My sincere apologies to
zen_tom... this was originally his thread, but I was trying to fix something with the post order and somehow accidentally deleted it. Oops! lol So anyway, here is the original post... and when zen_tom posts in this thread, i'll fix it back like I never messed it up.
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In the last few days I have seen threads starting up about immigrants, foreign aid, welfare, even rescuing people trapped in New Orleans, calling for us to withdraw our assistance for one reason or another.
I have to say, that every time I read about someone indignantly complaining about how their taxes are supporting someone or other, and how unfair it is because
a) they had plenty of time to evacuate
b) they are foreigners
c) they might be criminals
d) they are probably on drugs
e) they should have thought about that before they lived on a floodplain
f) they have too many children and on and on and on
- I just can't help feeling how mean spirited these people are.
Has anyone wondered exactly what proportion of their hard earned tax actually goes towards each of these people? Personally, as an individual, what have they lost - a few cents?
Yes, state dependance is ugly and can be an outcome of offering help to those less fortunate - but even so, on the whole isn't it still worth those few extra cents?
Yes there are those of us who have worked our way out of debt and trouble by doing things the hard way. Congratulations to all of us; but if all that hard work has made so bitter as to begrudge others the assistance they might need, then perhaps in actual fact, it is us who needs the help, not the other way around.