Karina: Am I Conservative, Rush?

RushLimbaugh.com ^ | July 9, 2004 | Rush Limbaugh

[TankerKC]

Now, one could trash us for using a government program to give our mother the help she needs and argue that the VA shouldn't be shelling out money for surviving spouses, etc. And they might be legitimate arguments in the hypothetical sense.

You are right. But, I know that in my case we took a child in that was a ward of the court (she was a family member). We could have taken a monthly allowance from the state along with her. We chose not to take the money.

[Jalapeno]

Are you really that clueless?

No, but you obvious are in regard to interpersonal skills.

[tdadams]

I'm as fiscally conservative and small government as they come, but I happen to think the Pell Grant is one of the few things the government does right. It is a good investment in that it actually helps people get an education, and an education helps them get a better job and be self-sufficient and contribute to society.

Many people, myself among them, could not have gone to college without the Pell Grant. The taxes I've paid since I graduated college have been far in excess of what they would have been without a college degree and it's far more than I ever received in grants.

[mastequilla]

You need to go listen to it again carefully, for what he said was; "that he doesn't mind it if they are going to school to better themselves, and will be paying it back." She is 24 years old, she is trying to straighten her life around for her and her child. And, believe me when she gets into the working world she will be paying it back.

You just made the case for the democratic party's vision of welfare. After all, why not provide money to poor single moms so that they can have healthcare, daycare, job training, and on and on and on .... on the hope that someday, they'll pay it back after they "improve" themselves

Gee, and I thought I had to work hard on my own to succeed, without government handouts.

[nutmeg]

Great Rush call ping!

[mastequilla]

I'm as fiscally conservative and small government as they come, but I happen to think the Pell Grant is one of the few things the government does right. It is a good investment in that it actually helps people get an education, and an education helps them get a better job and be self-sufficient and contribute to society.

Many people, myself among them, could not have gone to college without the Pell Grant. The taxes I've paid since I graduated college have been far in excess of what they would have been without a college degree and it's far more than I ever received in grants.

You know what, too bad! Life isn't fair.

You can't be a conservative if you think the government ought to take money from hardworking americans and hand it out to those who are unwilling to put themselves through college. I worked between 2 & 3 jobs while going through school without any government handouts. I don't buy the argument that you couldn't have gone to college without Pell Grant? Did you consider joining the military? Did you consider working? Did you consider taking a year or two and saving up enough money to put yourself through college? Did you consider working while in college?

I don't accept your liberal democratic vision that government handouts paid for on the backs of hardworking americans are an acceptable governmental policy.

[tdadams]

Gosh that "It's and investment" sounds an awful lot like that democrat slogan "Investing in America" which is a euphemism for BIG GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS

Run some business models and you'll see the difference. What's the return on investment? What's the next best use of those dollars?

With those Pell grant dollars, she'll use a little bit of taxpayer money now, but in the long run, she'll be a net contributor rather than a net user.

[Tall_Texan]

You are right. But, I know that in my case we took a child in that was a ward of the court (she was a family member). We could have taken a monthly allowance from the state along with her. We chose not to take the money.

Likely because you realized you could raise the child without the allowance. Good for you for not taking what you didn't need. In addition, you probably freed yourself from a level of governemnt oversight and inspection on how the money would have been spent.

In my mother's case, she simply outspent the insurance settlement she received when my father passed away. Dad was always the one that told her not to spend so much and, without him, she spent til she had almost nothing.

She didn't even know Dad when he was a soldier in WWII. But she (actually, us children) are getting the benefits from the VA and not the one who "earned" it.

Our family (myself included) still has to pay some of what it costs to keep her in good care but there's no way we could give her what she needs without the benefit. It bothers me to some extent but it's a family decision and I've reconciled my conscience about it.

When my turn comes, I'm not going to want a dime from the government.

[mastequilla]

With those Pell grant dollars, she'll use a little bit of taxpayer money now, but in the long run, she'll be a net contributor rather than a net user.

So you really don't have a problem with confiscating money from hardworking citizens to hand it out to those unwilling to come up with their own money to better themselves.

Tell you what, if you would send me $20,000 I will use it to go to graduate school. Once I graduate I'm sure I can make more money, which I will use to pay you back with interest.

Deal?

How about instead, I forcibly take your money from you via taxation and use it for the same purpose. Aren't you better off?

[aruanan]

For those who call Rush a rabid hatemonger who mistreats callers, this exchange--I heard it live--was a perfect falsification of the hypothesis.

[mastequilla]

With those Pell grant dollars, she'll use a little bit of taxpayer money now, but in the long run, she'll be a net contributor rather than a net user.

And yet the reality of the situation is that she'll likely get impregnated by her boyfriend who won't support her. In which case she'll either abort the kid (she's pro-abortion), or she'll rely on government handouts to raise not one, but two kids, and her pell grant will have gone to waste.

Now, if she had to work for herself to go to college, perhaps the story will be different.

I'm continually amazed that people don't recognize what 40 years of liberal welfare programs have gotten us.

[tdadams]

Did you consider joining the military?

Yeah, but that would have cost the taxpayers even more than a Pell Grant.

Did you consider working? Did you consider working while in college?

I did work, thanks.

Did you consider taking a year or two and saving up enough money to put yourself through college?

Well, let's see, I could work a year, go to school a year, work a year, go to school a year... Or I could finish in four years and be on my way to being a productive self-sufficient citizen.

I don't accept your liberal democratic vision [blah, blah, blah slander] that government handouts paid for on the backs of hardworking americans are an acceptable governmental policy.

That's fine. You have the right to be wrong.

[Politicalmom]

This was THE best thing I have ever heard on Rush. He was spectacular.

[Warren_Piece]

How about instead, I forcibly take your money from you via taxation and use it for the same purpose. Aren't you better off?

Is THIS the tone you would like to have seen Rush take with this caller? Congratulations, you've just created a new Kerry voter!

[mastequilla]

Did you consider joining the military?

Yeah, but that would have cost the taxpayers even more than a Pell Grant.

But you would have earned that money by serving your country, instead you seem to think you ought to just be given a check by the government, paid for by taxes confiscated by the government.

Ask yourself, would it have been right for you to go around your town and steal $20 from each citizen to pay for your education? If your answer is no, then why do you think it is right for the government to take that money on your behalf?

[tdadams]

I know you're being sarcastic, but you know what? I would pitch in to help if you could get accepted to business school. Not the whole deal, but a little.

But I really doubt I'd have to worry about you getting into business school since you can't do basic cost-benefit analysis.

[moneypenny]

No, I am sorry you took it that way, it wasn't meant that way. I personally went to school on my own money and worked hard for it. But, my daughter got herself in a mess and ended up needing help, her husband walked out on her and left her with 4 children. She grew up fast, but also when she finally went to work and found her check was so darn small she realized that she better get a better education and get out of the mess she was in and she has. And, she has paid it all back. I am not for not helping someone at one time or another if they will get out of the trap they are in. That shows growing up, maybe not the best way to grow up but she did and is doing a heck of a job raising her children and working and having a home. I'm sorry you feel that I am looking like a socialist, believe me, you couldn't be more wrong. You must have been lucky enough to not have 4 little responsibilities, and no her husband did not pay child support and the government didn't go after him for a long time, and when they finally did, he only had to pay a small percentage of his pay. Her husband wasn't responsible for his actions, and that is how the government gets into her life, not because she wanted it. She is now a hard working conservative single mom.

[mastequilla]

Is THIS the tone you would like to have seen Rush take with this caller? Congratulations, you've just created a new Kerry voter!

Instead Rush may have created another bleeding heart RINO. Are we better off that way?

[tdadams]

And yet the reality of the situation is that she'll likely get impregnated by her boyfriend who won't support her.

That's a bit judgmental for something that's based on pure unwarranted speculation. I guess it's people like who who leftists are referring to when they call Republicans mean and hateful.

[mastequilla]

No, I am sorry you took it that way, it wasn't meant that way. I personally went to school on my own money and worked hard for it. But, my daughter got herself in a mess and ended up needing help, her husband walked out on her and left her with 4 children. She grew up fast, but also when she finally went to work and found her check was so darn small she realized that she better get a better education and get out of the mess she was in and she has. And, she has paid it all back. I am not for not helping someone at one time or another if they will get out of the trap they are in. That shows growing up, maybe not the best way to grow up but she did and is doing a heck of a job raising her children and working and having a home. I'm sorry you feel that I am looking like a socialist, believe me, you couldn't be more wrong. You must have been lucky enough to not have 4 little responsibilities, and no her husband did not pay child support and the government didn't go after him for a long time, and when they finally did, he only had to pay a small percentage of his pay. Her husband wasn't responsible for his actions, and that is how the government gets into her life, not because she wanted it. She is now a hard working conservative single mom.

Here's my beef. Before Johnson folks relied on themselves and families to get out of their personal situations. Now they rely on the government, and the same logic being used to justify pell grants can be used to justify a whole host of liberal social programs. the end result is the welfare state, and we've seen how disasterous 40 years of welfare programs have been. What we need is a return to self reliance.