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U.S. Mayor Wants To Post Names And Addresses Of Social Assistance Recipients On The Internet

Mayor calls welfare recipients a “victimized, protected class.”

Republican Mayor, Robert Macdonald, called welfare recipients a “victimized, protected class,” and wants to have their names and addresses placed online for all too see, according to The Washington Post.

Critics believe he just wants to shame the poor.

Macdonald is the Mayor of Lewiston, Maine, and recently published a column in Lewiston-Auburns Weekly Newspaper calling for more transparency when it comes to those living on social assistance.

His reasoning is that Maine has a website listing employee pensions and since social assistance is also tax-payer money, people have the right to know. Know how much recipients are receiving, how long they've been on social assistance, as well as their names and addresses.

"Why are they treated differently than pensioners? (A rhetorical question)." Wrote Macdonald. "The answer: our liberal, progressive legislators and their social-service allies have made them a victimized, protected class. It’s none of your business how much of your money they get and spend. Who are you to question it? Just shut up and pay!"

Macdonald wrote that he will be submitting a bill in hopes of creating the website but also plans to make two additional changes to the states' s social assistance program. One is placing a limit on General Assistance to a 60-month total lifetime benefit and the other, prohibiting the state from paying benefits for any additional child born after the recipient has been accepted into General Assistance.

Since Macdonald's column was published there have been arguments back and forth on whether or not the idea is good, or misinformed.

"I am appalled that the Mayor would advocate a bill that further stigmatizes the economically disadvantaged of this town,"

"Jack Spencer" wrote in the columns comment section.

"Are you deliberately trying to shame those who have not had the same advantages as you enjoy Mayor? What have these folks ever done to you to deserve such contempt?"

What do you think of the mayor's new bill? Let us know in the comments below.

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