Tuesday, June 19, 2007

INVESTIGATOR IN OKLAHOMA CITY

DEAR ABBY: Thank you, thank you, for publishing the letter from "Ticked Off in Topeka, Kan." (April 18) concerning welfare fraud, including Section 8 housing fraud. I am an investigator for a housing authority, and our agency is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the program and protecting the taxpayer dollars entrusted to us. Not a day goes by that I don't hear, "I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but ..."

Please let your readers know that if they call in with a fraud tip, they are not the ones who are getting anyone in trouble. The people who decided to commit the fraud or do the crime got themselves in trouble. The only way we can help the most people with our limited resources is by eliminating fraud and applying the rules and regulations fairly and equitably for everyone.

Quite often it is neighbors, friends and family members who are our eyes and ears. It is important that they let us know when someone is defrauding the system. No one will lose assistance just because of a tip. We investigate every case and, if proven, the tenants are given an opportunity to appeal and to have a hearing. There are too many families on the waiting list and too many people who need help for fraud to go unreported. -- INVESTIGATOR IN OKLAHOMA CITY

First off, let me say: Boooooorrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnggggg.

Okay, you're scaring Jeer Abby with all this talk about neighbors, friends and family members being the spying eyes and ears of the government. It sounds straight out of "1984" or Soviet Russia or post 9/11 America.

But it's also annoying that you're pitting people who don't have anything against people who don't have much. The oil companies could probably still eek out a living without the billions of dollars in subsidies. More help for the poor or more money for rich oil executives? This is America and we like to side with The Winner, no matter how detrimental it may be to our own well-being.

Your advice, readers?

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