All this talk about the deserving or non deserving poor!

Why aren't people looking at business welfare in the form of the tax breaks and other massive government subsidies and asking why this kind of welfare is OK but not the other kind that goes to people who are essentially victims of the American dream (sic)!

What is so hard to understand that the interests of business and the political and religious power elites that support them are NOT evenly remotely aligned with the interests of ordinary people, whether they are working currently or not? If people in the US took this on board the outcome of the next elections could look quite different.

There is nothing revolutionary about this its just stating the bleedin' obvious!

Drug testing people, the victims of changes to the social and economic relationship between the individual and the state whose consequences were NEVER spelt out in black and white before they were voted on and implemented by government is an appalling attack on human rights and basic, common decency...... all those things that the US is supposedly trying to bring to other countries.... at the barrel of a gun mind you!

> JiK the bureaucratic process you detailed above is just simply appalling on an other level entirely by any standard.

While on the matter of drugs, if government subsidies and tax breaks to big business were reduced/eliminated so that the fate of these companies was left to the judgement of the all powerful, all knowing 'market', then perhaps the execs whose bonuses (and drug habits) are subsidised by the ordinary taxpayer might find themselves on welfare and having a taste of the system they've helped to inflict on every one else. Next GFC let 'em go under. That goes for the politicians too!

Cheers,

Andrez

PS: I repeat, the interests of individuals, families and communities are NOT and never will be aligned. IF you believe otherwise you have been conned, hook line and sinker. If you want toe explore tis a little further have a read of Joe Bageants book: Deer Hunting with Jesus to get a sense of the extent to which Americans (and by definition the rest of the western economies) have been screwed by business welfare sucking Corporations.

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/