I haven't eliminated anything. Personal responsibility is at the top of my list. But I also have room for compassion for someone that has made a mistake. On top of that not all people are dealt equal hands. Some have parents that are drunks. Some have to deal with racial hatred. Some have parents that are uneducated. Some have parents that were never home. All of these contribute to what we can accomplish in life.
If a friend of mine hit a hard patch, say he had an alcohol problem, lost his job, hit bottom and was trying to clean himself up. I'd offer him help, a place to live, some money and moral support. He does great, cleans up, gets a job and fa few years he slips again. The second time I'd probably still help him out, but I'd be leery and there would be more restrictions. He'd have to promise to pay me back, sign a contract, enroll in a school, or some job training program or he's gone. I wouldn't let him live in my house. If there was a third time, he'd be on his own.
If the founding fathers can get together and craft the constitution, with all of it's balances of power and protections for the minority that hold in check the abuse of power, why can't we get together and craft a policy that would help those who fall on hard times, protect against abuses of the system and not overburden tax payers who fund the program?
I would advocate a 3 strikes your out program. You have to work to collect benefits, you can only collect for 4 years in a row and you can only use the program twice in your life. And you have to pay all or part of the money back.
jb |
