# TV Ad: Free Gov'mnt Money? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2001, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496 "2001-08-28T09:12:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/1 "2001-08-28T09:12:07Z")
Besides our “bail-out the economy” giveaway by Bush, Jr… Is there any truth to this claim of the Feds having money to grant to the average Joe? How can one learn of what government programs (Fed, State, etc.) may be available - offering funding to aid the average Joe for learning a new trade, for example? Ordinary, Average Guy! - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/2 "2001-08-28T09:28:11Z")
[http://www.lesko.com](http://www.lesko.com) He says there is. ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/3 "2001-08-28T13:32:27Z")
Only in America can the government take part of your pay in the form of income tax, then give it back to you in the form of a grant and convince you it’s “free.” ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/4 "2001-08-28T14:14:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jinx \* > \*\*How can one learn of what government programs (Fed, State, etc.) may be available - offering funding to aid the average Joe for learning a new trade, for example? > > Ordinary, Average Guy! > > - Jinx \*\* The library. It’s free, but be prepared to do some digging. Also be prepared to not qualify for anything- most people don’t. Whatever you do, don’t send money to that idjet to send you essentially free information. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/5 "2001-08-28T14:24:43Z")
A good public library will also have a copy of his book, which will cut down some on the digging you have to do. ---
**Author:** ![CnoteChris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/278dde/32.png) [@CnoteChris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CnoteChris)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/6 "2001-08-28T14:38:45Z")
There’s something about the irony in checking out that guys book that it makes even _me_ want to go check it out. Serves the jerk right. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/7 "2001-08-28T14:52:43Z")
I just love how he claims that if you just buy his book, it will tell you how to get free money for college. Yeah, it’s called a Pell Grant and every university will give you all the information you want, and an application, for free. ---
**Author:** ![Kamandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5daacb/32.png) [@Kamandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamandi)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/8 "2001-08-28T16:39:29Z")
I love his jacket. Yeah, all the information in his book is probably available elsewhere, but he’s collected over 15,000 programs in one fat book!! (Call now!!!) He’s done all the legwork. All you gotta do is plow through a five-inch thick tome to find the half page about DOA Program #7304-35b “Dead Mule Tax Refund”. Urk. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/9 "2001-08-28T17:26:15Z")
Yea, there are a bunch of grants the gov. does. Of course, generally speaking they go to organizations to then serve individual people (who may or may not qualify for some $$). So, for example, there’s a government program, where you get free food, perhaps you’ve heard of it? It’s called Food Stamps. The folks who talk about training programs etc. are generally talking about specific programs they’ve recieved assistance from, run by the DOL, like the (now defunct) Job Training Partnership Act or the now current “Workforce Investment Act”. So, while Mr. Lesko will tell you that there’s millions available (true) it’s for the operation of all the programs, and specific individuals way down the food chain may get as much as a single bus pass from a specific agency or something. ---
**Author:** ![Three\_Dog\_Night](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@Three\_Dog\_Night](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Three_Dog_Night)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-ad-free-govmnt-money/78496/10 "2001-08-28T17:33:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pldennison \* > \*\*Only in America can the government take part of your pay in the form of income tax, then give it back to you in the form of a grant and convince you it’s “free.” \*\* You think they don’t do that in countries like Sweden, where the taxes and government handouts are much bigger?