Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] Where Is the Wealth of Nations?

[Mike Miller <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

On Mon, 15 Oct 2007, Rick wrote:

> On Mon, 2007-10-15 at 14:09 -0500, Mike Miller wrote:
>
> > So you are "living proof" (to use your term), like Clarence Thomas, 
> > that "government handouts" (wasn't that also your term?) can be a great 
> > help to young people who are trying to make something of themselves.
>
> There's a big difference between helping people help themselves 
> (government guaranteed loans) and subsidizing sloth (the current welfare 
> system).

I'm not familiar enough with the current system that I would be able to 
characterize it accurately.  Are you saying that the government currently 
is only giving money to people and not doing things that encourage those 
people to move their lives forward?  My wife is a social worker and I can 
tell you for sure that she and her employer do a lot to help people to 
improve their lived, but those people are all disabled in some way (mental 
illness, brain injury or debilitation due to old age).


> For example, I would totally support an unemployment program that 
> assigned people government jobs and paid them a competitive wage for 
> doing things like picking up trash on the highway. I am completely 
> against ever paying anyone for *not* contributing to society with the 
> exception of farm subsidies that keep us from having another dust bowl.

I think you are basically right in your attitude.  I don't know enough 
about current programs to critique them.  I think there is a huge amount 
of variation from state to state.


> > Now that you've had your government handouts, are you dangerous?  In 
> > what sense has the government made you dangerous?
>
> Yes. You are dangerous to the economy because you are now dead weight 
> that the rest of us have to carry around. When the economy is booming, 
> that's fine (although less than ideal), but when there's no one left to 
> do the carrying, it all collapses in on itself like it did in the 20's.

I'll let Vern respond to your accusation that he is "dead weight" that 
"the rest of us have to carry around."  I think you probably misunderstood 
something.

Mike

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