Your comments do make sense and the way you have phrased things makes it easy and desirable to really try to look at things from another viewpoint.
My feelings remain the same, but if we (Americans in general) can't ever find common ground, nothing would ever change.
You given me a place to start understanding the reasons for some of the very strong feelings here.
BTW, my ex-husband (terrific guy) is a Border Patrol Agent. You should hear some of the things he has to say about government programs. It's not pretty!
I have had a pet idea for a long time. Believing that the people in general rather than the government are the best heads to decide what kind of social betterment is good or bad, we should back off of government social programs in tandem with a new tax rule that donations to any charity become credits to your taxes rather than merely tax deductible. This should be managed so as to be revenue neutral. I bet a million flowers (and good ones, not gummint weeds) would spring up in a tearing hurry.