Unlikely Dems will govern ‘responsibly’
Bill Ritter believes that we need to live up to our part of the social compact, “ ... the covenant that says government exists ... to ensure we take care of seniors, and the disabled, and for those who struggle mightily — whatever the reason.”
Whatever the reason? If I am struggling because I am lazy or stupid or lack ambition or drink too much or have just had an unfortunate life, is Ritter going to take care of me?
“Government has a responsibility ... to improve the quality of their lives.” No, it doesn’t. Government has a responsibility to protect our borders, maintain our infrastructure, enforce our laws and little else.
Ritter also wants to build a “more efficient, innovative government that is careful with your money ... ” How is he going to be more careful with our money when he is taking care of us all, whatever the reason? “We will govern well. We will govern to solve problems. We will govern responsibly.” I sincerely doubt it.
Mike Starr, Thornton
The number one responsibility of government is to increase its size. Citizens' responsibility is to keep it in check. If you, or anyone, are naive enough to think that government cares about the individual that is beyond silly. The masses of ignorant taxpayers are what counts. The politicians, both the Dems and the Repubs, have their own agenda and social restructuring to attend to.
It's wonderful that so many "victims" have been created that can be taken care of by Big Brother. This is in theory and not in practice. The only real solution is to take individual responsibility and vote with your wallet (or purse). But since so many are toiling for a living then they assume that government will take care of them.
Mike, I moved from the Northglenn/Thornton area three years ago. Too many Californians putting too many demands on government is the straw that broke my back. What will it take to get you to move out of that quagmire. Don't move too far East. The New Yorkers have moved as far West at Omaha. Oops!
Posted by Rich on January 25, 2007 11:29 AMWhen deluded conservatives like Mike Starr spout lies like "Government has a responsibility to protect our borders, maintain our infrastructure, enforce our laws and little else" they must be rebutted.
The US Constitution was created "to promote the general welfare." That's a direct quote from our founding document. We could argue about the best way to do it, but Ritter's remarks flow directly from the Constitution. Mike's comments are made-up conservative spin.
Posted by Proud citizen of the reality based community on January 25, 2007 01:02 PMIf only the founding fathers could see the extent to which that line has been bastardized. I suppose I can stop working now since those of you in the "reality based community" are going to support me for the rest of my life. Please show where it is written that I and my fellow productive citizens are obligated to support those who cannot, or choose not, to support themselves. I am only responsible to support myself and my dependents, and no one is obligated to support me.
Posted by Mike on January 25, 2007 01:17 PMNice letter Mike. I agree
Posted by on January 25, 2007 05:14 PMI too agree. I fail to understand why some people think I should bust my rear at work and pay taxes from that income in order to supply welfare with money to supplement some junkies habit.
Posted by Geoff on January 25, 2007 05:32 PMI will give you a true account of where our tax money goes.
I know a woman who is 42. She has never worked a day in her life,She has 2 children by 2 different fathers and gets no child support.She just picked the wrong suckers.She makes $1,800 a month from Social Security.Why does she get Social Security?Before the eligibility requirements were changed her Mother collected SS for her when she was born because the Dr's said she was a little slow and qualified for SS benefits.Her mother did not work but collected SS benefits for each of her children because she could get a Dr' to say they had learning disabilities.The Mother and now the daughter also get food stamps,can go to any food bank to get free food,( which they do regularly though they don't need it) they run up their utilities and get funds for energy assistance.Her children are now 18 and 19 but she won't let them get jobs or job training because she will lose their SS benefits.
She lives with my brother who has a spotty work history but does make income. Though SS doesn' t realize that along with their contribution the household intake just for money from my brother and her SS is anywhere between $4,000-$5,000 per month.Yet she has hidden that income to get food stamps and heating bill money and free food at the food banks.They are living large.
They have all new furniture,a huge screen TV,DVD,every new DVD that comes out,Play Station,XBox,all the games , huge fish tanks,a new car that they have hidden in someone else's name,eat out regularly,high speed internet,Computer with big screen,They have to have high speed internet because she plays games all day and can't wait a extra minute to get online.
All her sisters have babies and collect welfare,all her cousins etc... I think every person in her family are collecting some sort of public assistance.
Here is where it gets interesting.Her daughter now 19 and has the emotional intelligence of a 14 year old,is allowed to get on line on My Space an meet men.Her mother helps her choose the men, They could be 25,30,one was 40 to go on dates with.She lets her spend the night with them and refuses to put her on birth control.She is trying to get her pregnant so she can collect child support and more public assistance.
They have lied on their income tax so they can get the Earned Income Credit using the two kids.
How can one who was classified learning disabled work the system so effectively?Her Mother and all her relatives have used our tax dollars for decades.
In case your wondering, I got fed up with seeing my husbands hard earned money going to these leaches and have reported her to all the proper authorities.She is now being investigated. Enough is Enough!
Posted by on January 26, 2007 07:43 AMWhile I am a dyed-in-the-wool, right-wind, conservative Republican, I have to say it's the ignorant thinking shown here which gives us all a bad name.
Let's say we implement what seems to be the consensus and cut all social programs. Or if you like, let's only cut them for people we deem able to work. No Social Security; no low-income housing; no food stamps or banks; no education support--let's just cut them off entirely so we can keep more of our hard earned money. Sounds like a great Republican plan.
But what happens to these people? Do you honestly expect them to all wake up the next morning bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready to get a job? Do you expect every company they apply to will hire them on the spot? Most likely not to either.
So they end up homeless on the street. Maybe my street. They sit outside our homes and businesses begging for our pennies and food. Hmm, I have a bit more money in my check, but gee, I really hate having to step over them to get into the store to spend my new found dough.
Or they turn to crime or drug dealing. D*mn--I was really thrilled to buy the newest toys with that exra money, but it really bummed me out when I was mugged and had to turn them all over to the homeless theif.
But wait, if they do turn to crime, we can just arrest them and make them disappear. That will work! Except using the figures in the response above, do I really want my taxes to pay the $72,000/year the average prisoner costs the state? Doesn't my fiscal conservitism tell me I'd be better off contributing to the $24,000/year in SS benefits the woman cited above receives instead of the costs to house & feed her in prison?
So I guess to solve the problem, I'll have to become a true Bush-Texan republican. Then we can just kill them and be done with it.
As most conservatives also define themselves as strong Christians, I can tell you where the problem is. Every major religion I know of preaches the need for the individual to reach out and help the less fortunate. How many of you responders tithe the 10% called for in the bible? Only when people of faith pull together to fulfill the mandate our God gave us will government be able to get out of the business of supporting the weakest.
Posted by KP on January 28, 2007 02:45 PMHelping a person or family like the on described in the Jan.26th post at 7:43 is like helping a gang of theives rob banks.What would Jesus say about a den of theives?Help them?Make sure they tithe 10% and it's okay to steal?These people are not weak they are criminals robbing the system that is set up for people in need not greed.
Posted by on January 29, 2007 07:53 AM