Ok, at this point I think we have an articulate group of politically active women and men who are reading and commenting on this blog. I love it that like minded people can come together to vent, discuss, and enlighten. Let me clarify what I mean by like minded. I mean people who have an interest in our country, the government that runs it, and what we as citizens can do to make it better....ha ha you thought I was going to say that like minded meant that we are all Republican. No I happen to know that there are many people reading this blog who are Democrats and yes, Republicans also. I am ever an eager learner and always an opinionated voice. I respect other views and always try to learn from them, therefore:Here is what I want to do; Declare myself and I want you to do the same. I will pick a topic, share my views and I encourage you to give yours. Use the comments section to share your position and enlighten others. I only ask that we be respectful to each other. Anger is just stupidity. Every so often we will pick a new hot topic and we can have our own version of Hannity and Colmes. Maybe we will find we are all 'Hannitys' but I hope we have a few vocal 'Colmes' because that is how we will learn from each other.
Let me start. Entitlements I am not a Republican, I am a conservative. I would have no problem voting Democrat if I felt that man or woman will do a better job for our country. That being said, here is one of my fundamental problems with many in the Democrat party. Their mantra often is "we are about helping the little people, the party of compassion". To me this can be demeaning and often keeps people in a victimhood mentality. Who are these little people? Why do we patronize them as less than others and always needing a hand up? Why are we so afraid in our country to just let people struggle or fail? It is often in failure that people will emerge and create great success. I just have such a deep belief in the human spirit. Aren't we all little people at some point? I have been in the little people category many times in my life and I never even considered the government an option or answer. I have yet to see a government entitlement program that is effective and not riddled with bureaucracy and waste. These programs are pontificated about from political pulpits but when executed are ineffective and otiose. Are there people in need? absolutely, but I have always found that churches and charities, though imperfect, are are so much more effective in handling these needs. When did the government become a charity? If tomorrow we just obliterated one or more entitlement programs what would happen? Would the world come to an end? No the loss would create a vacuum of need, and people would step up to the plate. Churches, charities, and individuals would come together to help. Would it be perfect? No but I believe it would be better. The less government in our lives the better.
People are generous. We give and give till it hurts and then we give more. We saw that after 9-11. I believe in letting a free system determine how and what we give, we will always rise to the occasion. Some won't give but that is what freedom is about. Did you know that over half of all federal spending is on entitlement programs?
I find it interesting that this week when questioned by a man about taxes Obama said we need to "spread the wealth around". In truth this is called a punitive wealth transfer program, or socialism. Yet according to the NYT the Obama's yearly charitable contributions were less than 1% of their income for 4 years prior to the beginning of his political career. According to the New York Times "Senator Obama and his wife, Michelle, sharply increased their charitable donations as Mr. Obama began to run for president." I looked over his tax records and contributions were at or well below the 1% mark until political aspirations began to take shape. Yet even at the highest their contributions were only at 6.1% of income. He wasn't spreading the wealth around back then now was he? And this man wants me to entrust him with the job of taking my money so he can "spread it around". That seems wrong to me on so many levels.
I know I may not have a complete view of this issue. I am a Mom with 4 busy kids and can't spend the time necessary to understand all the ins and outs so I would love to know what your view of this issue is. Declare yourself! (That is funny to me!) It sounds like we think we are very important. I am laughing.
5 comments:
There's another Democrat out there that read's this? I'm warm and fuzzy all over...
"Spreading the wealth" just sounds to me like a fancy way of buying votes. We spent all those years handing out welfare thoughtlessly, and I don't want to go back there. Opportunity still exists in this country and all kinds of people have grabbed it by the horns--why discourage that?
Of course I will comment! Being someone who has benefited from Entitlement programs; Pell Grants, Medicaid, Food Stamps, WIC, etc; I feel confident I can give a balanced view point. We took advantage of everything available to us while finishing school. And we are doing better now financially because we don't have huge student loans to pay down. We used them as a 'step up' and a momentary fix. However, the more involved in the system we got, the more I realized we were a definite minority. Majority of the people I knew (personally) and also witnessed, refused to take jobs or promotions or bonuses to stay in their income class and keep their govt benefits. If the entitlements have ZERO expiration date, which most of them don't expire, they breed laziness unaccountability. For example, we applied for unemployement benefits when my husband was laid off. We were working our tails off to supplement his lack of salary. We had the choice of making less working part time, or quiting and receiving unemployment checks while sitting on our hands 'trying to find a job'. The govt would rather have us do nothing (except make 2 job contacts a week) than try to provide for ourselves. We chose to continue to work (and make less than half of what we made before), and be unqualified for govt. assistance.
Also, govt is the most inefficient and frustrating machine to be in. With all the problems I've had with health ins. companies, I have NEVER been more frustrated than working with the Medicaid office. They can barely handle 10% of the population, why trust them with 40%or even worse, 100%?
Just like Gale said, the private sector does it better. Churches, non-profit org, and PEOPLE are more efficient, experienced and close to the actual needs. Sorry for the long 'comment'!
I too, when I was newly married had a a friend who's husband quit his job so they would still qualify for Medicaid. We had babies at the same time; their's was paid for immediately, ours paid for in three years. Now, was that fair? Absolutely not. It makes me mad still. And I agree that programs like welfare, and Medicaid have evolved into giant bureaucratic monsters that are abused by alot of people. But not by all, and that's my problem.
Democrats and Republicans tend to cling to the glass is half full/glass is half empty philosophy, almost at opposite ends of the spectrum with over- optimism at the left and pessimism at the right, as far as what role government should play in our lives. I tend to think the answer lies somewhere in the middle, in the reality zone. I don't personally believe if we cut those programs today, that includes welfare, medicaid, medicare, social security, etc., that churches, charities, and volunteers would be able to help every single old person, sick person, starving person in the land. But having it start with them would be an answer, then having government fill in the gaps, if necessary. The system as it now stands, needs serious working on. I believe making it more efficient is better than cutting it completely.
Who are the little people? Over the years some have been, women and african americans and their right to vote, farmers whose crops are lost (if farmers go under, we'll there goes the food supply), the 60 and older crowd, the who has to sit at the back of the bus now; no one, crowd. I tend to believe we need to invest in the future, that everyone should be given opportunities, regardless of race or background or money, to succeed in life. The success of our country depends on it.
So you all agree with the Democrat? Wow, that was easy...
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