Kevin, good points, I would like to add something to it though.
It's simply a stereotype that Republicans all came from wealthy families who had everything handed to them, while Democrats came from impoverished backgrounds and had to struggle to get where they are. As an example, most of the wealthiest congresspeople are Democrats. They have far more millionaires in their ranks on the national level then Republicans do.
Personally, I came from a middle class background in Washington D.C. While I was growing up, my mother was a travel agent, worked all of her life, my father a painter/wallpaperman. And I can assure you, there are lazy people in this world, who simply refuse to access the abundant opportunities our nation offers.
A little story....When I was about 15, I worked full time in the summer, painting slum apartments in D.C. One day, I saw a long line in front of one of the small liquor stores which dot the corners of S.E. Washington. I asked my older friends, "why is their such a large line at the store today". Oh, it's because today was welfare check day, that's why. "Welfare checks, what's that I said". "It's when the government gives you money when you're out of work". "hmmm, ok".
Weeks later I started paying attention to this welfare check thing, and noticed the same able bodied men who hung out on the streets doing nothing all day long, were the same people standing in line at the end of the month. So I started paying more attention, and when my boss would need someone to work for the day (usually because someone didn't show up), he would ask some of these men if they wanted a job. And nearly every one of them would say something like, Naah, maa'n, I've got better things to do with my time".
I tell you this story in order to get you to understand, there are lazy people in this world. And in a lot of ways, we didn't do these people any good by "helping them out" with a welfare check. In many cases, we gave them an excuse not to work, and become lazier and lazier.
Republican driven welfare reform has done far more for these people, by getting them off welfare, then a thousand left wing Democrat do-gooders ever did giving them a check.
Here's an excellent article describing this cause and effect relationship. heritage.org
Michael |
