History is a story of struggle, people being conquered, land being taken by conquest.
To the victor, go the spoils, those who lost were often killed or enslaved.
At some point, everybody has ancesters that were on the loosing side.
I don't believe anybody is entitled to a handout just because they were born.
I am disabled, have had stage 4 cancer for the last 7 years, and am on chemotherapy most of the time.
I did work real jobs for years, contributed $27,725 to FICA, which My employers matched.
I lost My eligiblity to colect Social Security Disability in the 12 years I lived on My boat and didn't work much.
I am eligible to get Social Security when I am old enough, but I am only 52 now, and most likely will not live that long.
I am not destitute, so I am not eligible for SSI.
So I live cheap and am fortunate to have saved and invested money when I worked a good job.
I am Pensylvania Dutch [does that make Me a minority?] and did grow up with a strong work ethic, and a belief that You pay Your own way.
The Govt. can only give out what it takes away from someone else, so there is no way We can all be on the dole all the time.
If I had kids, I would teach them that they must be able to support themselves, as Our Govt. is about out of money and can not be trusted for support.
The more social aid [welfare, food stamps, etc.] that is offered, the more people will rely on and expect it.
You may have seen the following before, it sounds like a step in the right direction to Me.
A Texan's Answer to Welfare
This was in the Waco Tribune Herald, Waco, TX
"Put me in charge . . ."
Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash for
Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans,
blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away.
If you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.
Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women
Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test
recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and
piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get
tats and piercings, then get a job.
Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks?
You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair. Your
"home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be
inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job
and your own place.
In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week or
you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways of
trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We
will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo
and speakers and put that money toward the “common good..”
Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of
the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules. Before
you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem,"
consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for
doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.
If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least
attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system
rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.
AND While you are on Gov’t subsistence, you can no longer VOTE!
Yes that is correct. For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will
voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov’t
welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job.
I was beginning to think that opening a door for a lady was a lost art. It is amazing the look of gratitude and amazement you will get from a lady with an arm full of whatever and have me open the door for her when wearing leathers. Bikers can and do open doors for ladys, elderly or whomever. Like you, I have tried to pass that on to my two sons. To this day I am proud to say that in the long run I think both will turn out to be a better man that I.
Well put, Richard, I agree whole heartedly!
My father, altho not perfect, was the most honest man I have ever known. I strive, but sometimes fall short, to be the human being he was through his actions and deeds.
"I make my kids go get a wash cloth from the waitress when they make a mess on the table at a restaurant and make them clean up under the table if they drop food on the floor.."
That's funny! When we go out to eat we always stack our plates, put the silverware on the plates and basically "bus" the table before we leave! I noticed my kids are getting into this habit as well. It's funny to look around the place and see destroyed tables then look at ours with nice stacked plates, wiped down table!! Opening doors, yes ma'am, all good points RC
I understand where your coming from. I've never wanted to ask for handouts as you call it and hate asking for help. Loaded a 20ft long railing the other day and before I asked for help(that was offered to me earlier in the week) I tried to figure out how to get it out of the ground by myself and close enough to the edge of the walkway where I could use the skid loader to pick it up and set it on the trailer.
As far as government assistance. Way back when it was designed and intended to give a guy a leg up, a helping hand in times of need. All of us at one point may find ourselves in such a situation. It's why we pay taxes when we are doing well. I don't mind if a person in need gets the assistance the government has set up. The problem I have is these folks that abuse it, buy drugs with their food stamps, stay on welfare, Tenncare(medical) for years with no intentions of changing anything to better their situation. When I was growing up I know we got food stamps at times. Mom worked her tail off, Dad was a sh_tbird and left us when I was small and didn't pay his child support. So, I have no problem that my working Mom, making God only knows what per hour at the restaurant had the chance to get some assistance. As I said though, the one's that abuse the system because they are lazy jackholes should have a good swift kick in the pants.
As far as the Native American, Filipino thing. My kids are Irish/German-Japanese. Keep telling my wife if Japan and Germany ever get fired up again our kids will be the first ones in the internment camps! That is if they are not falling down drunk behind Patty O'Brians Pub!! I've been in this business around here for about 4 years. Been in this area in construction for almost 20. I see how the "good ol' boy" network works. I wanted to build this business on my own, get my contacts, work, everything on my own with no assistance from anybody. After 3 years of struggling I decided that I was going to call on my rich Uncle Sam. As a Disabled Veteran I figured since they offer opportunities that will help me land or at least have a chance at landing some contracts then I might as well use it since I don't know anybody in the business, connections(i.e relatives), you know what I mean. Am I taking a handout? If a person thinks so I'll swap the daily pain I have with them anytime. I still work as hard as the next guy, pay my taxes and so on. Actually played the disabled Vet card two years ago when applying for the Boilermakers job. Did I feel bad, a bit I suppose but it was something I wanted at the time but again, my Uncle, Dad, Brother or somebody was not part of the Union(good ol' boy network) so I needed to pull out all of the stops if I wanted this job. Better watch what I say, somebody might say I'm beating my chest again.
I think what it will come down to CW is how you teach them. In between your "Never accept a handout, or nail them for all he can get" is a point where you can teach them the reponsibility to know the difference in abusing the system and getting a helping hand. If my kids start a small business, sure, I'll tell them to check out the SBA and sign up for the 8A or Hubzone programs. If they are flat busted, husband blows off and leaves them with a child I'll help out as much as I can but if I can only do so much then, food stamps whatever but we're going to do everything we can to get them back on their feet and become a productive member of society again. Once you get back on your feet though, get off the program. I'd say most of this stuff is beyond your sons years but teaching them hard work, responsibility, respect for himself and others is a good start. I don't think anybody taught me directly on how to distinguish between abusing the system and just getting help. Something inside tells me, not sure what but something says, go get a third job, you can squeeze it in somewhere. "These worthless tics on the arse of society would have us believe they are owed simply by virtue of being born." That's where you have to somehow show them the difference. I think there is a lot to be said about kids learning from example. Seeing you in your daily life, picking up on your conversations and your actions will teach them more than you can imagine. If you have a conversation with your wife about the "leaches" they will hear this and one day put two and two together.
That's all I have I guess, don't know if anything helped out or not(you don't have to accept it if it did....or admit it! LoL!!!) Good luck CW and have a good weekend!
Shawn
I thought I was ready for a lot of things, but striking an arc or popping an xray in an IK pass is child's play next to being a parent.
I was trying to teach him how to shoot a bow and arrow the other day, while myself and my wife were down range, he thought it would be funny to shoot one next to his mother. He definitely got a rear impact attitude adjustment for that one.
He carried in a frog a few weeks ago and put it in the kitchen sink. My wife about had a coronary when the frog jumped out of the sink about the time she went over to see what he was doing. Both of us ended up in the proverbial dog house for laughing when it happened.
I have a nasty habit of saying 'well $hit' when something doesn't go right. He's never repeated it until yesterday. We went out with his grandmother to outback. He dropped a piece of food in the floor and said 'well $hit' loud enough to be heard 4 tables away. I got the evil stink eye from both my wife and my mom for that one.
By the same token, he'll work on a problem from school until he gets it. He refuses all help, and gets frustrated when either of us try to help. Projects around the house, work, etc, I have a very hard time accepting help from anyone. He is apparently picking up on that to. I've been working on some UT procedures at home with some reference/mock up blocks, and he's to the point of saying 'there it is!' when I pass over an indication. He thinks its a game apparently.
A year ago I made a guy eat some paint off the hood of car for beating his wife in the walmart parking lot. beating her to the point of a broken jaw and arm. He was in the car with my wife and witnessed this. I really didn't know what else to do other than sit there and watch the guy kill her. His first year in school he beat another kid down for slapping a little girl repeatedly. When he was asked why, he told the teachers that what his daddy does. That was a six week iteration with the school system over that one. His first year in school and he gets a suspension for fighting.
He is absolutely picking up on what dad says and does. That is what worries the hell out of me.
I've passed on a lot of jobs and contracts by not playing the native card or because that job violated my personal ethics/principles. I passed on a relatively free education for the same thing.
None of that information has ever been included in a job app, or loan app. Its made life a lot harder passing on those benefits.
In today's age, following in my footsteps will make his life really hard, for which he's showing every sign of doing.
He's just as hard headed as his old man apparently.
Thanks all for the input.
Regards,
Gerald
Hard isn't always bad.. Its not fun and I don't know of anyone that likes going through hard times but sometimes the hard times is what makes great people..
I am sure there are some out there but I personally don't know of any people that were born with a platinum spoon in there mouth and are able to go through hard times and bounce back.. When they go down they stay down because they don't know how to get back up because they have never been down..
Getting knocked down and being cheated is part of life.. Life isn't fair..!!! Learning how to deal with failure and a disadvantage makes strong people..
What will instill more pride in someone..?? I made a fortune in the lottery and now I never have to work... Or I worked my butt off and built a company that is making me Millions from the ground up..??
People appreciate what they work and fight for.. Things that are given don't hold near the value or instill near the pride..
Now this is all coming from a guy who is a one man band with hopes of running a whole orchestra some day..
I'm scrapping for everything I get.. Is it the right view..?? I don't know but it is the view I have chosen to believe in.. I hope it works out for me.. LOL
Thats my two cents worth..
RC
I'm very proud of who I am. I am surrounded by like minded people, and I love yall for it. Thanks to all who posted for makimg my evening.
I agree Dave, except nowadays some folks think that being on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and paying for Medicare coverage of Parts A,B, & D (Is there a "C"?) is the equivalent of being on welfare, and that just downright pizzes me off!!! These ignoramuses just don't understand the differences between Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI), otherwise known as Welfare and receiving Food stamps for which I'm ineligible for also, since I am paid too much from Social Security Disability Insurance each month to qualify.
Gerald I'm sure it will work out like^^^ that for your family. Our kids will have every opportunity to think and make choices for themselves soon enough. Mine are 15 and 11 and I have to say that I am very proud of each of them. I also realize that they are human and can possibly disappoint, but so far they are shaping up to be really great kids. I also pray they follow the Lord in every thing they do and say. I have to say that they are better examples than I was at their age.
