Wow....

[wvjules]

Are we, as Americans, that selfish that we don't want our taxes to go up slightly to help the less fortunate?

I'm just shaking my head at how selfish we seem to be as a whole. (Not pointing to any individual poster.)

I've been the one receiving Medicaid, getting EITC, even got food stamps briefly. Fortunately I'm no longer in that situation anymore. However, I have NO problem with my taxes going to social programs to help the less fortunate. Sure there are going ot be people that abuse the system, but should all less fortunate suffer b/c of a few bad apples.

I'm truely perplexed at how selfish we have become, or maybe always have been.

I'm rambling....anyway

 

[Christine]

I understand your feelings.

I've been lucky to never need assistance, have had pretty good health insurance (paid for by my DH's employer) and I'm shocked at home many people are freaking out over their own little utopia being shaken. And to go get all political on you--how can we spend billions on weapon building to make another country a better place, yet begrudge our own citizens care?

 

[JennyMominRI]

Are we, as Americans, that selfish that we don't want our taxes to go up slightly to help the less fortunate?

I'm just shaking my head at how selfish we seem to be as a whole. (Not pointing to any individual poster.)

I've been the one receiving Medicaid, getting EITC, even got food stamps briefly. Fortunately I'm no longer in that situation anymore. However, I have NO problem with my taxes going to social programs to help the less fortunate. Sure there are going ot be people that abuse the system, but should all less fortunate suffer b/c of a few bad apples.

I'm truely perplexed at how selfish we have become, or maybe always have been.

I'm rambling....anyway

I'm with you on this.. I'm not talking as much about welfare, which needs some work but more with health care.. How can we not think it benefits society as a whole for people to have basic preventitive health care.. We understand education is neccessary for the public good but we don't think basic health care is?

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Are we, as Americans, that selfish that we don't want our taxes to go up slightly to help the less fortunate?

I'm just shaking my head at how selfish we seem to be as a whole. (Not pointing to any individual poster.)

I've been the one receiving Medicaid, getting EITC, even got food stamps briefly. Fortunately I'm no longer in that situation anymore. However, I have NO problem with my taxes going to social programs to help the less fortunate. Sure there are going ot be people that abuse the system, but should all less fortunate suffer b/c of a few bad apples.

I'm truely perplexed at how selfish we have become, or maybe always have been.

I'm rambling....anyway

Amen! Keep rambling, you make a lot of sense to me!

 

[liberalmouse]

I understand your feelings.

I've been lucky to never need assistance, have had pretty good health insurance (paid for by my DH's employer) and I'm shocked at home many people are freaking out over their own little utopia being shaken. And to go get all political on you--how can we spend billions on weapon building to make another country a better place, yet begrudge our own citizens care?:confused3

That is exactly the problem with our government. We spend billions fixing everybody else's problems, but we neglect our own.

I don't mind my taxes going up for 'our' citizens, but it has to be a joint effort with the government. This administration has completely ignored the domestic issues.

They need to move at least a few of those billions back over to this side of the pond.

 

[wvjules]

I'm with you on this.. I'm not talking as much about welfare, which needs some work but more with health care.. How can we not think it benefits society as a whole for people to have basic preventitive health care.. We understand education is neccessary for the public good but we don't think basic health care is?

The UHC thread is what prompted this. I just got to rambling and missed my point completely.

Seriously, is the single mom working two jobs not entitled to the same basic healthcare as the Branch Manager at the bank down the road? Yea yea, obviously she made the wrong choices apparently but I feel that as a country we should feel morally obligated to help those less fortunate. Being some that used to be less fortunate may give me a different perspective than someone that has never been there.

 

[rgf207]

I am not going to elaborate because I do not want to start a debate and I do not want to cause conflict but I do not believe our taxes should go up to help the less fortunate.

My Wife and I help the less fortunate when we can but I do not feel I should be forced.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

You just know this thead is going to turn into a huge debate, but I agree with you Jules. I've been fortunate not to need assistance, but I've certainly struggled. When I was young and on my own I was always one paycheck away from needing the food bank and someone's couch to crash on.

I believe that the common good is the most important thing. If I, who can afford to help, complain about my money going to feed or care for someone else how dare I call myself a decent human being?

 

[Tinks]

I haven't read the replies yet but I look at it this way: it isn't that we, as Americans, are selfish and begrudge care to everyone. I want some kind of universal care. I just do NOT want the government anywhere near it. In my world there would be no insurance companies. They've ruined our health care system to the point that I don't believe there is a good answer anymore.

 

[CheshireVal]

Honestly, I don't want my taxes to be raised for this. I would like to see my current tax dollars redistributed to help with healthcare.

But if I have to pay any more taxes, *I'll* be the one needing assistance, and that's not fair.

 

[Art Vandalay]

Ok, I'll jump into the fire

Is it selfish of me to expect the fruits of my labor to be... well... mine? If it is, then call me selfish. Is it selfish of me to expect people to take responsibility for their own lives? If it is, then call me selfish. Is it selfish of me to expect people to live with the consequences of their decisions? If it is, then call me selfish.

From my perspective, expecting others to take care of me is far more selfish.

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. "

-- Thomas Jefferson

 

[freckles and boo]

A lot of people start to scream "Socialism!!!" when we talk about taking care of people who need help in this country. As if driving on tax funded roads and using tax funded libraries and attending tax funded schools are anything other than some form of acceptable socialism. It is part of our responsibility as a civilized society to care for our poor and our disabled and our hungry. Private enterprise and faith-based charities are not equipped to do it all and their motives are often not consistent with the freedoms and principles of our country. Certain things just should not be at the mercy of the the free market or religious organizations.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm with you on this.. I'm not talking as much about welfare, which needs some work but more with health care.. How can we not think it benefits society as a whole for people to have basic preventitive health care.. We understand education is neccessary for the public good but we don't think basic health care is?

I don't know how anyone cannot see that if EVERYONE has good preventative health care, we will SAVE on the catastrophic care we currently have to pay for!

I think it's because too many people know first hand about cases of fraud and abuse. I know I've got people in my own family who have learned how to "work the system" so they can get paid for doing nothing. It makes me crazy, but not crazy enough to want to deny benefits to those that deserve them.

Also, having worked with people in the system, I know that many of these programs are in serious need of reform. Our church was working with a single mother who really wanted to work, but if she worked full time, she would lose her benefits and the kind of job she could get wouldn't pay enough to cover that loss. That takes away the incentive to work!!

don't get me started on education-we are so NOT getting what we pay for there.

I think if people had more faith in the systems that exist, they might be more willing to pay for additional ones.

 

[NewJersey]

Honestly, I don't want my taxes to be raised for this. I would like to see my current tax dollars redistributed to help with healthcare.

But if I have to pay any more taxes, *I'll* be the one needing assistance, and that's not fair.

I agree 100%. Stop the waste in Washington and that will free up a load of tax dollars, without having to raise taxes.

 

[pearlieq]

I agree wholeheartedly in spirit, but have mixed feelings in practice.

My concern is the waste and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars. DH works in local government and I see appalling waste every day. I'm not convinced more money is the solution, but redistribution and accountability sure could be.

I'd be happy to contriubte more to solving social problems, I just sure as heck don't want our government managing it--there are too many greedy, incompetent bozos for it to ever work.

 

[rgf207]

Ok, I'll jump into the fire

Is it selfish of me to expect the fruits of my labor to be... well... mine? If it is, then call me selfish. Is it selfish of me to expect people to take responsibility for their own lives? If it is, then call me selfish. Is it selfish of me to expect people to live with the consequences of their decisions? If it is, then call me selfish.

From my perspective, expecting others to take care of me is far more selfish.

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. "

-- Thomas Jefferson

I 100% agree with this statement

 

[DVCLiz]

I am not going to elaborate because I do not want to start a debate and I do not want to cause conflict but I do not believe our taxes should go up to help the less fortunate.

My Wife and I help the less fortunate when we can but I do not feel I should be forced.

The problem with this is that there's a point at which a significant part of the population still doesn't get help, unless the government or some over-reaching body steps in and mandates it. It's great to help when you can but it doens't solve the problem.

I don't see it so much as a raising of my taxes as I do a reallocation of resources. We could just as easily stop funding some middle class benefit in order to provide tax revenue for health care. For example, we could stop federal funding of libraries, museums, and all arts programs in order to make sure all citizens receive health care. Then, people who didn't have those services could rely on people like you to say, "I'll buy a library book when I can, but I don't think my taxes should be raised in order to pay for libraries." You could substitute any other issue - roads, subsidies to farmers, etc - whatever the government already buys with those kinds of dollars.

Personally, I'm glad to pay my share of more taxes in order to make sure everyone has access to quality health care. And I don't see another logical way to provide it other than government involvement.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'd be happy to contriubte more to solving social problems, I just sure as heck don't want our government managing it--there are too many greedy, incompetent bozos for it to ever work.

For the sake of argument, wouldn't you agree that corporate health care is far greedier? Profit is their only motive.

There's no good answer to this, but something needs to be done. We need to take care of each other.

 

[CEDmom]

Sorry, I'd rather donate money directly to charities that help the less fortunate than have my taxes raised. At least with my donation I know most of the money is going directly to the needs of others but that's doubtful with a tax increase.

BTW, if there wasn't so much waste and corruption by gov't at every level there would be plenty of tax dollars for expanded social programs.

 

[rgf207]

The problem with this is that there's a point at which a significant part of the population still doesn't get help, unless the government or some over-reaching body steps in and mandates it. It's great to help when you can but it doens't solve the problem.

I don't see it so much as a raising of my taxes as I do a reallocation of resources. We could just as easily stop funding some middle class benefit in order to provide tax revenue for health care. For example, we could stop federal funding of libraries, museums, and all arts programs in order to make sure all citizens receive health care. Then, people who didn't have those services could rely on people like you to say, "I'll buy a library book when I can, but I don't think my taxes should be raised in order to pay for libraries." You could substitute any other issue - roads, subsidies to farmers, etc - whatever the government already buys with those kinds of dollars.

Personally, I'm glad to pay my share of more taxes in order to make sure everyone has access to quality health care. And I don't see another logical way to provide it other than government involvement.

I understand your statement but The "Middle Class" benefits don't just benefit the middle class. They benefit everyone. I cannot see the government cutting funding on roads and highways to help healthcare. Maybe healthcare would be better but our transportation would be horrible.

Like a previous poster said, I work extremely hard to earn a living and provide my family with what we have and I do not believe I should be forced to pay for someone who has made very poor life decisions.