jeichelberg87

Okay, you grew up on the bottom rung. Did you climb off the bottom rung entirely by yourself without any assistance whatsoever?

If so, rare. If not, then you disqualify your argument.

Me? I ate all the government cheese and peanut butter I could get when Reagan was in office. That stuff was good!

Either way, getting off the topic at hand, so I am done.

Stucky

Yes, as a matter of fact, I did climb off the bottom rung without any "help". So did many others whom I know. In fact, your comment just made me realize something: Those of us who just cast-off the entitlement mentality; and made even the most minimal efforts to be responsible when we came of age, have all succeeded- while those who just perpetuated the lifestyle in which they were raised, and went around with their hands out-stretched, are still, to this very day, no better off than they were 35 years ago- despite HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars being thrown at each one of them.

It's not rocket science- I have a physical handicap, and I did it. A good friend, with whom I am still in regular contact- someone who was in the "slow classes" at school (And we both came of age during the Jimmy Carter recession), is currently making $60K a year and has half a million bucks in the bank.... And you know why?

Because if you just go to9 bed at night, instead of staying out and partying all night/making babies/getting hammered, and you get up in the morning, and show up every day on-time and put a little conscientiousness into whatever it is you do, regardless of your education or anything else, you've already got 85% of the other people beat, and you WILL prosper. You may not get rich, but you can make a decent living and get promotions and raises, and be the one not to get laid-off.

And your premise doesn't hold any water- as I nhever said that no one should ever receive charity; I merely said that one should make a distinction when bestowing charity, so that it doesn't merely fill a self-induced need which was created by the person's own actions/lifestyle. Sorry, but I consider a waste and downright immoral to provide for the guy who has 3 kids, but who is out drinking at the bar every night; or the guy who has a bad leg, because he got shot while committing a robbery; or the 40 year-old able-bodied man who can't hold a job because he's running around boinking different women every night and partying, and can't get his ass out of bed in the morning; or who can't do a decent job because he's always hung-over; or the guy who spends his welfare/disability check on booze and or drugs, and thus can't pay his rent.

We live in a giant welfare state, where HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars in "free" benefits are given to individulas over the course of a few years- including subsidized rent; free medical care; food stamps; welfare; WIC; energy assistance; furniture vouchers; child-care; educational grants [Don't even get me started on that...there's good money to be made by being a perpetual student....] and more- and STILL we see many people who despite being given all of this, STILL can not manage to sustain the basic necessities of life- because, as I've said before, the problem with such people is not economic, but rather moral/spiritual, and their economic status is just a symptom of the real underlying problem. You want to help such people? Fine. Do something which will really help them: Put them in a situation where they will either starve to death, or get their act together. Either way, we'd all be better off.

Use your charity for those who are in a bad situation through no fault of their own- and upon whom a few dollars could make a huge difference in their life and get them back on track.

Gnosis

Years ago I gave a perfectly good 12-speed road bike to my cousin who promptly let it be stolen!

I also gave a perfectly good mountain bike to a cousin’s daughter who has only ridden it once!

So, I can identify with those who have generously given a bike away only to be smitten by disappointment.