Friday, February 24, 2012

Entitlement

I was listening to a radio talk show today, and a couple of interesting people called in and made comments that really struck me. One of them was a woman of Indian descent whose family came to the U.S. in 1906. She talked about how she has had some family members from India immigrate in the past 10 years to the U.S. She said that within a year of coming, they had bought a beautiful home, and had opened a business. She said that when she hears about the occupy movement, and how they believe the government should solve the economic problems of the people of the country, she is angry. She has seen her family members come here with nothing, but within a short year, get on their feet, and take care of themselves. She also mentioned that going to college was never an option for her. Her parents insisted that all of their children get a college education.

The other call was by a woman who works for the welfare entitlement department of the government. She said that she sees all different ethnicities of people come to her for welfare help. She said that she has been working this job for many years, so also see the children of those same people come to her for welfare help. But she said that she never sees a second generation of Asians come for help. After that initial help, the Asian families are able to get on their feet, and become financially independent. By the time their children are launched in to their own lives, they also are independent, and do not need the help of the government. She noted that the parents of Asian children often tell her how well their children are doing in school. They never mention sports, or other hobbies, but only speak about education. One woman, who could barely speak english, told her that she had hired a teenager to come read books to her children so that they could learn proper english pronounciation. I'm sure that was a financial sacrifice for her, but she knew the value it would be for their education.

I do have to wonder why the left, and the "occupy movement" are so insistent that the rich pay for the poor. Why not think about how they became rich, and follow their example?
If you really want your blood to boil about this topic, check out this video of a "JUdge Judy" episode that shows the welfare mentality. I'm sorry that youtube won't let me embed the video, but you can click here to watch it.

10 comments:

Mayo said...

What I have from your post today, I'm with you girl.

MJ said...

I agree with you. I think everyone needs to learn to work hard for what they have. Especially after traveling to third world countries, I have no sympathy for those who are "poor" in the United States. They don't even know what poor is.

Looney said...

I too admire the drive of the Asians, but still am amazed that most of them will still vote for politicians who want to create more welfare/state dependence.

Shackman said...

Yeah - seems to me there's a delicate balancing act between giving someone a hand when they really need it and creating a dependency on that assistance. Folks become addicted to the aid. We clearly failed miserably at helping folks get back on the right path. There is an entire sub-culture of subsistance - they peddle foodstamps for cash and sell medicaid aquired drugs on the streets. They live in rent-subsidized housing and the cycle never ends. It was never meant to be cyclic or permanent - just temporary. So how do we fix it?

Delirious said...

That is the million dollar question Shackman. I think the biggest thing that could help would be to put some of these people to work to pay back for what they get. For example, they could pick up trash on the street, or weed flower beds without pay. If they are giving back to the community, the welfare they receive would feel less like a dole, and help them to shake free of the welfare mentality. As it is, many people think of the government like a parent. They believe the government is responsible to take care of them.

Rummuser said...

As the only Asian commenting here, let me tell you that those that left these shores left because the competition here is fierce. Those that survive here are sturdier and far more to the right than the right over there. Here, the successful not only have to grab opportunities, they have to "manage" the environment to succeed. What the successful have done here is however to create wealth here and create new jobs that create further jobs. That does not seem to be happening there, as the wealth is going where the returns are higher, like it is here. What needs fixing is that. Make the returns on capital attractive enough to stay there and new wealth will be created. But the wealthy there seem to control the system much better than the wealthy here seem to be able to!

Inge said...

I also have no sympathy for those who do not seek work. But all of you who have commented so far are in a disturbing state of denial about the working poor and how widely pervasive the problem is. The working poor are the true tragedy of our economy, as well as those who truly want to work but can't find an employer. So many people speak as though the main problem of the poor are those who don't work. But, those of us who work full time and live fiscally responsible lives, but STILL can't make ends meet... that is what is really wrong with the American dream. THAT is what the occupy movement is about. I am really heartbroken that there are still those of you who don't understand that.

Inge said...

one addendum--and I think, a truism:

even if every last american citizen were as industrious as the "Asians", not every person could be rich as the next. We still need people to collect garbage, and scrub floors, and do other unsavory tasks that *simply* are necessary but not worth the same amount as more skilled jobs.

Delirious said...

I'm sorry Inge, but what I hear from the left is that we should all be economically equal. They want to take from the rich, and give to the poor. That sounds an awful lot like communism to me. Is it the right of the government to take from the rich, just because they have it? Fair taxation should be fair for everyone, not just the poor.

Max Coutinho said...

Hi D,

I totally understand that Indian Lady: America's most striking feature is to allow people (from all corners of the world) to start a life from scratch. It is not in vain that Italians have an expression for emigrating to the US (or the American continent in general) "fare l'America", because they know they have the opportunity there to have a better life than the one they have/had in Europe.

I will not repeat my views on the Occupy Movement (I believe you know them well), but I will tell you that most of its leaders are rich people who feel guilty about their social status.

People should encourage the less favoured to work and be independent. I do not believe in entitlements, I don't like the concept and I frankly believe they are detrimental to the good health of any economy.
Look at China: people there do not have entitlements and are encouraged to work...is China not threatening Western Super Powers? Yes, it is...the threat may not last, but for the moment it is there...

Loved this post.

Cheers