who make bad choices", as well as the children that you mentioned in your original post to tug at our heartstrings, but apparently are not important enough as grandchildren for you to help, rather you want me to support them on as well by being taxed into oblivion to pay their welfare.

Yes, you are a real chump, but you must by law. Stop being such a phony hardass and realize that some people really need help, not everyone is a slug and not everyone is as talented as you to deliver pizzas. The police dept is probably the first real job you ever had so now you are a meany. I guess you want to go back to the 1929 when people were selling apples to survive.By not having compassion you make yourself out to be a damn fool.

4/20/2011 10:12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Freeze ALL entitlements, until they are brought under strict control. Better yet, end them completely.

This person wants to freeze and then end all entitlements. Wow! So the end of social security, medicare huh? So how about the pension? That is an entitlement also. Do you really think that the money you take out is only the money that you put in plus interest? How about your health care. Do you think the money taken out of your pension really pays for your health insurance? And, don't give me that crap about how you worked so hard for YOUR entitlements. A lot of people have worked hard all of their lives and have either retired or have fallen on hard times. When you pension fund runs dry lets see how you feel when the public tells you to get a job at Wallmart?

4/20/2011 10:16:00 AM  
Blogger SCC said...

awwwwww, your poor granny...I say just pull the plugs out and let the old hag croak
**********************************
Well I'll tell you something SCC.


why are you telling us? we didn't write that comment.

4/20/2011 11:39:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry SCC, that was def. aimed at the person who felt the need to write a novel to justify her grandmothers use of the link card.
*********************************
why are you telling us? we didn't write that comment.

4/20/2011 01:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How we gonna solve that little problem?

4/20/2011 02:41:00 AM




add the link amount to their ss monthly check/direct deposit.

4/20/2011 03:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Freeze ALL entitlements, until they are brought under strict control. Better yet, end them completely.

******************

Oh, since you mention it, since my daughter is a single mom, she gets free tuition, books and fees while she attends a professional program at college. Not bad huh? That should really piss you off. Go pay your own tuition. The GI bill payed mine. Are you angry about that also?

4/20/2011 07:40:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The city steals from the Poor all the fucking time. They milk the shit out of the people. This poster is outraged that people are scamming or abusing the system? Youre just looking for someone to hate. Go fuck yourself simpleton.

6/04/2012 12:04:00 PM  

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