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Originally Posted by stevo
But thats where you're wrong. I wasn't born into a wealthy family, far from it. My father was enlisted in the AF for 20 years. I had 4 brothers and sisters. We were not rich by any means. I remember nights when all we ate was rice and gravy. I drank powdered milk. I never had anything name-brand. My brothers and sisters and I got our clothes from the thrift shop. I bought my first car for $300 when I was 18 with money I saved myself.
I don't know what you mean by "afford college" I finished college, (BS & MS) and have $80,000 in loans to pay back. I didn't land a great paying job either, but I make enough to make ends-meet right now. After taxes and bills I've got just enough money to eat with. I save what I can when I can.
But do you hear me whining? Do you hear me saying I'm entitled to anything other than the money I work hard for? But I'm optimistic. I know that I will be wealthy one day. I know I've worked hard and will keep working hard so that my children will be better off than I was/am. I know that the money I get paid is directly related to the amount of money my company makes, and the more money I make for the company, the more money I make. Its that simple. So I work hard, set goals, and strive to do the best. and all I want out of it is the money I'm entitled to because I earned it.
Thats what the American Dream is about. The opportunity to work hard and better your life and your childrens' lives. period. Its not about universal healthcare or a high minimum wage. Its about opportunity. Its a shame though when one person's achievements go punished because someone else feels they are entitled to something because they got the short end of the stick. Well, hell, I got a short stick too. But I sharpened it to a point and used it to help me climb up.
The attitude that you are putting forth never got anyone anywhere.
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I appreciate and truly respect what you have accomplished. Hard work does pay.
It is my belief though, that companies don't pay workers what they are worth. When you have CEO's loading up golden parachutes and destroying pension plans and paying their workers barely enough to live with no benefits, I just think it's wrong.
It's not about entitlement it's about maintaining a healthy and growing society. Without affordable healthcare we won't have either.
I just believe in an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Unfortunately, I don't see that, part of the reason is healthcare bogs down what companies (those that provide it) can pay.
I think if EVERYONE pays into it and or we regulate costs then it benefits society far more efficiently, profitably and morally/kharmically, then the system we have now.
As I have stated, the rich are paying for the poor now with high costs and by premiums increasing, this burden will continue to increase as fewer and fewer companies offer health ins. and we have more uninsured.
NOONE SHOULD EVER BE DENIED HEALTHCARE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT....It's inhumane and not what the USA is about, IMHO. An example, a 30 yr old who has nothing of value and barely makes a living, say develops Hodgkins and is uninsured.
Now we can:
1) take all he owns, put him in debt for the rest of his and his child's life and give him no reason to work hard after he recovers, because even according to you, it is the ability to get ahead that drives people.
2) Not do a damned thing (he can't afford it aw well).
3) We can treat him with universal healthcare and when he does recover he'll become a more effective, harder worker who knows the system worked for him.
4) Or we can do what we do now and that is have the local, state, federal and ins. premium payers pay for it indirectly, while still taking everything he owns and putting him into massive debt and terrible credit ratings. Which again, cuts his desire to work since he makes nothing and will probably never catch up to the debt.
To me, I'd rather have my taxes directly pay, watch him recover and become a better member of society because he saw that the system does work. He has no debt and a newfound lease on life. He becomes a harder and healthier worker and member of society.
Perhaps, I have too much faith in mankind but I am an optimist that way.
I believe a person will live up to his potential and work harder if he is shown that his hard work is appreciated and he can move up the ladder.