I stole money from the government from months, so I'm going to punish myself appropriately

[Whale_bones]

Fraud does make everything worse, like collective punishment. It is true the government doesn't do enough but this also goes to funding. People (rightfully) complain about the NHS for example but don't take into account how badly they are stretched thin, underfunded and constantly asked to do more with less. Same applies to education and social nets such as benefits.

That funding has to come from govt investments and taxes. The wealthy, corporations simply do not pay enough taxes. It is absurd reading about how little billion dollar corps pay in taxes, finding loopholes including setting up in other tax-friendly countries. Then there is the issue of straight up tax evasion, trillions hidden in offshore accounts. Do not forget the billionaires and corps do not pay living wages. They get to exploit cheap labor, not providing basic health care. It's basically socialism for the rich, they privatize the profits and socialize the losses. As all the low wage workers have to rely on govt assistance for aid.

I 100% agree with everything you're saying. The government has ample resources and they 100% should move money from things like the military budget to cover the basics of survival for disabled and impoverished people. The awful reality is, as you explain in this post, they don't and that is very unlikely to change in the future.

So having seen up close how the government uses welfare fraud to punish people who genuinely qualify for it, I just want people to be honest that they're not "getting one over on the government", they're contributing to worse circumstances for disabled and impoverished people. Along with a more difficult application process, lower overall approval rates and more red tape in general, fraud significantly contributes to stigma, and the consequences of that can cause people who badly need assistance to not get it.

Now, if someone needs the money to survive, I am totally behind them, and would tell them they're justified in getting it. I just think people should do things they'd be comfortable saying to another person's face.

So if you don't need the money and you wouldn't be happily talking about how you're getting extra you don't need to a person who doesn't have food for the month, that's not something I stand behind (OP isn't doing that, but other people have replied and argued for knowingly, purposely doing this on the basis that it's screwing over the government, rather than vulnerable people)

To OP- I hope I haven't sort of hijacked your thread, though I think the discussion on this is valuable, I understand you made this thread for your personal situation. My responses have been focused on others' opinions that you haven't claimed to hold, so I wish you the best and don't think you should beat yourself up for it.

 

[theolivanderroach]

You're a hero in my eyes. Fuck the government.