I work a lot of hours. I work 40+ hours a week at my day job, then I come home to do lawns. Right now, I have 7 customers, but that does rise and fall as people decide to do their own lawn or whatever. Still, I struggle a bit with my bills. I don't go out to eat, I don't buy fancy clothes or new vehicles or whatever. I live reasonably and frugally, choosing my enjoyments for their lasting value and hoping that I spend money responsibly otherwise.
In some ways, I do resent those who live off my taxes. I do resent having to pay more than I would like so that others don't have to work. But, that's just a bit of selfish thinking that creeps in.... momentarily making its way past the understanding that folks need to eat, to have a place to live, heat, water, hope even. In a perfect world, I wouldn't be paying taxes while others aren't. But, in a perfect world, there would be no sickness, poverty, disability, hopelessness. No child would be hungry, cold, afraid. No adult, either.
So, maybe I do resent having my hard earned money go for other things than my simple comfort. But, I gotta tell you, I have a lot more problem having my taxes going to millionaires and dictators, or buying bullets and multi-million dollar killing machines, or other such. Of all of it, having my tax dollars help someone be healthy, helping my very neighbors, seems a great use of that money.
Congresswoman Speier Pleads to Save Food Stamps (by Jackie Speier)
“In my district, California 14, we have about 4,000 families who are on food stamps, but some of my colleagues have thousands and thousands more. Yet, they somehow feel like crusaders, like heroes when they vote to cut food stamps. Some of these same members travel to foreign countries under the guise of official business. They dine at lavish restaurants, eating steak, vodka and even caviar. They receive money to do this. That’s right, they don’t pay out of pocket for these meals.
“Let me give you a few examples: One member was given $127.41 a day for food on his trip to Argentina. He probably had a fair amount of steak.
Another member was given $3,588 for food and lodging during a six-day trip to Russia. He probably drank a fair amount of vodka and probably even had some caviar. That particular member has 21,000 food stamp recipients in his district. One of those people who is on food stamps could live a year on what this congressman spent on food and lodging for six days.
“Another 20 members made a trip to Dublin, Ireland. They got $166 a day for food. These members didn’t pay a dime. They received almost $200 for a single meal only for themselves. Yet, for them the idea of helping fellow Americans spend less than $5 a day makes their skin crawl. The families of veterans, of farmers, of the disabled, of the working poor are not visible to them, not even when they are their own constituents.”
“Let me give you a few examples: One member was given $127.41 a day for food on his trip to Argentina. He probably had a fair amount of steak.
Another member was given $3,588 for food and lodging during a six-day trip to Russia. He probably drank a fair amount of vodka and probably even had some caviar. That particular member has 21,000 food stamp recipients in his district. One of those people who is on food stamps could live a year on what this congressman spent on food and lodging for six days.
“Another 20 members made a trip to Dublin, Ireland. They got $166 a day for food. These members didn’t pay a dime. They received almost $200 for a single meal only for themselves. Yet, for them the idea of helping fellow Americans spend less than $5 a day makes their skin crawl. The families of veterans, of farmers, of the disabled, of the working poor are not visible to them, not even when they are their own constituents.”
3 comments:
Hello Randy. Again you astound me with your ability to care for others.
I think I once told you about our friend Laddie. He was on food stamps. He had Full blown aids. Here is what we had to do.
They gave him forty dollars a month to live on. THe poor guy took cold showers, had no car or other luxuries. In the modern age he had no cell phone, no cable TV and Ron and I bought him a small laptop. He lived in a bad area because that was all he could afford on the disability.
Ron and I would take him grocery shopping...now it would have been cruel to do this on a day we shopped, as we had resources. However we did not want to ruin what dignity he had left. So we would take two carts, and go through the store. We would put a few items in our cart, and mostly we paid attention to him and his needs.
Ron would go with Laddie first through the line and when the items came to more than he had , Ron would pay the difference. Then I would come with our cart and pay our bill.
Then we would take Laddie home...but some how in taking in the grocery bags, well the ones in our cart seemed to end up in his apartment. Guess we can't remember what we bought.
I have seen old, 80 year old ladies cry in the ICU saying they don't know how they are going to pay their deductible. At the same time the doctors treating them have six or seven homes and take month long vacations to places all over the world.
I do not begrudge what a person works for, but I do reject the attitude of wealth superiority. The only ones who can afford to become doctors now are the children of two parents who are doctors.
There is a huge class system coming into being in the USA. A haves against he have nots. I don't get it, most wealth smart people realize it is and has been through history a disaster to have all the wealth concentrated at the top. But sadly it seem we have a politic party who doesn't care and a group of ultra rich who have no clue.
Thank you Randy, please keep posting stuff and fighting the good fight. I find I am discouraged and losing passion, but it is so true the damage being done. You mention that you have to take extra work to make ends meet. Ron also is now taking over time work, as I simply can not. My medical bills are killing us. The fact is I make the same wage now as a licensed professional, that I did in 1990 as a none skilled labor. However my costs have gone way out of range. Then I was able to buy a new home, a new truck, and have money to play with...now we live pay check to pay check..hoping nothing goes wrong.
Hugs and many loves Bro.
Oh Randy I forgot to mention when I worked in the ARMY in Berlin, we often had congress people, their families and staff, fly in on military paid for jets, go shopping and eat at the best restaurants...all paid for by the government, the tax payer. It was a weekly event for some congress person to be coming in to Germany or Berlin.
It was an accepted idea they were owed this perk. Free transportation, for not just them but their entire family, their staff, to go and have a great time over seas at the expense of the Tax payer, you and me...Look up the term junkets....it is a horrible abuse. Hugs
Hi Scottie;
And, perhaps that is the biggest problem. Our leaders believe themselves owed perks and gratuities and have sold themselves so often they just don't understand the concept of "service" anymore.
hugs;
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