Welfare State?

Taxes piss me off as much as the next person. At least income tax...taxing money before I can use it is just offensive to me. It sucks my income. Tax my property, my transactions...but let me USE my whole earnings, please.

And it does grate on me to think people are living off my tax dollars, when they could just go out and work.

But...I actually employed those people. The types who worked at a breakneck pace all day long serving ungrateful people, just to get $352.80 every two weeks. Do the math...that's $705.60 each month.

I pay about $400 for rent on my apartment, on the edge of the sketchy part of town. That'd leave $305 for car payments, gas, food, utilities, etc...

Try raising two or three kids on that.

And yeah, I know..."If you can't afford kids, DON'T HAVE THEM." I know. And it sounds great on paper.

But what about the family that got started when Mom and Dad were making $18/hr at the sock factory? Did they become bad people when the factory moved to Honduras, and the only open job was a closer at Wendy's for $7/hr?

Black and white arguments scare the hell out of me, and all the arguments against Welfare and other assistance are black and white.

I was reading this post and comment thread from the archives of Scalzi.com on what it means to be poor...and it reminded me that no matter how hard you try to prevent the lowest common factor from cheating a system, all you really do is screw the honest people. Cheaters will always find a way.

So...I support Welfare, within limits. I think some key policies can be used to protect our investments in those down on their luck, who deserve a chance to get over their troubles and without being screwed for life.

...And Now for Some News...

"No Country for Old Men" Wins Four Oscars, from NPR (it WAS a good flick)

Ruling to Shut Down Leak Website Called Censorship, from NPR

Russia Pledges Support to Serbia, from BBC (I Paraphrase Billy Joel: Haven't they Heard we Won the Cold War?)

Pakistan's Top Army Medic Killed in Bombing, from BBC

Bringing Back Streetcars Discussed in Cincinnati, from WVXU

Only Two Key Issues Being Worked in Columbus, from WVXU

Congressman

Ok, so I suck w/ this schedule thing. I blame starting a new job and throwing my weekend outta whack...so now here we are.

Again, I moved recently. So now I'm not represented by the Schmidt woman, who couldn't be farther from my values if she tried. Let's go see who now claims me as a constituent.

Looks like Dave Hobson. District 7 really is Central Ohio, ranging from Lancaster to Dayton. I'm kinda impressed, and thus not at all surprized at the fact it's a GOP district.

It's all small town farm country, or nice suburbs. With a few token urban regions (like my crime-infested economically depressed neighborhood) for show. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that the GOP has had an uninterrupted majority in the state legislature for years?


The guy's page is quite robust actually...go check it out. Doesn't seem bad at all. And he won 61% of the vote in 2006...not too bad, considering the nation's mood at that point.

We'll look into him more at length...so...yep. That's all I got for now. Enjoy your Legislation Wednesday!

...and Now for Some News...

Obama, McCain Winners in "Potomac Primary," from NPR

Roger Clemens Denies Steroid Use, from NPR (Whatever. Sold out Red Sox, used steroids...)

Top Hezbollah Leader Killed by Bomb, from BBC

Spielberg Steps Down from Olympic Committee, from BBC

Columbus Council Approves Budget, from WCBE (you'll have to listen to the story for details)

Hamilton County Adminstrator Gets Passing Grade, from WVXU