@Mominohio wrote:
@Cakers3
You ask many good "why" questions, and there are some partial at least, answers.
More people are in poverty in this country than before.
The jobs are gone. The good ones. The higher paying, with benefits, don't need a lot of post secondary education, last 30 year jobs. A combination of corporate greed, government taxation and regulation, and automation. Until we solve the jobs problem (and it isn't by raising minimum wage to $15 an hour) we will see the poverty.
The breakdown of the family. I'm sure I'll be taking a hit with this one, but it is true. Two parent families with strong values, mom's having help raising and developing the children's values, supporting the importance of education, and demonstrating responsibility and love. The influence of multiple generations in a child's life.
The politically correct attitude that everyone is entitled to...(health care, housing, food, education, etc., and the list is getting longer everyday) regardless of whether they are willing to contribute to the earning of it or not. None of this is free. The money for it has to come from somewhere. When fewer and fewer people are paying into they system that supports it, it simply isn't sustainable. But more and more people are qualifying, and many who don't, still find a way in. Back in the day, people had pride. They didn't want to take help, if they did, they only took what they needed for as long as they needed it, they were motivated (some, even if only by shame) to return to being a contributor not a recipient.
Lack of personal responsibility. Fewer people really take responsibility for their actions in life. And they do it because the can.
The system itself begins to feed on itself. It continues to grow, and begins to promote it's goods, as a means of growth and survival. The radio here is full of ads encouraging people to come on down and get some benefits. In one, there are two ladies that are supposed to be of retirement age, and one is pretty much telling the other, who never really asked, to go and sign up for the free food and phone that the government is giving away. People no longer have to go and look for 'help, the agencies are recruiting people, like they have some kind of a quota to fill.
And some of the other things you mentioned. Drugs, such a big thing, and alcohol, that lead to so many not able to take care of themselves, or their families.
@Mominohio I took my quote out because the quotes seem to get lighter and lighter and I wanted to respond to what you said.
My view is that one empty belly at night is one too many. We need to address why these programs are needed rather than surmise who is truly in need and who isn't.
Most of us on this forum are around the same age (boomers) and I will step up and say most of us came from hard working families.
But we seem to be at a crossroads in this country - I agree that there are some who feel entitled, who want what somebody else gets for free whether it is needed or not but I still think that MOST folks who receive some type of assistance truly need it.
And that's what hawks me off - that we still have such a need in this country - it would be better to have these services at a minimum for the truly few who need it rather than to have these services at a maximum. In other words, as I stated earler, the issue isn't abuse - the issue is the underlying problem of poverty growing out of control in this country.
Thank you for your reply, though. I may not agree with everything you say but civility is key to any discussion. I hope some take the hint.
"" Compassion is a verb."-Thich Nhat Hanh
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