Republicans say dems do nothing to help the poor, yet when I ask what they are doing, they say "help yourself"

Question

what?

it's like criticizing someone for trying to do something, when you have no care to even attempt to do anything about it yourself?

now I'm not going to sit here and say "dems have all the answers" but at least they try...

we could go back and forth about the effectiveness of welfare, which I feel has a place, but needs reform... but beyond that many dems promote education policies to help people get a college degree through loans and grants... to make themselves better...

and I'm not saying the government should do everything for people, but I see nothing wrong with helping someone out that's willing to help themself...

many republicans probably share this view, but it seems like you don't hear about it a lot... and in the past 6 years, tuition has skyrocketed, grants are harder to get and school loans have a higher intrest rate than before...

Robodemoc... I'm discussing what they are saying... sorry for discussing what political people are saying inside the board?

and this question has generated more critical thought, good converstation from both sides, than the majority of the questions in this catagory...

rohannesi: the problem I see with your analogy is that I don't see Republicans teaching anyone to do anything... they just say "figure it out yourself"... and when people come from nothing and have no education, they can't do that...

when you start "teaching" I'll start believing what you're saying...

scorborne: you were clearly attacking liberals about a subject that is completely unprovable (God and science)... saying that we all only listen to liberal scientific leaders, which clearly many do not...

you generalize falsely with no evidence (other than yahoo!answers, which is far from any kind of fact), I'm going to call you out on it...

Answer 1

Yes. We need true welfare reform. Not a bigger bureaucracy, which is what happens whenever governments "throw money at a problem."

Historically, people were expected to exhaust all of their own resources (family, church) before they looked to the government to support them.

All that has changed. The bummer is, the people who "deserve" the help (people with student loans, especially), are the ones who cannot get any help.

You have to be unemployed, pregnant without a husband, or a member of a minority race to get any help--which keeps people in poverty and provides no incentive for them to do anything about it.

Okay, since you asked, I graduated from law school in '99. I am a single mom and have been since '97. And I went to law school on loans b/c it was the only way I could afford to go. I suppose you would prefer that my child and I were on welfare?

And, Sr., I think you should re-read my answer as contrasted with the question. And, yeah, darn right student loans are more worthwhile investments than welfare. READ.

Answer 2

The whole problem with helping people out too much, is that get used to it and it eventually becomes a way of life. There are so many opportunities in the United States for people to make a living, and yes, even become sucessful. Welfare and many other social programs have resulted in generations of families who can not, or will not shake off the bonds of poverty. Why? Because they have become accustomed to the government providing everything for them. Some of these people will actually pander to a leader of a third world country because that leader provided them with cheap heating oil. Big deal, if oil is expensive, go get a part time job to help pay for it. Don't sell out your country. Buy some long johns, pull your pants up, tuck in your shirt. Sell some of your bling collection. Use your drug money budget for heating oil.
Yes, there are some people who are truly needy, and they should be provided some help, for the short term, and with restrictions, and the qualification requirements should be the same for everybody. The first requirement should be that a person should be a Documented citizen.
As you have probably guessed, I don't think there should be welfare at all. And I also think that most social programs should be cut, and the remainder should be eliminated.

Answer 3

You are on point, but also miss the point, simultaneously.

Tuition going up, grants getting harder and interest rates rising have little to do with Republicans, hate to tell you.

Dems promote social programs as a currency, to use in trade/barter with the vote of the poor and minorities. Those social programs are not 'helping those who help themselves', at least that's not their intent or result. Those programs exist as tools to buy votes from people who have been accustomed to handouts, with no accountable return of effort or productivity.

What's that old saying: “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a life time”...

The Dems don't want you to learn how to fish, for your productivity and wealth and desire to maintain/grow that wealth will necessarily send you over to the 'dark side' (GOP). The Dems are making a living being the defenders of those who don't need defense, they need to self-manage, work harder and do what needs to be done to get out from where they are. And I don't buy the 'some people need more help than others' argument. The poorest of us has reached incredible heights, because of determination and effort. That's pretty much all that defines the most successful of Americans. The more determination and effort, the better the results.

The Dems don't want you to exert determination and effort as a premise for social aid. They just want you to vote for them, and POOF, there's your aid. Undoubtedly, we need to help those who do need help, for if not, we'd undermine our own moral and social standing as citizens and a nation. But at the end of the day, the reduction in the rolls of the poor and unskilled is a necessity, we cannot take on MORE social programs and beneficiaries, but should always look for ways to reduce both the expenditures and beneficiaries in a responsible, productive and progressive manner.

Answer 4

"If you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he will never go hungry."

As for that proverb, I see that the Democrats try to do both. Welfare, and their education policies at least try to solve a problem.

I have also seen the welfare and social security system abused. I know many people that get a government check and don't need it, and those who do...don't get the help they need.

Answer 5

Your complaint reminds me of many cliched sayings.

"God helps those who help themselves." by God
"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country." by President John F. Kennedy.
"Life's a b itch....Then you die." by Me.
The Republican Bush Administration has our economy humming. Unemployment is extremely low. The tax reductions have created jobs and business opportunities for millions in the US. We live in the best country in the world. Earnings potential is unlimited; just ask Bill Gates.
Most Democrats are liberals. They favor high taxes. They favor big government and government programs running everything. They benefit by keeping people poor. The poor have the mistaken belief that Democrats will help them.
The government should only handle national defense, homeland security, and the nation's infrastructure. Everything else, we should do on our own and pay for it ourselves.
We should work for what we want.
I think you are crying with a loaf of bread under your arm. Whoops! another cliche.

Answer 6

My experience is that many of the people that are doing all the kvetching don't do jack to help the poor or anyone else, and I'm basing this on observation of the single dollar bills that go in the church basket (if they give anything at all). They're not paying for their own church's expenses, much less helping the poor.

Ah, yes Ruth. I note that you, as a student, "deserve" help. What makes that so? Why can't you qualify scholastically or athletically for one of the vast number of available scholarships? My grandchildren are going to college on "full boat" scholarships, and they earned them all the way.

Answer 7

Your telling me with the grants.

But i have a question for you. Why is it, every question you answer of mine, is a personal attack at me? You never seem to answer the question without attacking me, and even then, your claims are false? What is your problem? All my questions that you answer, you assume too much. In this one
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmcyNf1.NcLimtxfcyIkx2Lsy6IX?qid=20060920202559AA0Beex
you say that I think my belief is right and everyone else's is wrong. I never say that, or even imply that if you saw the other question of hers. I was just supporting mine and wondering why on hers. Cool life. Assumptions hurt people

Answer 8

I work therefore I pay for the damnocrats welfare and food stamps

Answer 9

That's the difference between them