[MD] Down the road of mediocrity

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting ARLO J BENSINGER JR <ajb102 at psu.edu>:

> [Arlo]
> Providing for the basic health care needs of all citizens, and ensuring none
> among us go hungry, is hardly creating a "large and growing dependent class".
> Loss of employment, inadequate retraining, income drain to large corporations,
> these all effect the "dependency" more than providing basic health care or
> giving food stamps.

Anyone who has been in the check out line at a grocery store with a food stamp
user in front of him can see how the program provides for a lot more than
"ensuring none go hungry." Food stamp baskets are filled with goodies many
paying customers can't afford. As for "dependency" in general and the effect
of government welfare programs, read the following, commented on by Ant Mc
Watt:

http://www.city-journal.org/html/eon2007-03-22td.html  

> [Platt]
> There was a time in this country when going on welfare was shameful -- as it
> should be.
> 
> [Arlo]
> I'm sure it continues to be for many. But there is no shame in finding oneself
> in a terrible situation. Shame is simply a control word. Maybe what should be
> shameful is the financial and employment drain that generates wealth for the
> rich while sticking it to the working class.

That old socialist saw of envy doesn't work any more. As for shame, you're darn
right its a control word, one used by the social level to combat the forces of
biology. We could use more "shame" control in the culture today, as the rise in
out of wedlock pregnancies testifies.


 

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