Now, now, now. Before you ream me out give a moment to hear me out. It's no secret that we've spent the last few years living in a trailer park. Believe it or not most people on Welfare enjoyed a higher standard of living that we had to endure. Socks had a 9-5 job when he started college, but you see - they weren't too fond over taking second place to a college course schedule. A new job was also next to impossible. Telling your new employer, "Oh by the way, I need Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off for college," doesn't fly too well in this day and age. Night classes are not always feasible for many core curriculums are only offered during the day.
Bottom line was, Socks had to go to college or he'd be stuck and capped forever more. To get ahead of the game he had to go - but there was a very large lack of support. Welfare was a joke. Socks would be told as man of the house to go get a job. If he turned down or was turned down by any job due to his college schedule - they'd deny him benefits.
I worked my bottom off and watched my pay sizzle and evaporate like an afternoon rain on a hot summer pavement just to cover some of the necessities. Socks did manage to work from home on a few contracts. All provided by very supportive businesses whom we appreciate greatly. In June he graduated and boom - we're moving on up just as we planned. With absolutely no thanks to the socialistic offerings of Welfare and the like that seek to keep peeps down with no room to grow.
Now folks, this is what has made me a Republican. I love the freedom to dream and the choice to take on the challenges to go after the dream. I have no qualms with Welfare for those who can't - but for those who won't.
We have friends who have peaked out. Meaning they faced their challenges head on and at some point made the decision to be content with their living standard. Some who have settled for a paid-in-full trailer in the old park we lived at. Others who have settled on water front properties. We haven't settled yet but someday hope to do just that.
Only I fear, that when we do - they'll be others who will cry discrimination. Declare that it's unfair that we have and they do not. That it's terrible to see their paychecks sizzle away week to week. It's impossible to work full time and go to college without sacrifices. Then all of the sudden we can't afford our settled standard of content living because our taxes have increased to cover their needs.
Go ahead Obama and bottoms up on your ISM. Bartender, I'll take a shot of Freedom.
I'm all about welfare reform. I had a friend in NJ who dated a chick on welfare...even after he moved in with her and they started a business (while he was still on active duty), she continued to collect welfare, WIC, Etc.
Here's an interesting quote I captured and jotted down myself yesterday:
"The first role of government is to help people who are in crisis or needy. That’s why we have government. – John McCain, 26 October, 2008 on the Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer
I think that the welfare system should always be designed to help those in need to get out of need. In that manner, the American welfare system sucks. In Malaysia, we get the other extreme where there is almost no welfare system at all and it too is a terrible situation to be in.
You stated your position well. Read my daughter-in-laws Lori's blog for a story you might enjoy.
http://lorisminute.blogspot.com/