Living in North Dakota, I have seen different sides of things. The state is predominately agriculture so that means alot of business owners and I believe that's why ND is considered a Republican state. At least the farmers I have met are Republican. I'm not totally against subsidies for farmers. We depend on them for providing us with food. I would hate to see a farm that has been in the family for generations be lost either. I do think they need to make responsible choices and not all farmers do that. It does upset me when a farmer can pay cash for a $40,000 truck and then tell me they are having it rough and complaining about subsidies.
I agree and disagree on social programs with you. I think alot of them are mismanaged but I don't think some should be taken away. Every family should have at least one able person working to provide for themselves. Some families can only get jobs that pay close to minimum wage with no health coverage and how can a person expect a family to live off that yet one or two people? That's where food stamps and medical assistance come in. Some families are working and trying the best they can. Another example is those who are disabled and Social Security doesn't pay enough. That's where housing, medical, and food assistance comes in. I know in the 90s welfare was reformed. A person can only be on it a maximum of 5 years in a lifetime. They have mandatory job programs you have to go to or you lose your assistance. Somehow I suppose there are some people who find a way to beat the system.
This whole government system needs an overhaul from a decent minimum wage to responsible spending to regulating corrupt business practices, etc. I don't think we can blame just Bush on this. It was both parties over the last several years who have let things slide.
My husband and I started a "slow foods" farm 11 years ago. It's now a significant contributor to our income. We don't get subsidies, we don't get tax breaks. We get legitimate writeoffs for legitimate documented expenses, like any other business should have. And we pay taxes on the earnings.
I disagree that living wage and social programs are healthy for society. If you can't get a better job because you lack education, go to school. If you can't make it on one income, get another job in the household. I don't know very many people who are comfortable on one income anymore. The '50s are gone. The long term solution, the real solution, is to fan the sparks of the economy and get a solid, diverse economy going.
This country's biggest booms have been tied to single industries. Cotton. Wartime industry. Auto industry. Aerospace industry. That's fine for a region, great in the short term, but the localized inflation those booms cause (inflated housing prices and cost of living) are subject to drop just as quickly.
I am not against the idea of a carefully managed disability program. But I'd limit benefits if poor personal choices were a contributing factor...such as drug use, smoking, alcohol abuse, gross obesity, etc. Everyone is entitled to make their personal lifestyle choices (I do love this country) but I do not feel it is my responsibilty to pay for someone else's bad choices.
My son's $60,000 a year education will make him a good verbal sparring partner. The day he knows more than me is the day I am no longer capable of thought or recollection. I was in the university world too. It took a couple of years in the real world to unlearn all the "utopia" type ideas.
Vikki 1969 Goldenrod Yellow / black 400 convertible numbers matching
