Koan- I don't care if I sound like Rush. But actually, I think Rush would probably take all the handouts he could get his little mitts on. I doubt Rush has the balls to say that rich old people shouldn't get social security. But maybe he has larger nards than I think he has.
You have your opinions, I have mine. I never worry who might or might not agree with me. I only consider the logic of the position, and whether it gives me the kind of society I want. Your ideas would bankrupt our society. I realize you think it's just "nice"- but your country going bankrupt isn't "nice". And sure, you'll tell me it's the wars and the military industrial complex- and yes, we could be a lot nicer if we weren't spending so much on those things, but we don't live in a world where the "if" matters. We're stuck with the military industrial complex and neither democrats nor republicans have the will to change things. So given we have limited resources and a hungry military industrial complex, let's make sure the truly needy are cared for, and not give out money to folks who are NOT truly needy. I don't CARE if the folks who can take care of themselves in a comfortable manner "helped" society. I help society- that doesn't give me the right to bleed it dry when i don't need to, because then I am actually hurting society. Yes, it hurts society to take money you don't need. I'm sure you get that idea when it involves corporations taking money (and corporations definitely "help" society by providing jobs, and doing productive things), so I'm not sure why you think it's so fabulous to give high income earners government money they do not need (And don't bring up the crippled lady again- I'm fine with her getting support. We aren't talking about the crippled lady. We're talking about that lady in the expensive dress with the quarter million dollar house and several hundred thousand in her retirement account.)
The only point to be made here is John's point- that we give the money away because somehow we have to bribe high earners in to thinking they've "bought in" to the system, to keep them from taking it away from the poor. It's a good point, but I don't think it's worth the cash to have the window dressing. John may be right about this, but I'm willing to take a chance he's not. Your argument about "taking care of people who need it" is illogical given what I am saying, since I do want to take care of people who need it, but don't want to waste government money on people who don't. Warren Buffet's been very helpful to society, after all, but I don't think he needs the government to mail him a social security check. |
