Pamela Taylor writes, in part... > Sometimes people have to depend on governmental > sources due to unforeseen circumstances in ones life. > Yes, in some instances, money is available, but > accessing it is quite a hassle. >
(MH)True enough, life is full of unknowns and unexpected events. It's good to have savings and/or a social safety-net of some type in place for when emergencies hit any of us. And, yes, I agree with Pamela-- accessing money is often a hassle in life-- whether we are working for it or simply standing in the proverbial line for an entitlement handout/subsidy! Given all our recent discussion of education-related issues on this list, I can't help but wonder what today's high school drop-outs, those 16, 17 and 18 year olds who can't read, write, or do basic math adequately, expect in their lives? How much public money and support services will they be entitled to over the course of their lives due to their (and their parent/guardians) poor decisions made today? Their unwillingness to invest the time today (attending school and working to learn) that is needed to help assure long term success in life, carries consequences-- individual and societal. What of their children and their children's children? Where does the irresponsibility end? How much freedom and choice, and entitlement-based subsidy is justified as reward for such oft-repeated, irresponsible decision making? When will that circle be broken? Pamela Taylor continues, > We all need to simply work towards developing systems > that empower people instead of fat cat systems that > continually demean them. I suggest that public systems don't empower people. People empower themselves by learning to take responsibility in their own lives; by taking responsibility for the consequences of their own decisions and their life choices. I believe these concepts are still taught in our schools-- that we take the time and make the effort to learn, in the hope that we may improve our lives and the lives of those around us in the future. It's too bad half the students seem to drop out before learning the lesson. It is also a concept (in addition to reading, etc.) that should be taught and fostered in the home; alas, too often it is not! And, fat cats have little-to-nothing to do with it! Michael Hohmann 13th Ward > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of > Pamela Taylor > Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2001 10:20 AM > To: Victoria Heller; Mpls Forum > Subject: Re: [Mpls] Affordable housing.....freedom of choice > > > Victoria, > > Sometimes people have to depend on governmental > sources due to unforeseen circumstances in ones life. > Yes, in some instances, money is available, but > accessing it is quite a hassle. > > You are right, most of the welfare dollar goes to the > government officials, with an almost minute portion of > each dollar going to welfare recipients. This country > has made it hard to wean yourself off of the dole that > they have given you, and then turns around and blames > you for being dependent. I got off, but could have > done so much sooner if the system had been structured > differently. > > Once off, I worked, and my TAX dollars go to support > other recipients just like yours. I don't like seeing > my tax money go to support a whole lot of stuff the > government has on their docket. I especially do not > like supporting fat cat politicians, but what choice > do I have? snip > > We all need to simply work towards developing systems > that empower people instead of fat cat systems that > continually demean them. And cast not stones from > glass houses. > > Have a nice day. > > Pamela Taylor snip > > --- Victoria Heller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > Freedom of choice, especially in housing, is my wish > > for all people. That > > can only happen for those who have their own source > > of income. Depending on > > "anyone else" for money, puts one at his or her > > mercy. It's like making a > > deal with the devil. Once dependent, freedom is > > gone and it becomes more > > and more difficult to escape. > > > > There is plenty of money in this Country to help > > anyone who needs help on > > his or her road to independence. Unfortunately, > > most of the money is eaten > > up by monstrous government bureaucracies before it > > ever gets to the people > > who need it. > > > > Keep in mind that the government doesn't have its > > own money. It simply > > takes it from one group and gives it to another > > group. The people we elect > > get to decide who gives and who gets... snip > > > > Victoria Heller > > Born at 14th & Chicago (Elliot Park), 1949 > > Minneapolis resident until 1990 > > St. Paul resident since then > > Continuing Minneapolis property owner snip _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
