Welfare Debit Cards Instead Of Cheques.

[Liberalman]

Welfare Debit Cards Instead Of Cheques.

Government subsidization negotiates better prices than the free market system.

In the free market system consumers are gouged by price and quality on a regular bases just because they don’t know the true cost and company’s bottom line.

Governments have the information that gets them the lower price.

Welfare debit cards should be issued to people on the government dole to make sure that tax dollars are being spent on the right things.

The welfare debit card should have reduced prices that the companies negotiated previously with the government that would come out of the government account.

What do you think?

 

[Angstrom]

Good idea on paper. How that translate in reality could get messy.
Good Idea's are usually the simple one's. This gets complicated fast.

 

[captain morgan]

The idea could work if the gvt was capable/interested in negotiating these deals with some major, national retailers.

I think that it might be harder than anticipated though

 

[bill barilko]

What do you think?

Do landlords take debit?

This is the most idiotic idea I've seen in months.

 

[taxslave]

Actually the concept is good but probably unworkable and wind up costing far more in the end simply because of the bureaucracy. What small savings there would be on food and medicine would just wind up in solid gold pension plans for government employees.
Landlords don't have to take debit cards. They can be paid direct from Welfare. This is the only way to guarantee that you get paid.

 

[Ron in Regina]

Actually the concept is good but probably unworkable and wind up costing far more in the end simply because of the bureaucracy. What small savings there would be on food and medicine would just wind up in solid gold pension plans for government employees.
Landlords don't have to take debit cards. They can be paid direct from Welfare. This is the only way to guarantee that you get paid.

....& I can see Canada Post doing a crash & burn without Govt cheques to deliver helping
to keep them afloat. Money saved in using debit cards instead of mailing out cheques can
be funneled directly to Canada Post to keep their doors open.

Personally, I like the idea of debit cards instead of cheques in this instance. Debit cards
with no fee per transaction and no ability to pull cash off of them. Infrastructure updates
needed would be POS terminals installed on public transit & taxi's, etc...interesting concept.

 

[lone wolf]

I think the debit card thing is great for people who have cheated the system. Post office is already losing out to automatic deposits.

 

[bill barilko]

Post office is already losing out to automatic deposits.

I just checked online-the BC gubmint already does direct deposit for welfare cheques so what would be gained by using debit cards?

 

[taxslave]

I just checked online-the BC gubmint already does direct deposit for welfare cheques so what would be gained by using debit cards?

I think they would work more along the lines of the old food vouchers that the apologists decided was demeaning to the poor since they could only be used at the grocery store and could not be legally cashed in. Apparently welfare recipients have the right to blow our money at the liquor store and the local dealer and then go back and demand emergency funds for food.

 

[Ron in Regina]

I just checked online-the BC gubmint already does direct deposit for welfare cheques so what would be gained by using debit cards?

A legal challenge maybe, based on debit cards leaving a purchasing trail as an invasion
of privacy or something upon those receiving Govt funding? I can see Tony Merchant
getting in on the ground floor in a class action lawsuit against the federal government
on this one.

Anthony Merchant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Liberalman]

Do landlords take debit?

Landlords do take debit

 

[petros]

Landlords do take debit

On which planet?

 

[Liberalman]

On which planet?

In which city well Toronto one city and when one major landlord starts soon most will do it.

A legal challenge maybe, based on debit cards leaving a purchasing trail as an invasion
of privacy or something upon those receiving Govt funding? I can see Tony Merchant
getting in on the ground floor in a class action lawsuit against the federal government
on this one.

Anthony Merchant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It should be a good challenge since welfare money is for specific uses like food and shelter.

I just checked online-the BC gubmint already does direct deposit for welfare cheques so what would be gained by using debit cards?

Debit cards makes sure the money is being spent on what it was given for.

 

[petros]

In which city well Toronto one city and when one major landlord starts soon most will do it.
It should be a good challenge since welfare money is for specific uses like food and shelter.

Most welfare people don't live in commercial hi-rises run by massive property manangement companies.

 

[Ron in Regina]

In which city well Toronto one city and when one major landlord starts soon most will do it.

You own (lets say) one duplex. That's two rental units. You know the Govt is
going to claw in a large %'age of that rental revenue just 'cuz they can, and you
are going to set up a debit terminal in your kitchen, or a portable one that you rent
for the two (or maybe even one?) transactions that you might do each month?

I'm not thinking about the corperations that have hundreds or thousands of units,
but the thousands of people that have five or less rental units.

 

[Liberalman]

Most welfare people don't live in commercial hi-rises run by massive property manangement companies.

Property management companies run the slum buildings as well and welfare debit cards get money to the managers faster

You own (lets say) one duplex. That's two rental units. You know the Govt is
going to claw in a large %'age of that rental revenue just 'cuz they can, and you
are going to set up a debit terminal in your kitchen, or a portable one that you rent
for the two (or maybe even one?) transactions that you might do each month?

I'm not thinking about the corperations that have hundreds or thousands of units,
but the thousands of people that have five or less rental units.

Then the government would have a phone in number so the landlord can validate the debit card

 

[Ron in Regina]

Property management companies run the slum buildings as well and welfare debit cards get money to the managers faster
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Then the government would have a phone in number so the landlord can validate the debit card

Some, not all. Property managers take what? 10% off the top...on top of what the Govt
takes...which makes them a luxury that those with only a few units might not be able to
afford. So really, if you has a rental house/shack/shed in the hood that you rent out for
$900 a month, and you lose 40% of that to Govt & a Property Manager, and have only
a freak'n letter from the welfare office in place of a damage deposit...that leaves the
profit margin pretty skinny at best when things go south with damages, ect...

It's not so cut and dried, and the 10% or whatever a property manager would take would
be the breaking point for many folks with only a few (or one) rental properties. Something
else (like direct deposit directly to the Landlords by govt) would have to take place.

 

[Liberalman]

Some, not all. Property managers take what? 10% off the top...on top of what the Govt
takes...which makes them a luxury that those with only a few units might not be able to
afford. So really, if you has a rental house/shack/shed in the hood that you rent out for
$900 a month, and you lose 40% of that to Govt & a Property Manager, and have only
a freak'n letter from the welfare office in place of a damage deposit...that leaves the
profit margin pretty skinny at best when things go south with damages, ect...

It's not so cut and dried, and the 10% or whatever a property manager would take would
be the breaking point for many folks with only a few (or one) rental properties. Something
else (like direct deposit directly to the Landlords by govt) would have to take place.

Welfare is taxpayer money and debit cards would save money and make sure the money goes to where it is intended to go if that is not enough then the welfare person can get a job and get off the government dole

 

[damngrumpy]

Alright not all is bad with this idea. The problem is we have a free market system and
customers can shop where they like. If you start a two price system there are all kinds
of issues that arise.
Now we could ensure that the money was being spent wisely and certain items could be
made off limits, booze and smokes are the targets of choice right now. There are a lot
of different programs when it comes to welfare some governments make rent payments
direct these days.
On the other hand those doing drugs would in turn sell the cards on the black market to
acquire drugs so we may not know the people who are actually purchasing the products
on the card.
If these problems could be addressed it might prove to be an advantage.

 

[petros]

Debit cards for welfare means I could buy groceries or trade them for booze from the Welly recipents. Sweeeeet. GREAT IDEA