Maleficent's
thread, regarding the Somali refugee, got my blood boiling. So, rather than threadjack, I opted to initiate a seperate discussion relating to Public Assistance, as a whole.
As most of you know, my viewpoints run the graph. I do not consider myself a "liberal", nor do I consider myself a "conservative". Public Assistance is one issue, however, that brings out the "neo-con" in me.
In Mal's thread, she made the following statement;
Quote:
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Originally Posted by maleficent
People need to get over their sense of entitlement - just becuase it's available - doesn't mean you can have it.
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To which brian1975 replied;
Quote:
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Originally Posted by brian1975
I agree with his statement when it does not apply to food, health care and shelter.
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To which I say...if someone is unwilling to do for themselves, then why should I be forced to do for them? I'm not talking about the specific instance in mal's thread. I'm talking...in general.
Don't waste time telling me that there are people that need a help up. I'm perfectly aware of that. I was one of them. At one time I was half a paycheck away from being homeless. Yet, I never received public assistance. I worked, and I worked, and I worked until I slowly, gradually worked my way into better and better circumstances. I'm not well to do, but I'm...comfortable. I no longer need to worry about where dinner is going to come from the next day.
I see, first hand, people who are given free food, free healthcare (better than that which I pay for), and housing for little, or no, cost (a lot nicer homes than the one I lived in when I was on the skids). I see this, and I ask...why? Why am I forced to subsidize this...lifestyle? I see people at the supermaket checkout, buying steaks and crablegs with foodstamps, while I look at my own purchase of hamburger and generic froot loops. I see this, and I ask...why? I see people going to the Emergicare, over an injury that requires little more than bactine and a bandaid, paid for by Medicaid. I see this, and I ask...why? I see people sitting on the front porches of homes, that I help pay to subsidize, that
far exceed the comforts of
my first home, at
any hour of the day. What's up with
that?
I am fed the hell up. On the other hand, I don't have all the answers either. I do know that there are people that genuinely need help. But, I
do believe that these people represent a very small minority of those collecting public asistance. One answer that I
do have is mandatory drug testing. If you're too destitute to supply yourself with the basic necessities of life, then you are certainly too poor to afford drugs. If any trace of drugs are found in your system, then your assistance ends...NOW! Hey...if it's good enough for the work place...then, well. Yes, I know that goes against my Libertarian views. But, then again...so does Public Assistance.
I'm done ranting...for now.