Ok, this thread is close enough to my recent thoughts on what is "best" for our economy and country.
Not even liberals can deny that when people are working, and earning money for themselves, they fair much better for themselves than they could ever do on welfare, foodstamps, medicaid, etc. Seriously, it's not even close. Most families utilizing welfare receive approximately $1000 per month in assistance. That's not much at all. It's a mere $12,000 per year. Granted, they can claim a tax deduction, or credit, for each child, but I'm just talking about welfare and foodstamps. Compare that to the average income of Americans of $50,000 per year. It's more than 4 times what a person can receive on welfare.
So, here's my question, if we all know that people are far better off when they AREN'T on welfare, why does the left emphasize welfare so heavily? I mean, the White House has a special website that trains people how to get ON welfare, or get MORE government assistance. Wouldn't the best thing we could do is get people OFF welfare? Now, there's an endless debate about "how" we do just that. Let's save that debate for another day. My main focus is the overall mentality and philosophy behind the left's position on welfare. They mock the ideals of "personal responsibility" and "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps". They didn't used to do this. Bill Clinton put into place a work provision in welfare, and it had a major impact.
I just don't understand why the left's focus is more on getting people ON welfare, and not getting them OFF? Benjamin Franklin said the best way to raise people from poverty was to "DRIVE them from it", and to stop making people "comfortable in their poverty". Contemplating his writings on the subject, I begin to gauk at the liberal position. The manifestations of the left's philosophies behind welfare actually increase the comfort level for those on welfare. By increasing benefits, extending unemployment out to 99 weeks, increasing payments for more and more children born out of wedlock, etc. This makes people MORE comfortable in their poverty.
Don't take me the wrong way. I have a deep compassion for the poor, and help the poor as much as I can with time and money. I was poor growing up as well, and I know how difficult it can be to make ends meet. But I witnessed what my family did. My father worked 3 jobs for a while. We grew a garden, and my mother was amazing at taking just a few food items, and stretching them throughout the week. They worked tirelessly trying to build a family business. And after 35 years of struggling, they had built a successful business, and they are financially comfortable now. We never took welfare. Never took food stamps. Never filed bankrputcy. We got by.
My family isn't unique. They are simply hard working people. There are lots of hard working people out there making it in this country. That's honorable. And instead of talking down to folks like my parents by telling them that "they didn't build that", or that society is just as responsible for their success as they are, Obama should be not only encouraging people to work harder, but utilizing government programs to push people FROM welfare, not to it.
Why do liberals oppose the idea of drug testing before a person can receive welfare benefits? Millions of Americans must pass random drug tests every single day in order to work. Why not people using welfare? There has to be more accountability for people using the safety net. What do you think goes through the mind's of people like Nancy Pelosi when she said the best way to stimulate the economy is through unemployment benefits??? Seriously? Does anyone here believe that? Why do liberals oppose block granting Medicaid to the states? It would give more oversight locally which would cut down on fraud and waste. Why do liberals oppose school vouchers? This would give parents the power to remove their children from failing schools, and give them a better chance at the education needed to succeed in this country. So why? Why do liberals support choice when it comes to abortion, but oppose choice when it comes to the education of our children?
These are all serious questions. I'm not bashing them, I'm trying to understand WHY! They say they want "affordable health care" for all. That's great, so do I. But wouldn't it be better for our economic future if those people could afford it themselves? Of course it would! Problem is, this isn't the quick fix that many Americans are looking for. It's not politically expedient for politicians to promote "the hard way but the best way". Bottom line is this, I've spoken to many liberals who tell me, "you can't make people become responsible". Oh really? Yes you can, over time. Responsibility is a "conditioned behavior". Meaning, you can "condition" a person to become more responsible. You would be surprised what people CAN do when they HAVE to do it. But I suppose that's just too harsh for the left. There are so many things we could be doing that "conditions" people to becoming more responsible. I've already mentioned a few.
Obama always says, "no one said this would be easy. The road is long, and challenging". Well, he's right. Problem is, he's leading us down the wrong road! The road of higher debts, more money printing, higher unemployment, higher commodity prices that hurt the middle and lower class, higher fuel prices that effect every single American, fewer tax payers, and thousands more regulations that slow business growth.....that's not the right road, and most Americans know it. We need our government to lead by example, and show a little responsibility. Start at the top America, get the government in check. They are out of control. We cant expect our citizens to be more responsible, when the leaders we've elected are completely and utterly irresponsible.
Not specific to the 2012 Pres Election, moved to correct forum
