<You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom.
What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it. Dr. Adrian Rogers> Naturally, I feel two ways about the above quote - when I was WORKING, I felt a bit peeved about those who were chiseling on welfare, living off my deductions from my paycheck. Now, it doesn't mean that ALL were not due monetary help from the gubmint. Some WEREN'T chiselers, but some were, by hiding income they received in cash or lying about children they didn't have, frex. Now that I'm the disabled one, I'm GLAD I have money coming in from federal benefits. If I wanted to insist that things be fair, Chris would not now be receiving a UK old age pension or housing benefit. He left here to emigrate to Australia when he was still a teen. Therefore, he never paid into the state pension fund from payroll deductions. However, he DID work in Australia as a teacher but is not drawing any pension from that country. He DID work in Canada at various jobs and is drawing a small pension from there. I'm now drawing Social Security after paying into it from my income since 1967. Depending on how long I live, I will get MORE MONEY than I ever paid in. The working people are making those payments to me, filtered by and funneled through the IRS and the Social Security depts. I had the option of contributing to an IRA in those working years and didn't do it - so now we're living only on the SS and pension direct deposits with NO CUSHION whatsoever, no life insurance, only a pittance of an accident insurance policy. I am thinking about this because when we had the pension payment interrupted because we didn't change our address with the Pension Dept after we moved, we were SKINT (in the local vernacular) - in other words, BROKE. It's finally come today, but for several days, we had almost nothing. Yet Chris had to go to London to work on the ballet - he needed bus fare and hostel costs because it costs less to spend the night than paying daily round trip on the bus. So, there again: it's a choice - priorities that EVERYONE must decide. With money in crisis now, bare necessities may even fall through the cracks. It was important that he appear in Le Corsaire so I'm willing to eat noodle soup for £1. That's all I'm saying. Other people would disagree with that. One of the most beautiful freedoms we have is the freedom to spend our money and time as we see fit. Other people may denigrate our choices but it is just that: OUR CHOICES! I suppose this message is a hint to any of you to learn from our mistakes - keep a cushion for yourselves by saving some back from every bit of income you get. My sis told me over and over again that truth - I didn't follow it and now I'm at the disadvantage whereas her and her husband's future is secure for their retirement. It's never too late to turn over a new leaf. So my savings acct is not gonna just sit there and ROT, I'm going to save and let it build UP! Promise, cross my heart! Laurie Ann --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WebTV Dawgs/Dittos" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/WebTV-Pals -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
