I agree bordergal,
We do have some folks who are deserving, and for whatever reason find themselves in need of help. And I think a country as wealthy as ours should have a way to help these people.
I live in the Appalachians, and I can tell you the independent mountaineer spirit is almost extinct here. It has been replaced with the entitlement, "get over on the govt.," "get everything you can for nothing" mentality.
We must have had a lack of calcium around here too. Everybody now has a "bad back," and draws a disability check. In some communities two, three generations of bad back cases draw checks. They all start getting bad backs really young, just at the age they should be productive family supporters.
It's really funny too, cause they can do all kinds of construction work on the side for cash (so they can continue to draw their bad back check), but they are unable to work, therefore have to draw a check.
What's really disgusting is that most of these types go to church every Sunday, Wednesday, etc., and believe you go to hell for drinking a beer, but it is okay, perfectly acceptable, to lie and steal (which is what they do to get that govt. check).
Meanwhile, I see elderly people who worked and paid taxes all their lives, and who now are struggling to buy their medications and keep a roof over their heads.
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