Fair

I shared this story a long time ago, and it seems appropriate to share it again.  

My daughter was 10 years at the time.

She came home from school after having gone on a field trip to the high school to see the production department at Buena.  She’d had a blast and really got excited about getting into that program when she starts high school.  The field trip came to select group of class members that had been rewarded for accomplishing a certain grade on a test or something like that.  

When she was telling me about the activities in the classroom before they left for the high school, I couldn’t help but pay close attention.

She explained the kids who weren’t able to go were upset.  She told me how bad she felt that they couldn’t go and further expressed her sympathy for them.  It was at this point I asked her why they couldn’t go.  Without hesitation she answered the question.  They couldn’t go because they didn’t get grade they needed to qualify.  I asked her what she had done to go.  She told me she worked with her group really hard to get an A on the work.  She and her group all wanted to go on the field trip, so they set out to achieve that goal.

I then asked her if she thought it was fair that even though the kids that didn’t do their best should get the same reward as she did for doing her best.  The pause before the answer was magnificent.  She said, “Well no.”  Hmmm.

Even though she agreed that the kids should have to earn their reward, she felt bad for those who didn’t go on the field trip.  Good for her to be sympathetic, but good for her for acknowledging the consequences of actions.

That evening I recounted the conversation with my daughter to my husband.  We are both of the same opinion when it comes to working for what you have.  I was sort of excited for the opportunity to explain work ethic to my daughter.  That conversation has resonated with me more and more since it happened.

The President gave a speech recently about the wealthy paying their “fair share” of taxes.  I need to look no further than Fox News to share some statistics about the taxes being paid by the wealthy.  Of course (because I’d be an idiot to not) I looked up and validated the information being disseminated on Fox.  I find it interesting that the top 1% of earners in this country are paying about 70% of the taxes.  

If I decided to pursue my own gain, and work hard to achieve it, according to our President, I should have to share my earnings with those who don’t work to earn it.  How is that fair?  What are we actually teaching Americans?  What we’re teaching is being rewarded for hard work is bad.  Isn’t that what the American Dream was all about?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying some of our taxes shouldn’t go to aiding those who need it.  I agree there is a responsibility of our government to help those who can’t help themselves.  But therein lies the very issue.  How are we defining that?  What actually constitutes being unable to help one’s self?

I’ve wanted to blog about this for years.  I am going to get this off my chest.

The welfare system is about as worthless as a $3 bill.  I’ve seen first hand the abuse of what was once a good system.  The theory behind the welfare system came during the time of the Great Depression when thousands of people were unable to find work and provide for their families.  The purpose was to use the welfare program as a crutch until things turned around.  Brilliant!  It is now being used as permanent handicap.

If you’d like to see how welfare money is being spent, look no further than your local convenience store near a trailer part or run down part of town.  When I was managing a convenience store 10 years ago, I was astounded at the amount of product being paid for with food stamps.  Time after time I sold Twinkies, soda, chips, and a plethora of other junk food to people using food stamps.  Right after paying for those items, they’d purchase a six pack of beer, a pack of cigarettes, and frequently a bottom shelf liquor with cash.  How unethical is that?  What can I do?  There I was working 16 hours a day, 7 days a week, for $35,000 a year to see the 36% of MY income pay for that.  

There are several examples I could list off that infuriate me.  There are individuals who suffer from mental and physical handicaps that truly cannot work.  Unfortunately they’re not the ones benefitting from the welfare system.  

I wrote a blog a while ago about seeing a woman in a wheel chair being abused by two younger people leaving a grocery store.  The more I thought about that situation, the more disgusted I became.  Obviously what I’m about to say is a massive assumption, but the likelihood of it’s truth is wide.  The woman in the wheel chair probably receives food stamps and all the government assistance she needs.  The two people abusing her are more than likely reaping the benefits.  That woman probably needs them to live.  So, she’s stuck.  It’s grossly unfair.

To expand on the abuse of welfare, think about the medical costs being assumed by states.  Arizona specifically has a major problem with that.  Illegal immigrants are coming over and having their children, thus making them American citizens, all on the taxpayers dime.  I can’t take my son to the doctor without proving I have insurance.  I can’t take my kid to school without providing a birth certificate.  

There are several contributing factors to the deficit in the state of Arizona.  Politics are the biggest.  Schools are being closed.  Classroom sizes have grown by 1/3.  Teachers are working part time jobs at Wal-Mart to make ends meet and still paying out of pocket for supplies in their classrooms.  Hospitals are cutting back staff because of their amount of bills unpaid by patients.  

The point is, the way to fix our economy is to truly correct spending.  I’m no accountant, but I’m thinking if priorities were adjusted we’d suddenly find ourselves with more revenue.  It’s frustrating to see those who have worked hard to build their wealth be called greedy and selfish and to find they are paying the bulk of our nation’s costs.  Maybe it’s my narrow minded conservative thinking that can’t understand why the job creators are the culprits.  

I believe we should work hard and contribute to our society.  Be a good citizen.  Shop locally as often as possible.  Go to work and take active rolls in our children’s lives.  Live within our means.   Obey the laws.  Help others when you can.  I don’t believe creating dependency is the answer.  I don’t believe others should be forced to pay for my life.  What satisfaction would I get from successes of others?  I guess if I’m eating free steak, driving a free car, living in a comfortable house for free or very little cost, I might change my mind.  But since I have a husband who works and makes what Uncle Sam believes to be enough to not qualify for any assistance I don’t see that happening any time soon.   But, also since I don’t qualify for help, we make enough to pay for those who can’t.