Forum Post: When need becomes want
Posted 12 years ago on Dec. 29, 2012, 11:42 a.m. EST by highlander
(-163)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
I hope you all had a merry christmas, hannakah, dwanza or whatever you celebrate at this time of year.
At this time every year, a few might look at what they receive and wish they got more. My oldest daughter did. Amid our talking, she mentioned that she didn't need a new gaming system.
That got me thinking. What does one really need? There are calls for a living wage. There are mentionings about a millionaire only needing a small percentage of their millions. But who dictates what a person needs and by what standards do they dictate what is a need?
In light of the looming debt and budget deficit, this becomes a vital question. A person needs, basically, food, shelter, and clothing.
Yes, that is very, very spartan, but, in essence, that is it; millions in developing countries would be happy with that.
Does an individual need a TV? How about a new vehicle? When the government is footing the bill, these are legitimate concerns.
When one talks about Entitlement reform, lets start with the premise that it is not the government's place to dictate what is a need or a want. What about putting government assistance back to the basics; enough to help them get back on their feet. The key is to make government assistance less desirable than making your own way and earning money to buy what you want.
This is just a basic idea.
Any opinions?
At this time every year, a few might look at what they receive and wish they got more.
Ya, like Vicki Shenefield or 1.5 million of these folks.
Ya, here is my opinion: I find you and your ilk revolting. You go after those with the least amount of power because you A) profit from it or B) lack the cajones. I'm thinkin' it's a little from column A and a little from column B.
Why is it that we never see you and your merry band of thugs go after for profit schools and the 90/10 rule?
Why is it that we never see you and your merry band of thugs go after poverty pimps like these ? Nothing like this is going/has gone on in your neck of the woods?
Heaven forbid that you get off your ass and fight or do the right thing.
Actually, I am. I am working and paying my own way through this world. I am not bemoaning what I have and I am continuously striving to learn more and, more importantly, earn more. I cannot think of anything more right to do.
Whoaaah! What machismo! By all means, that explains the why and therefore behind your continued attacks on those that hold the least power.
Pull your head out of your ass and get in the game.
I am not making any attacks on those less fortunate. What I am attacking, and will continue to attack, is the idea and the pending reality of this nation turning into a welfare state. I lay no claim to anything great. I just hope that what I am doing in the future will not go from the ordinary to the extraordinary
Yes, you are making attacks on those that hold the least amount of power and you are doing it because you are afraid of going up against the poverty pimps or you are getting paid to represent their interests. You are so focused on what you deem the morality of the welfare state that you are willing to allow those that profit from it to siphon out the cash.
Pending? Gone after Gates, have you? Gone after H-1B visas, have you? How about faux privatization?
You have no morals. NONE.
Again, I am not. A proper, ethical, streamlined assistance program should be designed as a TEMPORARY measure, with future effort going into voc rehab, job training, etc. The unfortunate folk like that lady in Juneau can use more help as long as it helps them forward. And the folks who look at the entitlement program as just so much gravy to be skimmed off the top need to be prosecuted.
Oh but, you are. In fact, you just superficially dismissed it and did so without recognizing that your proper, ethical, streamlined assistance program isn't working because you are defending the poverty pimps.
A proper, ethical, streamlined assistance program should be designed
Oh, you mean like the FBOs job assistance programs which excel at underemployment and jobs with zero benefits? Wanna take a guess how much of our tax dollars at the Federal/State and local levels go to these turkeys for "social services"? Are they a little too powerful for you? I mean, if they are too big for you then how the hell are you going to take on vocational rehab................like you know.......Kaplan and the 90/10 rule?
The POWERLESS woman in Alaska. First thing that the homeless person loses is their paperwork often by theft. Birth certificate and social security card or any important paperwork is usually gone. But, let's say that she does have that and goes to apply for a drivers license.
Many states have changed the requirements and must show three documents that show proof of residence. 'Cept you don't have a residence and there are those states that do not accept homeless shelter addresses. But, that's ok because she is epileptic.
You sure did nail those brown folks that have been scurrying across the border lining up at DMVs across 'Merica though, huh?
Just for the lulz what are the requirements for a driver license in Alaska for those with epilepsy? http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/resources/drivingandtravel.cfm
So, let's say that she has had several seizures within the last six months that could have been prevented with medication. 'Cept she's homeless and cannot afford the medication. This probably means that she has been to the ER many times where they have overcharged any available funds for simply presenting herself. This is usually done by religious affiliated hospitals that don't pay property taxes because they get to pick and choose who get's what charity. One would think that she qualifies for that charity but if I was a betting woman-those hospital visits were paid for by tax payers. Like they do.
But let's say that you can get her paperwork, get her into the shelter, get her medication and it is time to seek employment. She is going to have a tough time getting hired because employers see her as a liability AND she has no history AND she has been homeless AND she has no skillz.
Now, let's address the dicknose post:
[-] -2 points by aville (-44) 20 minutes ago How about those "free " obama phones that the american taxpayers pay for. Why should a "free" car be provided by the govt ( taxpayers)? ↥twinkle ↧stinkle reply permalink
What dicknose doesn't get is that the phone allows for contact from a possible employer. This is very important because most phones that used to be on the street are now gone.
Another thing that dicknose fails to get is that if there is no public transportation then vehicles are necessary to maintain or find employment. Unless of course you are epileptic and can't drive AND there is no public transportation.
Listen, we have different populations with different needs. A few of those people are going to be on it the rest of their lives. Get over it. Your one size fits all shit doesn't get it. Further more, you could have devoted any amount of time to any section of that little process described above. You go after those with the least amount of power because you A) profit from it or B) lack the cajones.
I feel I must point out that those 'free Obama phones' did not originate with Obama, but rather with Ronald Reagan, the cell phones are an update of an 1980's program.
There are direct and brutal ways to attack the powerless. I am not looking to attack anyone. To give a person with no means to earn a living and a means to earn an income is to give them power that they would not have if they continue to be dependent of the dole. I cannot begin to guess how many millions in this nation are is a state of helplessness. Of course a few of them will not be able to obtain independence. I am no idiot. But those who can work and have the ability, we can teach them, give them means to a vocation, and the saved money can repay our national debt and provide better care for those who cannot provide for themselves. You talk of noble deeds, but how in hell will you pay for them. Wait, I know, keep taking from the rich and throwing down that endless hole that is the current government entitlement system. I wonder how much you make. Because the wealthy, evil, stinking 1% as you call them, probably will not just sit around and let their money be taken. When they are gone, perhaps you will be counted one the wealthy, then you can do, what I imagine, is your calling. I work in a job as a health care provider where I help other people. In the process, I make good money. A fair portion goes to taxes and the remainder goes into one of 2 places. The one is the consumer pool that helps the economy at large. The second is to my retirement which in turn provides capital for the companies whose stocks I own. I will grant it they will not put my face on a bill of currency, but I intend on leaving no bill the the government (the people) to pay.
You talk of noble deeds, but how in hell will you pay for them.
By taking the money that you are taking out now and using it for the people. You know, for those people that aren't bankers and are not responsible for that fucking debt. It isn't that hard. It's my money too.
You don't need to know what I make-asshole. What you do need to know is that every day that I walk in---it isn't about how much money YOU make. I am aware that the person that I see is somebodies mother, father, brother, son, daughter, etc. and I treat everyone as if they were my own. In the middle of shit-you want that. That's ok. I continue to do this because I still believe that you are worth a fuck.
If you think I am still worth a fuck, I would like 50 dollar amazon gift card, a 1-pound bag of skittles, the 2013-14 Lexicon drug guide for pharmacists, and something a little more specific regarding paying for the entitlement programs other that your brand of liberalistic vitriol
Mr. Low information Voter-are new aircraft carriers necessary given our current technology?
Lancet article is unavailable.
Regarding Peachcare - that is necessary. You saw the deficits in the article. A private insurance payer, such as myself, has on average seen a monthly premium increase of about 150% in 5 years. And I am healthy with no underlying conditions. By the way, what good are details when the blueprint is uncertain? The rich are to pay, how much? who decides? The balanced solution is a combo of a broader tax bases plus cuts in the budget? During all the the claptrap regarding the cliff, the only utterance of cuts was in the 9th and 10th year. So, as is clear, while the foundation is being bickered over, details do not mean that much.
Recent shortages of critical drugs in the USA have hampered patient care and attracted much media attention. Sharmila Devi examines the problems with America's drug supply. Severe shortages of drugs such as sterile injectables that have forced physicians in the USA to practise medicine from crisis to crisis are likely to continue for several more years, say regulators and health-care providers. Around 280 drugs, almost all manufactured in the USA, remain in short supply because of factors including a dwindling number of makers of some drugs, deteriorating conditions in factories, and low prices for generics leading to a lack of investment to upgrade plants. The shortages have led to delays in surgery and cancer treatments, left patients in pain, and forced hospitals to prescribe less effective treatment, said a review by the Associated Press late last year. At least 15 deaths in 15 months were blamed on the shortages, according to data compiled by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a patient safety group, and the true number might be higher because many deaths and injuries caused by shortages go unreported. “We don't have any expectation the issue will be resolved soon”, Sandra Kweder, deputy director of the Food and Drug Administration's Office of New Drugs, told The Lancet. “It will be several years before companies building new plants get them up and running.”
The FDA is at the forefront of an increasingly complex battle to ensure the USA retains access to critical drugs. President Barack Obama issued an executive order in October, 2011, requiring drug companies to report to the federal agency when critical supplies were threatened. Meanwhile, new legislation that would make it mandatory for companies to notify the FDA of a wider range of supply problems and give it extra powers languishes in Congress. Last month, the FDA stepped in to resolve shortages of two cancer drugs that threatened thousands of patients—methotrexate, used to combat lymphoblastic leukaemia, and doxorubicin, sold under the trade name Doxil, used to treat ovarian cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma related to HIV/AIDS, and multiple myeloma. The naturally emotive story of children and adult cancer patients facing increased suffering because of a shortage of these drugs led to much media coverage in the USA. “It's easier to interview a cancer patient than someone whose operation took longer because of the lack of pain relief”, Erin Fox, manager of the University of Utah Drug Information Service that tracks shortages, told The Lancet. “It looks like US manufacturing is crumbling but I hope that's not the case. The hardest part is fixing factories and we keep seeing the same companies having problems over and over again”, she said. “We end up with band-aid fixes and we don't really know what it will take to refurbish them while there is a real impact on hospitals and patients.” Kweder confirmed that problems maintaining quality at factories was the most common factor behind drug shortages. A smaller number of companies had reported difficulty in sourcing active pharmaceutical ingredients, and had decided to produce one drug at the expense of another, or made the decision to cease production of a particular drug, she said. The highly specialised manufacturer of sterile injectables meant more things could go wrong with them and they did, she said, but problems with other pharmaceutical drugs and supplies have also been reported. In the past year, the Drug Information Service alerted its pharmacist members to problems including particulate matter in indomethacin, used to treat congenital heart defects in infants; particulates in dexamethasone sodium phosphate injections, used in the treatment of cancer; and particles found in Argatroban, a type of blood thinner. According to the Drug Information Service's data, the number of new national drug shortages rose to 267 in 2011 from 70 in 2006. “Companies have been trying to address quality issues for years in many cases and they often reach a point where they feel they have no choice but to close down to make repairs”, said Kweder. Obama's executive order expanded the scope of mandatory reporting to the FDA to include manufacturers that were the sole source of a drug in the USA and were experiencing substantial disruptions. The FDA has also increased the number of staff in its Drug Shortage Programme. In 2011, the FDA helped to prevent shortages of 195 drugs, including 86 drugs produced by one company, the federal agency said in its recent guidance report. Drug companies, like any other commercial enterprise, had been unwilling to publicise any information that might give their competitors an edge. “Companies said they didn't want to air their dirty laundry to the FDA and their competitors”, said Kweder. “All these companies operate in their own little production worlds and talk to us but not to each other. There's no requirement for the FDA to do any of this, nothing in the statutes or public health service act but we're in a unique position to have information and context to solve the problems.” The FDA strove to work with companies, such as fast-tracking regulation for new facilities or sources of active ingredients, and to uphold the strictest confidentiality although companies had their “own ways to find out”, who was struggling, she said. Last month, the agency also issued lengthy guidelines for drug companies to follow when the manufacture of critical medicines was under threat. In the case of Doxil, the FDA allowed the shipment of Lipodox, a similar drug made in India by Sun Pharma Global whose laboratories had already been inspected by the FDA. The drug company Hospira was allowed to import methotrexate from its plant in Australia while the FDA speed up the approval of APP Pharmaceuticals to manufacture the drug. But imports of such drugs were not a long-term solution because other countries sought to ensure enough supply for their domestic markets and the USA needed to do the same, said Fox of the Drug Information Service. “FDA, our pharmacists, physicians, and manufacturers have cobbled together patches but we cannot continue to practise medicine from crisis to crisis”, Michael Link, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, said after the FDA acted to avert the shortages of Doxil and methotrexate in February. More recently, he told The Lancet that despite active lobbying by his society and other health-care professional groupings, Congress had yet to pass legislation designed to address drug shortages. “We are doing our best to keep the issue alive and are lighting fires and working to get supplies and encourage further investment in durable solutions”, he said. He believed the economics of generic drugs, whose prices were kept low in part because of wholesale buying by federal programmes such as Medicare, were one of causes of drug shortages. “In the UK, generics are priced higher and there aren't the same kind of shortages”, he said. “Here, generics are priced so low that it's difficult to make money on them. It's hard for companies to see an incentive to spend millions to fix the problem. But we don't really know what's going on behind the scenes at companies. “We need to get to the bottom of the problem and find out if it is economics. We believe it must be part of it. We'd like Congress to carry out a full investigation as to why we're having such problems now and why is it so extensive as well as to legislate remedies.” Arnold Berry, vice-president for scientific affairs at the American Society of Anesthesiologists, said he supported providing incentives for drug makers. “Drug manufacturers participate in a free-market economy and there should be consideration of incentives for companies to produce the generic drugs which have a low profit margin”, he told The Lancet. “Throughout my career, there have always been periodic shortages of drugs but the number of current shortages is unprecedented.” Legislation would also help to address the issue of the grey market in which hospitals buy from secondary suppliers at big mark-ups. Just over half of the 549 US hospitals responding to a survey last summer by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices said they had purchased one or more prescription drugs from companies other than their normal wholesalers. Most also said they had been forced to do so more recently and 7% reported side-effects or other problems with those drugs.
“Some distributors take advantage of looming shortages by hoarding and selling at substantial mark-ups, usurious mark-ups, putting patients' lives at risk”, said Link. Berry pointed to a survey undertaken by his society last year of 1373 anaesthesiologists that found 90% of respondents were then experiencing at least one drug shortage. These shortages resulted in a less optimum outcome for a patient (for example post-op nausea and vomiting) 49% of the time. “We need to continue to work collaboratively with the FDA and relevant stakeholders to think outside of the box for solutions to supply critical medications in shortage”, said Berry. “With more advanced notification of shortages, physicians can make informed decisions for alternative plans on how to treat patients and manage existing supplies of the drug that is in limited supply.”
Interesting article. This is one of a multitude of problems that this country has to deal with
Sign the petition, then? http://occupywallst.org/forum/east-coast-ports-strike-looms-feb-6-deadline/
Ah. A Rush fan!! A ditto head!!
What needs to happen is an across the board cut, defense, entitlement, education, discretionary. We need to make better use of the money that the government brings in through tax revenues.
I asked a question. Do you have an answer?
oops, hit the wrong button - response is below your comment about how I cannot manage to identify that which should be cut.
I guess you are probably tired of this white male rural right winger asking questions.......so here is another one. The argument against a flat tax is that it proportionally affects the low income population. Well, the rich, by the simple fact that they are rich, will pay proportionately more taxes.
Low income familiies will be "disproportionately affected" by every facet of their budget from food to rent? Would you have the rich pay the rent for the poor? Will I be forbidden to buy a 4 bedroom house until every person with a pulse has a 3 bedroom house? You and you compadres squawk about class warfare. I want to bring everyone into the game; give everyone a stake in it - flat tax rate and budget cuts across the board
Progressive taxes actually work better. We have discussed this repeatedly on this forum. Everybody already has skin in the game as it were. I am not tired of the white male rural right winger asking questions. I am tired of the white male rural right winger not doing ANY research, hon. There is a difference. You have gone straight over the edge into utter nonsense.
Taking a break from making money to ask you another question. What is immoral about an across the board budget cut? It is not fair to ask health and human services, for example, to take the bulk of the cuts while defence takes no cut. Along the same lines, it would not be fair to ask defence to take the bulk of the cuts while health and human services continues to grow.
Highlander, you can't manage to identify that which should be cut. You speak in broad categories but have not done a lick of research. THAT is the problem.
[-] 1 points by highlander (-55) 0 minutes ago The detail men are in the departments themselves (defense, interior, education, etc). I believe, not with faith, but with my copious amounts of nonfiction reading, that a 5% cut across the board is doable. This is an area to brainstorm: Military - streamline the arsenal. Will it be possible to stay fully armed by focusing strictly on a limited number of military models? I think of the mistake of Germany during WWII with their polyglot of tank and plane designs Health and Human Services - Cut the coverage on brand name drugs when there are 2 or more generics in the same drug class that will do the same thing Justice - Quit wasting money on redundant laws - a murder is murder; not murder AND a hate crime. Save money on federal prosecution Education - to help with benefits; make the teachers and staff pay, say, a 10-15 dollar increase in monthly insurance premiums. Energy - Federal loans to private companies for oil exploration, land lease, et'c. I left my "Nation Fixing for Dummies" next to the toilet. I am certain you have a lot more ideas that I do. The debate on this site and all over the nation is more philosophical; what will be the idealogical direction this country takes? Once that is hashed out, the details will follow ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
You may need to research simple things for medications. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(12)60414-0/fulltext
Most teachers are already paying higher premiums. http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2012/08/state-employees-teachers-face-big-premium-hike/
Streamlining arsenal? REALLY?
No, see if you can keep it all about the ideology than you can pretend that nothing has taken or is taking place. How convenient. Fuck your ideology. It is all about the details.
The detail men are in the departments themselves (defense, interior, education, etc). I believe, not with faith, but with my copious amounts of nonfiction reading, that a 5% cut across the board is doable. This is an area to brainstorm: Military - streamline the arsenal. Will it be possible to stay fully armed by focusing strictly on a limited number of military models? I think of the mistake of Germany during WWII with their polyglot of tank and plane designs Health and Human Services - Cut the coverage on brand name drugs when there are 2 or more generics in the same drug class that will do the same thing Justice - Quit wasting money on redundant laws - a murder is murder; not murder AND a hate crime. Save money on federal prosecution Education - to help with benefits; make the teachers and staff pay, say, a 10-15 dollar increase in monthly insurance premiums. Energy - Federal loans to private companies for oil exploration, land lease, et'c. I left my "Nation Fixing for Dummies" next to the toilet. I am certain you have a lot more ideas that I do. The debate on this site and all over the nation is more philosophical; what will be the idealogical direction this country takes? Once that is hashed out, the details will follow
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Speaking of aircraft carriers. Here is a question. Florida Medicaid has a list of medications that they will cover. Why must Medicaid cover Crestor, which runs 100 dollars a month, when lipitor, zocor, and pravachol all have generics and cost at most a fifth of that?
Make an attempt to do your own research.
I suppose I appreciate you interest in detail. Doesn't amount to much when the budget is $1 trillion in the hole every year. It is sort of like arguing about the song selection on the Titanic when it is sinking.
We currently have 10 active carriers with 3 under contruction. Under the current status of world threats, I imagine that should be enough for now.
Are new aircraft carriers necessary given our current technology?
This has been part of an ongoing discussion and most recently prior to the three. I have to assume that you have not participated or paid attention to that discussion at this point.
Funny-kind of like you haven't paid attention to the homeless, DMV, medical issues that I pointed out earlier. Or the gun shit.
If you spent more time reading and less time running your fucking mouth perhaps you would have something worth listening to.
what do you do? Do you run a think tank? Are you a congessional aide? Are you a state senator? Or an intern? I lay no claim to having the answers, only opinions (which happen to be right). How come I haven't seen you in the news solving the fiscal cliff? Or bringing peace to Syria? Go shave your pits and eat a steak
It isn't your business what I do. Grow the fuck up and do a small amount of research you fucking worthless piece of scum sucking shit.
you really think that all the taxpayer supplied "free" phones people use to find work? delusional.
Absolutely not. There are those that people that are utter douchebags, just like you.
and i thought you had indoor plumbing.
I do. It doesn't change your douchebag status.
you dont. your remarks prove it.
Did you need some Kleenex? You are a dick. You don't get to cry.
Stay on the porch.
JP Morgan makes 4Billion a year off of food stamp program. TPTB dont want them as a safety net. They want it as a way of life.
If you think either party's owners want to see the vision of the people come to life, you are being naive.
a lofty task indeed. We need to talk to these people in the language of money. Make it more profitable to get out of the food stamp racket and invest in companies with workers.
Just curious - can you answer the question why these people have the least amount of power and how to solve that problem.
They are "homeless". How hard is that for you?
From what I understand most "homeless" have a mental issue - and are taken care of but don't want the care. I have read numerous stories about homeless people, vets included, who were receiving a pension and still living on the street because they wantd to.
Now with regard to "non mental homeless" there are jobs out there for them but it's easier for them to do what they do.
Did you know you can live on $10.00 a day living in Section 8 housing receiving welfare from the government. So what gives any of these people the "encouragement" to get off it.
BTW, if they have children they receive lots more money - especially when they have more then one. And their live in boyfirend who frequents by loves it when the check comes in.
How is it your so full of shit? Someone superglue your sphincter?
Well tell me oh wise one - how many times have you visited or worked in "low income housing developments (section 8 housing)", Seeing is believing.
You see a result - you presume to know the cause. Blame the victims of a sick society - it is easy. A lot easier then addressing the illnesses.
Didn't say anything about blame - just commented on what I have experienced -
You can't force people to do what they don't want to do - that issue has been dealt with in the courts.
As far as "a result" there isn't any - people will be what they want to be.
Like I posted previously - a homless man was allowed to find $100,000 in a dumpster in return for a documantry to be written. 2 years later after all the money was spent he was satisfied with living "homeless".
Now if you call this individual "sick" then there are thousands of sick people out there and who is to say it's my job or your job to make them do what they don't want to do.
25 years ago it was all about that.
It hasn't been for over 20 years. I suggest you update.
Well, FYI - 5 years ago it was like that - been there - and it's still like that in a lot of places - Have you ever visited or worked around people who live in Section 8 housing?
Every day.
25 years ago, you had a different population.
Do not fuckin' waste my time. You wanna play? Bring me some shit worth debating.
You know it really says a lot about you when you have to use profanity to get your point across. Why don't you act like a "lady" and try to not let your "emotions" take over your though process.
BTW those people you talk of that were in the system 25 years ago have trained their children to do the same. The only difference is they are older and their children now have children to add to the government burdern.
It says more about you when we watch the number of IDs that occur right before your little ol' name pops up on the screen.
You are an adult. You can handle it. It just pisses you and yours off that I don't respond as you would wish. I'm ok with that.
BTW. those people that you saw on the street 25 years ago would have been vets and the mentally ill that got the last boot under the Reagan era. We have a word for that: deinstitutionalization. Do some fuckin' research and get back to me.
Please enlighten me on your statement "number of IDs that occur right before your little ol' name pops up on the screen.
What the hell are you talking about?
Well Outlaw,
There is no "reply" button below your name to reply. Anyway, what I have noticed is that there is a number associated with your name and looking around - there are those with a thousand plus and those with negative numbers
What that tells me is there is a "click" on this site - they do not allow for "freedom of expresssion". As you have stated when they don't like what is expressed they ban it.
I wouldn't want these people to be in charge for any reason - they have their own agenda when it comes to what they want but to hell with everyone else. That has been proven over and over again.
However, there are those on this site who do engage in civil conversation and it appears they as I have learned from that dialogue.
But there are those who are "one sided" and I guess it goes with the terrority of their living and the way they see life.
They're bullshitting you. They can only track via IP. None of these armchair malcontents know anything besides what's spewed on MSDNC or DialyKos. They moderate/ban anybody who is too effective in countering their Leftist dogmatic babble. They can't handle being called out or having their ego bruised so they ban.
There can only be one highlander!
Living wage! Gov does not foot the bill for wages. Corporate profits are increasing yet wages are less than stagnant. Low wage jobs on the rise, high wage jobs on the decrease. 1% gaining more and 99% losing more. This needs to reverse.
I don't think anyone has suggested tv's for everyone.
how about a safe and dependable vehicle?
Living wage!
How about those "free " obama phones that the american taxpayers pay for. Why should a "free" car be provided by the govt ( taxpayers)?
Public transportation is actually awesome!
You pay for public transportation with your taxes.
You mean it's not magic? Damn. I wanted to believe.
'The key is to make government assistance less desirable than making your own way and earning money to buy what you want. This is just a basic idea. Any opinions?'
Yes. We already have this. It's called the Earned Income Tax Credit. Look it up. btw, Reagan expanded this program. Look it up. While today's Repugnuts want to end it. Look that up too.
When need becomes want. . . those who don't need just want more and more.
the point of the post is to make a clear distinction. government aid and entitlement and a crutch, and aid, for those temporarily down on their luck. I am troubled by that fact that it appears to be a way a life for too many who are capable.
For those individuals with no other option due to physical handicap, etc. the government has a right and just role in assistance. All others who can work need to know tthat a better life is out there, in the private world, where there is no limit to what they can accomplish.
"You are troubled by the fact . . ." yada dada.
I am troubled by the fact that those who have unbelievable surplus wealth that they themselves did little if anything to create, on a continent stolen within the last two centuries, want more and more. . . And More and More! That is the definition of "entitlement."
Your propoganda "talking points" are dead. So is your mind, and your soul. You live in a degenerate daydream.
Your smugness will end in the same place everyone's smugness ends.
the rantings of another cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs kind heart with other people's money.
You sir, are a blatent representative of the 1%. What makes me think that you are only their toy? Woof Woof.
If only I attained the status of the 1% in wealth and productivity.
You don't always need what you want, but you always want what you need.
Henry Thoreau suggested that all a human needs, is to stay warm...which may or may not include all of your list. Sharing conquers the need for government impositions...unfortunately money is an easy vessel to preach 'ownership' and most have believed it to be beneficial if not necessary. Even fewer seem to live a life outside of ownership. If the jump could be made from owning...we might start to see the abundance under our noses
Wants v Needs issue=important for Americans. It is a discussion that the elite and their supporters do not want to take place. Media has been intensely abused for 60 years exploiting instincts to blur the differences preventing Americans from unifying around mutual recognition of needs.
Which, from my reading here about the ART 5 movement, is pretty much what constitutional intent is about.
Or, placing wants over needs is unconstitutional if life is at stake. Lets subject the elite to the results of our discussion on this subject!