You speak like it's one or the other. Maybe I come across as more conservative than I truly am irl cause I don't post politicial stuff unless I'm ticked. I'm actually closer to center than you'd think. I don't vote exclusively along party lines and I was actually a registered Democrat the first several years of my voting life. I'm all for taking care of people in poverty/need, just not those who are continuing the cycle.
Had the tale of two cities in my own family. One side started out as share-croppers, worked hard, sacrificed, saved, and helped their kids. Other side single parent, no father, brothers liked rock & roll and marijuana (still do), often didn't get along with one another. My mom (only sister) was the glue but her mom didn't have shyt and was fine with it. She managed hole in the wall bars and was one of those that would say things to the effect, "I made my way, let my kids make theirs." I'll give her one thing, she never asked them for anything as she grew older and needed it. Ended up in nursing home and of course, her only daughter did help a lot.
One would give us (grandkids) each $500.00 for Christmas, the other would give us $50.00. Hate to say this at the risk of feeling unappreciative but in many ways the 50 bucks meant more than the 500. Broke my heart and hurt me to take it cause I knew she'd saved all year long to be able to do that. On the other hand, I knew the road the one who gave 500 had gone through so I felt guilty for accepting that one too.
It's also why I don't believe in giving money for Christmas. So true what they say about the simple things in life. I'm not very materialistic. I tell people you may not remember what your parents gave you for your 5th Christmas but you do remember the things they DID WITH you. Sorry to digress.
How bout the U.S. Dep't of Health & Human Resources? Add 'em up. I come out with 38.8% white and 61.3% non white.
Percent of recipients who are white 38.8 %
Percent of recipients who are black 39.8 %
Percent of recipients who are Hispanic 15.7 %
Percent of recipients who are Asian 2.4 %
Percent of recipients who are Other
3.3 %
http://www.statisticbrain.com/welfare-statistics/[/quot]
you know, Tiga, I've always suspected you to be more of a pragmatist. In all honesty, and to my own discredit, I do the same thing when posting about politics. So I stand corrected for making that assumption about you. For me, at least, it's easier to vent my frustrations on an online chat forum with faceless people than to argue with those who I truly care about. Most of our family live in Louisiana and Texas and are far more conservative than my wife and I. We don't get to see them that often so I generally refrain from engaging them on the subject out of respect and to keep the general peace within the family. Like you, I am for more center than I often come across on this forum but sometimes I like playing the devils advocate too.
A tale of two families for me as well. My father's family had money but always found ways to squander it, making things like holidays with them either boom or bust. My mother's family were blue collar and made middle class money their whole lives. My grandfather worked at Copolymer in BR for 45 years and my Grandmother drove a school bus for East Baton Rouge Parish for 25 years. They both earned a retirement, were frugal and steady and sure as a mule walking down the Grand Canyon. I always preferred my time with them because of the predictability. My father's family were a volatile bunch. A Christmas dinner could erupt into a knock down, drag out screaming match of epic proportions over the fact that my Grandmother lost one of my Aunt's second grade report cards. My grandfather was the exception; a quiet man, an artist who published exclusively in Quail Unlimited and preferred a second in the woods with his bird dogs over any amount of time under a roof. As wild as they were I often find myself laughing at their eccentric and egocentric lives.
I am under the firm impression that no decent person minds helping those who are need or those who are unable to help themselves; we just don't want people taking advantage of it or making a living by it. If we could somehow reframe that conversation along those lines rather than the worn out R & D arguments I think the unanimity of belief would be strong enough to impose real, sensible reforms on that system. As long as we are split by name those changes will never be achieved.
I appreciate your candor. I couldn't agree more that the little things in life are the most important; each day I appreciate that truth a little more I think. Geaux Tigers!Click to expand...
