Don,


First, I'd just like to make a few clarifications. I, in my zeal, sometimes come across and an "elitist" when I'm really not. I'm sorta kinda jealous of people that have way more than Susu and I do. But that doesn't make me just sit around and whine about them having more and me having less. I think that it sparks my imagination to try and come up with ideas to pull myself up to their level. I see it as a growing opportunity. I have started several businesses and have failed at each one of them. But do I complain that I haven't made it yet? No. I just get up every day and try again. I try to take advantage of the same opportunities that are offered to each and every person in these United States. I'm constantly keeping my eyes open for that one thing or the combination of things that will move me and mine up to the next level. If I never make it then, so be it. I'll be happy and content in knowing that my kids have witnessed me working hard to try and make it better for them and have instilled a sense of work ethic in them that would have, otherwise, not been learned anywhere else. I know that they, too, will grow up to try to make it for them and theirs and take the personal responsibility to make sure that they will make it on their own and not have to depend on the offerings of your kids and grandkids.
Forgive me if I seemed to loop you and Bobert together in the same group that believes that the wealthy should take full responsibility for the poor. By your last post, I see that you believe something way different than Bobert. I, too, believe that if you pay into something then it should be credited to you and not to Joe Blow that lives in the next city.
I'm really glad that something is there, whether it be the ideal plan or not. It's always nice to have that security blanket. But I also think that some people tend to hide behind that security blanket and act as if that's all there is, when it's clear that it's not. I believe that we have to move out of our comfort zone and try new things and take on a little more risk. Get out a live like you were dying, as Tim McGraw sings. This way, the imaginations of ordinary people might be fired up and then a few other things may be solved as well. Such as if more people tried to start a new business, then more and more jobs would be opened up and possibly new and higher paying opportunities for people such as Bobert's friends down in Mississippi to take advantage of.
Now it's true that all people will not try to open their own businesses. It's just not their nature. And there's nothing wrong with that. But they need their opportunities too. Therefore, let's take the government out of a lot of things that they're currently involved in and let the people have control of more of their money. I really do believe that if people had more of their own money in their hands then they would know what to do with it a much better fashion than the politicians in Washington, DC. I have faith in people to do what's in their best interest. Why do so many people want to put their trust in the government to make those decisions for them? I think that it's just been that way for so long that it's now engrained in them.