Hm, according to your logic the service in true welfare states (e.g. the Netherlands) should be really horrible, which, suprise, suprise, it is not. Even at McDonalds.

So maybe, just maybe, it might be a bit more complex than just blaming welfare.

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!

On topic:

A welfare state doesn't encourage poor customer service. Do you think outsourced call centres are a symptom of the welfare state? So far as I'm aware CEOs and other big decision makers don't tend to consider their entitlement to food stamps before sacking their company's public faces.

Poor hiring decisions are generally a result of either a) a lack of competent management or a lack of competent employees, both of which suggest that there is a labour shortage of both and the dregs have had to be called in.

A hundred years ago those people would have been dead, working in manufactoring or some other low-paid zero-facetime job. But now nearly all low-skilled jobs are in retail or customer service, so you see them everywhere.

That's what I think is going on anyway. You will certainly differ, although I would like to mention the caveat that perceptions of the requirements of customer service are determined culturally, so a shift in American or regional culture will result in changes to the way politeness observed.

For example in colony states like Australia, NZ, Canada and the US there is a presumption that people will smile and greet each other with a certain degree of egalitarian politeness, even if they're a CEO and they're talking to a cashout chick. But in Europe and Asia a cashout chick would never chat or smile with a customer, because that's not his/her role and it would go outside the predefined idea of how polite society is run.

So really you should be glad that you have lived to see significant, visible cultural change within your own lifetime. It just goes to show how old you are and how rapidly the world changes.

It's always 'I want I want I want and I want it NOW' with you old people. You've got no patience.

Sorry Cacto, I am not a bully. I dont go into a battle of wits with someone who is only half armed.

It's all a government conspiracy, these workers aren't really bad, they're just being paid by the government to be this bad. Why? To get us to quit going to fast food restaurants! Have you ever noticed that service is much better at healthfood places? ;~D

That is just Machiavellian enough to be believable.   

I thought it was because, given equal customer service, Americans would rather eat cheaper junk than more expensive health food. So junk gets poor CS, and health food has better CS, because the junk knows you're coming, and the health food knows you won't unless they serve you better.

I guess this is one of those terms that don't really mean what they are suppose to mean. Like when someone says "that's bad" but they really mean "thats nice". In this case "fast food" means "sometime in this milenium".

Hey old lady, I mean LW. Be careful they don't spit on your food for asking for speedy service in a "fast food" joint.

I guess it all depends on what makes who laugh. But then again, you don't really know if I'm laughing over here or not, with you or at you.   

I'm guessing a lot of times you get a serious response from someone who knows you're just being funny...

If the best Mexican food restaurants are run by Mexican People, the best Chinese food restaurants are run by Chinese People, and the best Greek food Restaurants are run by Greek People; why doesn't the logic follow for Fast Food Restaurants ;~D

Haven't read the other replies yet...

I think this question boils down to each individual. I don't think we can broad stroke it.

For instance, if something happened to you and your wife was left alone to raise all your kids. Do you believe accepting food stamps and welfare would automatically make her lazy?

There are people who take Welfare that really are using it as a hand up, not a hand out.

Having said that...most entitlement programs require little if any effort on the part of the beneficiary outside of tedious paperwork. Therefore, it sets people up to be unconcerned about their performance.

A SMALL minority, Tova.



OK, please point to where I said welfare makes people lazy? I didn't say that at any point, and to base ANY rebuttal off of the assumption that I did is completely off base, Tova.

I asked, and yes, I conclude, that a welfare state encourages laziness. because I've seen it time and time again.

Think of all the poor people you've known, Tova? Can you honestly say the MAJORITY are working their butts off to get out of their situation? Or are most of them content with their lot?

Tova, I go to a community college BEGGING for students...where they can get financial aid to not only cover their schooling but also the majority of their living expenses. I have personally witnessed people TURN DOWN school simply because the workforce requirements require them to work for a year in the field once they graduate.

The truth is, if people are destitute, they find a way. They always have. If they're given a living, why bother finding a way? Someone else is going to pay their way anyhow!

You may not have used the word lazy, but it was inferred and then in the next sentence (above) you validate my reasoning.

I am not disagreeing with you here Gid. I do think a lot of people on Welfare are lazy. I don't think we should do away with helping people who have legitimate reasons for being down and out though.