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.”
