I can say I was blessed to of been raised with both Republicans and Democrats in my family, to see the issues from both sides. Especially when it came to public welfare, assistance, unemployment, and reasonable solutions to create jobs. It absoloutely makes me sick to hear some Republicans say it is not conservative to give so much assistance and make slight hand comments against the poor and middle class--- and it also makes me sick to see Democrats believe the answer is throw more money into programs, which are not really helping people but rather making people dependent on the government.
It reminds me of a board game (I recommend it to anyone) called "OPINIONS", and you have one minute to make a case for (or against) a certain issue or topic. One time, playing with my nephew, he drew a card that said "Make a case against welfare" and he did and thought he did a good job. Being that his views were more Republican, he thought he made a good argument. Then it was my turn. "Remember the monthly food assistance your mom and dad had gotten when you guys didn't have an income? Could you imagine how hard it would have been had you not had that? It was hard enough only getting $400 a month to stretch out to feed six people, wasn't it? And you know it wasn't your father's fault, or your mother's fault either, for not being able to make enough to feed everyone." And he saw the point.
I look at this world, and I see that economic woes are everywhere. For example, there was an article last year about how HOMELESSNESS went up nearly 20% in the city of Dublin, Ireland around Christmas time. And I am thinking to myself, "How can such things be, when such giant corporations as Pfizer are taking their business to Ireland?".... and the conclusion I can come to is that despite all the low taxes on businesses, is that none of it benefits the common man. Only the rich and the government.
I find it ironic, when other nations criticize America (for example) they point out to how far better off America is than other nations and how much money there is. They point out that virtually every American has access to television, phones, internet. And while that is true, that such creature comforts are available, what they don't consider is how very little is done to combat escelating home energy costs are or the price of food is going up. They don't take into consideration the tremendous hoops people have to jump through, in order to remotely get the most basic of assistance if you do not fit a certain profile of color, gender, and location.
Take myself for example, I can't get assistance in my own county in terms of healthcare or financial. I have been going, thank Jesus, to local clinics that are funded by public donations.... to get teeth worked on, or to see a doctor.... or I simply have to go to an emergency room. Or my family and I have to go to a local food bank once every month, to supliment whatever food we're able to buy off our own income. Why can't I get assistance from my own county? I'm not a minority. Or I'm not on social security or disability. Or I'm not a single mother. Or I'm not a drug addict. Or (in total) my family makes collectively too much money for one program, and not enough in another. The system is completely a mess from top to bottom.
I can thank Jesus every day that I managed to find a job, during this recession that has been ongoing for a decade. I was without work, despite beating the pavement looking for work, for almost five years. Without the love and support of my own family, I would probably have been living in my car somewhere, until I was told to go elsewhere by a cop or thrown in jail for loitering. In this time of year I can't help but remember Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol when Scrooge was mockingly told by Father Christmas "Are there no work houses, are there no prisons?" for the poor and needy.
Now that being said, I'm not in favor of socialism or communism. Throwing money at programs and at people, by and large, has not shown advancement--- but rather creating a generational issue of people dependent on that money--- that's like putting a band aid on an open wound and hoping that will stop the gushing. I'm more in favor of job creation, job programs that don't require people to go through alot of trouble to get work, and teaching people new skills that can get them the learning necessary to get better paying jobs. Personally I think it would be great if public service announcements were made locally 24/7 of temporary openings---- "One worker needed with no experience at this location," or "Ten workers needed with little experience at this location," etc so people can have one day, two day, three days (or even a week, or month, etc) of pay--- rather than hand over $200, $300, $400, etc. at some welfare organisation and have to make it stretch out for a whole month.
Just my two cents.
