Although we have a somewhat different system, I can identify with Ki by comparing this to childrens' allowance here. In Ireland, you get paid for your children a certain amount (don't have kids so don't know how much) regardless of your circumstances. So someone struggling with four kids on the dole (welfare) and no job gets the same benefit as someone who has two cars, two jobs and owns their own house. Doesn't seem fair. So if Ki is saying that, were he in that situation, and being the latter example, he would not take childrens' allowance, then I can understand that. They're meant to help you if you can't make it on your own, not be a supplement when you very easily can.

If I got that totally wrong bear in mind I'm a thick Irishman. :)

Precisely what I'm getting at.

we have child allowance here as well. i would rather see it vary on your income (so someone on the poverty line gets much more than someone well off) so that way they wouldn't need a welfare cheque as well.

What do you consider a livable wage?

Maybe it's different in different states but you have to provide information about how much you make and if you are going to school. You also provide your social security. So if you end up lying to them and telling them something that isn't true then you are committing fraud and will be arrested when they do fraud sweeps which they do every once in awhile. Unemployment benefits are something that the employer pays into and I don't see that the same way as applying for food stamps/welfare. Unemployment is a good buffer to help you out after an employer fires you/get laid off/downsized while you are looking for another job. What your younger brother and his gf are doing is illegal if they lied about it and they will get locked up sooner or later.

They have job corps that is focused more of trade skills. It's kind of similar to military school but it's usually for 18 years to like 25 I believe.

Unfortunately job corps doesn't really seem to advertise. It would be amazing if high schools would steer students not on the fast track to college to job corps, but that just doesn't happen as far as I know.

Oh man. This is hysterically horrifying.

He's so sure that he's going to be in for two terms.

There won't be another presidential election.