...but what you can do for your country.?

Question

In order to help relieve the tax burden should people be taught Not to consider entitlement programs as an option? Or if considering it, should it be a last resort after asking family, friends and church for help?
I believe too many people when finding themselves in financial difficulty are too quick to run to the government.
If the government was not there as a safety net would people just give up and die or would they find another way to survive?
I say they will find another way to make it.
Should tax payers take the burden simply because someone is too prideful to ask family or church?

Answer 1

I agree with you. My family was on welfare when I was younger. I come from a poor family, farmers and factory workers in the Midwest mostly. My mother left my father when I was real young because he was abusive to her. She then worked two and three jobs at a time to try and make ends meet while raising three boys on her own. Ends didn't always meet. However, she hated being on welfare and went to night school so that she could get a degree and get a better job. About the time I was in 5th or 6th grade she finally graduated and got a job that paid enough for her to support us and then some.

This is what welfare SHOULD be used for. Sadly, most of the time it is abused and those who are on it don't do anything to try and get off of it.

Tax payers SHOULD NOT have to pay for those who refuse to work. I think welfare needs to be completely reformed.

Answer 2

I think the church should definitely be a source of help. This is what people originally did. I know that our church is known in our city as a very charitable church. When people go to the police department or even other church's they direct them to us. That is what we want to be known as. Christ tells us to give to those in need and we do. BUT that doesn't mean people shouldn't learn to be self dependent and not lazy. I rarely give to our local homeless people because they choose not to work. They are well known in our small town. If it's in winter then I will buy them soup just because it's so cold and it's just the right thing to do. Other than that, I give to the poor and needy not the lazy and greedy

*And regarding Welfare...I agree with Alpha Male. Sometimes people need the help but my problem is the mentality of demanding that the gov pay for everything for you and that the world owe's something to you. Welfare recipients seem to be generation after generation. Reform is definitely needed.

Answer 3

You have an honest and earnest opinion. I thought a lot like that too, and still to some extent do. With strong individuals the country is strengthened, and with a strong country we can breathe life back into America. Before I start, I want to make this very clear: those who don't try to improve their station and the freeloaders should not get any aid.

I'm going to quote an excerpt from a poem, "The New Colossus", that has been associated with the Statue of Liberty and is even inscribed on a plaque that is on display inside the Statue of Liberty.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Like it or not, we've got a duty. A duty to care for those above. However, that doesn't mean we let them go by sucking our blood dry. Do you remember when you learned how to ride your bike? You first started with training wheels, then once you got decent enough the training wheels were removed, but at least for me, a parent was always there, almost right next to me, just in case something bad happened. Then once I got the hang of being able to ride, I still wore the helmet I first started with.

How did that relate to the government being a safety net? Well, actually it is what I believe would serve the country best. the "training wheels" would be funds/resources to get the poor up and going; however, we put a strict time limit on them, say a year, year and a half, maybe at MAX up to two years. Then, once the poor start improving their stations, we cutt off the "training wheels" while still checking in on them, incase they have a spill; however, there is no going back to the "training wheels", only extremely limited, TOOTH AND NAIL aid. Because, as the saying goes, once you fall off the horse get back up on it. Once the poor have improved their stations to such a point they no longer need the government watching, we let them be in peace. In the very rare exception that something horrible occurs to them, they will have the "helmet", or various private interest programs that can aid them in their time of crisis.

However, we'd would have to strictly watch over those receiving aid. We should not be giving aid to drug users, those who hurt children, murderers, war-criminals, etc. Basically, if you're doing something that's against the law, you receive no aid. After all, when did your Parents give you a treat and say "Good job! I'm very proud of you lying to us and not feeding the dogs!"?

However, their are certain groups, even if you're one of the Republicans/Democrats/Independents who think Universal Health Care is Satan's Tool or is Communist, that need to have, at the bare minimum, their health care covered--completely. I think we can all agree that the elderly should have their health care completely covered for. That way, with the extra money they'll have, they can buy even more goods and help to stimulate the economy.

On a moral standpoint, there was a commercial that aired not too long ago, by Merck. Although Merck has gotten into some trouble to say the least, I like what they said. In the commercial there was an elderly man who said:

"I shouldn't have to choose between paying for my medication or paying for my groceries."

He's right. In our heart of hearts, I don't think any one of us would want the elderly to have to go without their food or meds. If the government can pay for the medication, then the elderly don't have to worry about their choice. They can pay for their groceries and keep living their fruitful lives in peace and happiness.

Well, there we go. I tried to provide something for my country. Even if you disagree with any or all of my ideas, and I'm sure that there will be those, maybe even many, who do, perhaps at least I helped to spurr the growth of ideas. Or maybe, because my ideas would not be effective, the corrections that others could make would make these ideas a thousand fold better for us all =D

Answer 4

THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are indeed a good person, one who obviously sees what most people do not. Our taxes are so high because people are so quick to run to the Government.
I have been out on the streets, selling blood and picking up cans and bottles to live on. I never asked for help from the Government (or any one else), but I was able to get back on my feet.
Of course, there are too many people living paycheck to paycheck; Big Business and the Government should help people land a decent paying job.
I am still poor...but proud!

Answer 5

I've only known one person who was ever on food stamps, and two people who went on unemployment. The two people who went on unemployment earned far more than I ever did, before being laid off after the dot.com bust, and saw their unemployment benefits as something to which they'd contributed during all their years of gainful employment. I'm not sure I would argue with them on that. The one who was on food stamps had three children to feed; she would get church assistance, but they and her family simply were unable to support her while she couldn't get child care in order to work. I believe she finally moved in with her retired mother, so that her mom could help with the child care. But a lot of people don't always have a mom--certainly not a sober mom, or a safe mom--or other responsible friends to turn to.

I'm happy that some of my tax money goes to helping keep people off the street, and not all of it goes to the Department of Defense. That, and contributing regularly to charity, is part of what *I* do for *my* country. The poor people are also part of my country, you know.

Answer 6

entitlements are a way of life for some people and the dems are trying to add to it. i am forty, of limited means and struggle week to week. i have never asked the gov for anything but for two months of food stamps when i could not work because of major knee surgery. funny thing, i got them 1 week after i started back to work. the family should be the first ones to help. but most people tend to burn those bridges.

Answer 7

Well, let's take a look at the countries who don't help their less fortunate. Like India, Bangladesh, the African countries, Mexico. Doesn't look to me like their unfortunates decided to find another way to survive. They die on the streets regularly if the begging isn't sufficient. Is that what you want to see in American streets?

Answer 8

Many (but not all) are on these programs because they consider themselves well before they consider the others. They have no interest in doing anything for the country.

Answer 9

right now I would not want to mess with this country right now
everything is so mess up that it would take the rest of your
life to fixed the problems here in this country.

Answer 10

There should be only 1 entitlement program, Social Security retirement. All the other wics, SSI and such need to stop, now. If people die, tough.