I think I’d rather see a system where someone is able to receive MORE than they should, than a system where someone who is DESERVING of assistance is denied. In time… say, two years down the road when investigations uncover wrong doing, it’s easier to recoup losses from someone who took advantage of the system, than it is for us to say to the family of FOUR with NO income:
“Hey… remember that time two years ago, when the head-of-household for your family LOST their job and you were DENIED assistance? Yeah, sorry about that! But here’s a check for all the irreparable damage that caused… unnecessarily.”
I would feel MUCH better knowing everyone who needs it, regardless of race color or creed, has an equal shot at receiving HELP. Rich or Poor, Christian or Atheist… trials and tribulation come to us ALL, and as a GOOD and CHARITABLE nation, we should ALWAYS lend a hand. Because it’s in the BEST INTEREST of the nation-at-large when everyone succeeds. When the community is successful, more individuals can be successful, each dependent upon the OTHER for their continued prosperity…
Some people might even go so far as to suggest that their relationship COULD be classified as symbiotic… but that wouldn’t have been very much fun now, would it?
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It seems to me, the GOP has created the situation they find themselves in today. While BOTH PARTIES have used redistricting in an attempt to secure a political advantage, the Republican Leadership has perfected it. They’ve maximized possible political gain by manipulating the districts through gerrymandering. Now, after DECADES of planning and effort, they’ve managed to reach “critical mass”. By creating Ultra-Conservative districts that will reliably elect Republicans every election, the only thing an incumbent running for re-election has to worry about is a PRIMARY CHALLENGE from within the PARTY.
Political purity now prevails over ALL OTHERS.
The Ultra-Conservative districts have been more than happy to allow this to continue because their districts are often very wealthy, and communities benefit from the TAX REVENUE generated from those large, wealthy, conservative communities… and making sure that Ultra-Conservative Representative gets re-elected for their FOURTH or FIFTH TERM?
“Well now… that just seems to be in EVERYONE’S interest! At least, everyone from around HERE, wouldn’t YOU say?” (… wink.)
As in government, so too in business.
Successful businesses MAKE MONEY… year over year, strength is seen in PROFITS. Higher profits, higher STOCK VALUE, more equity, more BUYING POWER. FLAT numbers create doubt. FALLING numbers create JOB OPENINGS. From this point of view ALONE, it’s understandable why businesses hesitate to SPEND MORE MONEY on quality health coverage for employees, or updating equipment to ensure a SAFE working environment, or hiring more people to ensure compliance with federally mandated rules and regulations, inspections, etc. The BOTTOM LINE becomes more important than the PEOPLE who contributed to the success.
“What makes YOU so special? There’s TWENTY OTHER PEOPLE who’d love to have YOUR job. You know… you don’t HAVE to work here.”
Thereby forcing you into compliance with ___________. Whatever fills in that BLANK. Your financial security becomes their LEVERAGE over ALL of us.
The business sector is starting to get WISE to the situation, though. They’re realizing it does no one any good to continue to devastate the poor and middle classes by paying them a wage that’s BELOW the current standard of living, by NOT offering affordable health care coverage, by NOT paying women EQUAL PAY. Even billionaires like Tom Steyer say they need to be taxed more for the benefit of the nation.
If no one makes enough money to SPEND, then there’s nothing the private sector can DO… starting the cycle down its very predictable path once again. Threatening both businesses AND individuals alike with recession. Sadly, most people aren’t blessed with a GOLDEN PARACHUTE.
Doing the right thing should NOT financially burden businesses. BUT, it is obvious that if we force upon the country a new, legally required, LARGE EXPENSE that was not present BEFORE, our economy would surely contract.
You have to SPEND money in order to MAKE money.
More people with more money in their pockets means MORE DEMAND… GROWTH. Ensuring WOMEN HAVE EQUAL PAY will expand the economy. Therefore, the Federal Government should initially ASSIST the private sector financially. This will ensure businesses don’t have to make a choice between doing what’s right or making a profit.
Our government should be the referee between CONSUMERS and PRODUCERS who’s interests are best served when BOTH SIDES are strong, stable, and SECURE. When ONE SIDE is far superior to the OTHER, it creates IMBALANCE. It should be the role of the United States Government to anticipate these imbalances and ACT before they occur.
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Ensuring SAFETY and SECURITY is vital to our nation’s existence. RIGHT NOW, a lack of personal accountability and mandated safety and security is causing carnage in the form of mass shootings in EVERY STATE, without regard for political affiliations. The Federal Government will NOT be coming to take your guns away because it is REQUIRED of the United States Government to ensure that right continues to EXIST…
So long as THE PEOPLE say it should.
Recklessness and irresponsibility puts our Rights in jeopardy. NO BLAME lies solely with ONE group or entity. NO BLAME lies solely with gun owners. NO BLAME lies solely with gun manufacturers. As well, NO BLAME lies SOLELY with our current legislators, because this problem has been brewing for GENERATIONS. Right now, BLAME only matters if it will help us SOLVE THIS PROBLEM and SAVE LIVES, and at the same time ensure our National Security.
We allowed it to get out of hand because we were LIED TO. We were lulled into a false sense of security about the intentions of the people and entities to which we’ve surrendered the defense of our RIGHTS. They made us believe that GUN MANUFACTURERS and GUN LOBBYING ORGANIZATIONS have the SAME VALUES as American CITIZENS. Individuals… PEOPLE.
Gun manufacturers don’t go to jail for MURDER, but they DO profit from it though… that and ENDLESS WAR. There must be a CLEAR LINE between PRODUCER and CONSUMER, and a CLEAR set of laws specifically designed to hold BOTH SIDES accountable for their actions or inactions… that requires LEGISLATIVE ACTION.
Law and Order. THESE are the tools we use to ensure our security. There’s a reason the Framers wrote that a WELL REGULATED militia is essential to the security of a FREE STATE. They could have simply stated the right to bear arms shall not be infringed, but they knew warfare would advance the methods mankind would employ to secure a strategic military advantage. They also knew our nation would need to defend itself.
These two thoughts are within the SAME SENTANCE.
To overlook ONE HALF in order to argue in support of the OTHER HALF makes no sense, and the discussion that comes from this misguided argument gives rise to a lack of accountability that is killing our CHILDREN. Before this session of Congress, the House had NOT held a hearing on gun violence in 10 YEARS.
The problems we face are not simply BLACK OR WHITE. We can have BOTH safety AND security. We do not have to sacrifice ONE for the OTHER. The influence of DARK MONEY in our system has given rise to legislators that are BEHOLDEN to MONEY that comes from entities that prefer LESS REGULATION, thereby creating legislators who prefer the same. We need leaders who are not in the pocket of gun lobbies and will say NO to their MONEY.
That requires LEADERSHIP to do it right. That will require a selfless devotion to TRUTH, an unbreakable WILL, and a dedication to doing WHAT’S RIGHT instinctually.
I know now… that SEED has always been there, just as it is within EVERY American. I suppose all that was necessary for it to TAKE ROOT was a sufficient amount of FERTILIZER. It’s AMAZING what you can get to GROW out here in KANSAS!
JC
End The Electoral College NOW!! 