Some people are rude towards swirlygirl as far as I can see. I pretty much agree with her. We need a strong, very strong, safety net. Makes me a very strong liberal in that sense. Then I get conservative as they come: anyone bouncing on that safety net had better behave herself. No drugs, no trashing of public housing, no children out of wedlock. Curfew for teens. Public works for able people rather than straight benefits. Places for those with alcohol and drug problems to go for shelter, hospice or treatment, but no money should ever cross paths with them. Strong emphasis on occupational education in high school and grants for those after high school. An expectation that people in high school and college will work a couple hours of day usually, at least, that people with disabilities will get total care if that is what they need, or limited work if they are able to do it. That single parents receiving assistance will report for work during school hours at a public job if necessary. If they have infants, they should bring the infant to a public day care or elder care place where they work several hours. That people working hard but barely surviving get assistance when necessary, and that there is an expecation that everyone between the ages of say 16 and 65, if they are in good health, will be working at least a few hours a day.

mg