Boy jg I don't know where to start. Suffice it to say that, while I can see where it would be easy to fall into the 'feelings' trap you've set, I still disagree with almost every tenet you've expressed.
However, the writer of that article has lived a life entirely different that what you and I have had.
Yes and there are always some who will, for whatever reason, trash wherever they are due to who knows what reasons-irrational expectations, unjust experiences (no place is perfect), etc. Lee Harvey Oswald is a good example. You must agree there are far more people in the world willing to die to get into this country because it offers more opportunity and freedom than anywhere else in the world, even with all its other warts.
that a year's wage for a grown man was less than $1750.
Reference above. Yes there is poverty in the world. There will always be. To think otherwise is delusional...idealistic but still delusional. There have been many experiments to try to cure this 'problem' and almost all have failed throughout the world. This country has thrown trillions in trying to solve the poverty problem to no avail. It's worse now than ever before. Man can idealize all sorts of ways to rid the world of its problems; Marxism, Fascism, Nazism, Stalinism, Communism, Socialism, Capitalism, etc.; but only capitalism, while not 'perfect', has succeeded in providing the highest standard of living for the greatest number in the society and without killing millions in the process of 'reeducation'. Yes, we have problems, but so what. Does one really expect to have a world without problems of hunger and poverty? I don't think it will ever happen because we are humans, not insects, and as such are susceptible to human weaknesses.
Also keep in mind that $1750 in different parts of the world is only relevant to that part of the world-not the U.S. Many Americans, before hostilities broke out, would retire to Yugoslavia because a couple could have a very nice dinner in a fancy restaurant for $10.00. Keep in mind too that several recent studies show the 'poor' in this country have, on average, an 'owned' (as opposed to rented) home, more than one TV set, more than one car, VCRs, cell phones, etc. ad nauseum. A 'poor' person in this country can qualify for benefits far outweighing the incomes of the 'middle class' of many other prosperous countries.
Something else too. I've helped feed people in shelters in L.A. and I think it absolutely necessary to feed those who don't work, don't want to work, are drug addicts, alcoholics, etc. No one should have to starve in this country. Food is cheap. As a matter of fact no one has to starve if they are at least willing to go the many thousands of centers giving out food. There was another study citing the fact that no one person has to starve in this country unless they go out of their way to do so. There are places in almost every part of the country where one can find free food-and not in dumpsters either. We can't go out and force these people to come get their free food.
Yet many of those countries managed to have limited universal health care and educational standards better than in many of our schools.
We have 'limited' universal health care. It's called MediCal. Everyone, and I mean everyone, in this country qualifies for free medical care. O.K. so it's not liver and heart transplants but our 'limited' universal health care is at least as good or better than almost all other countries with same. Every child in this country, for many years now, can get free immunizations. We just can't get the parent(s) to take their children in to get them.
Education...now that's a real can of worms and one which could be debated for hours. Again it's not about throwing money at it. That's what irks me, BTW, about many 'liberal' programs. It's the 'let's throw lots of money at the problem and it'll go away' syndrome. We as a country spend more money per student than virtually anywhere else in the world and have third world aptitudes. It's not the money, it's the fundamentals and principles of teaching that have to come back into the classroom-like they do in other less fortunate countries.
A prison system that's packed with the highest population of prisoners in the world...
To some extent I agree. If we let out many of the drug use offenders the population would decrease dramatically. I am of the opinion of legalizing most drugs, but that's another issue. Another reason for packed prisons is the lack of fathers due to the high rate of illegitimacy (much research to support this), a highly varied culture and society as compared to almost any other country, and many other reasons. It doesn't mean we are an overly oppressive country by any means.
For the most part it was the poor who gave and the well to do who hurried by with nothing but their own poverty and expensive gifts on their mind.
Has it occurred to you that many of the rich, both liberals and conservative, are both stingy (Hell, Gore declared, what, $200 in donations on his last tax return?) and generous. Just because you don't see the rich throw in something for the Salvation Army doesn't mean they don't contribute. I'll bet you wouldn't see Bill Gates throw in something but he gives millions to universities and other charities as do many other 'rich' people. Do you really expect a brief stop at a Salvation Army bucket to be reflective of giving as a whole?
Sorry for going on so long. I disagree with so many of your premises. Many many of the liberal solutions have been and are still being tried with little success. Let's try some new ideas from a conservative perspective for a change-why not? Contrary to liberal beliefs conservatives wish for a better country for everyone, not just the rich, too. We just think there are better ideas to achieve these ends than what has been tried for the last 40 or so years.
halfscot |
