I have been following the posts regarding people on welfare. I would like to add my two cents at this time. I was a single mother of three children when I went back to school to get a degree. I did not work full-time during this time period because I was a full-time student and felt that my education was my job. I collected food stamps for my children and received medical care for them. I paid for my education through student loans and lived very frugally. I would like to say that because I voluntarily left a full time job and returned to school and only worked part-time I was not eligible for medical care or food stamps for myself. Now I did not gripe and moan about it but got on with my life. I did graduate and have a great paying job and just bought my first home. What frustrates me is that some people who are "lifers" on welfare get their education paid for and get help with cars and whatever else they need and most of them never finish. While I will never regret getting my degree I would like to see more of a reform in the welfare system to reward those who are sincerely trying and not just working the system. Just wanted you to know some of us hard working and deserving of the help when it is needed. Without help from welfare when I was a student my kids would have suffered greatly and I would not have been able to continue my education..but that still would have left us in poverty had I returned to work full-time for barely above minimum wage. Any thoughts?