tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2842252411956894245.post2025409620667616485..comments2023-05-16T06:13:21.300-07:00Comments on Valley of Sunshine: ExactlyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2842252411956894245.post-32600114901176562842008-03-10T15:42:00.000-07:002008-03-10T15:42:00.000-07:00Also, the moral of story is the unfairness that re...Also, the moral of story is the unfairness that redistribution of wealth is.Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08874676638957145277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2842252411956894245.post-35229634293048275882008-03-10T15:05:00.000-07:002008-03-10T15:05:00.000-07:00You are both right that this example is far too si...You are both right that this example is far too simplistic for the complicated mess that the welfare program is.<BR/><BR/>However, I think the story and your response, Jen, perfectly illustrated my point in posting it.<BR/><BR/>1. The welfare program is absolutely supposed to help those in need. What it has done, however, is create a system of dependence on the state and federal government.<BR/>2. There are always exceptions to the norm. You and your grandmother, of course, were exceptions. Anyone who knows you knows that. You beat the odds.<BR/>3. My point in saying that you illustrate a point I was trying to make with the story is that for liberals, there will always be those who 'deserve' it. There are always the ones who truly need food, clothing, shelter. The problem is when we make whole economic policies based on a very few, and it ends-up affecting a bunch.<BR/>4. My biggest problem with the federal government taking over the welfare of the people is that the program directly undermines what Christ called us to do. To care for the poor and widowed. Instead of the needy looking towards the body of Christ, now they are looking to the Government as their provider, as their, dare I say it, savior.<BR/><BR/>Again, in no way was I meaning to hurt your feelings. But there is a bigger problem here. The problem is the entitlement that it's created on the majority of welfare recipients.<BR/><BR/>I am all for independent (read: Faith Based-YEAH BUSH!) organizations providing for the needy, and indeed they deserve tax incentives to do so. I think that goes a long way towards correcting the welfare state that we have in the U.S. That way the organizations have an opportunity to talk to those folks about helping themselves, or overcoming addictions, whatever the case is. I believe keeping the focus on Christ is the only way real change can occur.Jessiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08874676638957145277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2842252411956894245.post-83804166606865999942008-03-10T14:44:00.000-07:002008-03-10T14:44:00.000-07:00Sure, analogies are meant to be simple. But this p...Sure, analogies are meant to be simple. But this particular one is a very crass example. It suggests that all people on welfare are lazy and unmotivated. While I agree that some people do take advantage of the system, I would argue that many are hard workers who need a little extra help. Speaking from experience, I think I have credibility to make this claim. <BR/><BR/>It's easy to sit in the seat of judgement if you've never experienced real need before. And when I say need, I mean an "I don't know where my next bite of food is going to come from and I'm so hungry my stomach hurts" kind of need. When you've been there, I think you might reevaluate your opinion of the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2842252411956894245.post-69231899842291013392008-03-10T13:04:00.000-07:002008-03-10T13:04:00.000-07:00The story does take a complicated issue and simpli...The story does take a complicated issue and simplify it, but that is really the whole point of an analogy, right? So, with the details given, I don't really think it is cruel at all. Now if the story had included other details, like Audrey had a learning disability and was denied reasonable accomodations, or she desparately sought tutoring but was refused, then the story would be pretty harsh.chandyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06629917355707836493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2842252411956894245.post-88328022536639392062008-03-09T18:21:00.000-07:002008-03-09T18:21:00.000-07:00Well Jess, I'm glad to hear that you think my gran...Well Jess, I'm glad to hear that you think my grandmother and I who were on welfare when I was growing up were lazy people taking advantage of the system. As if the two examples in the story could really be likened to one another. Sometimes your black and white view of things really hurts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com