>I would really like to see everyone in this country living a life that is safe, free, economically viable, and includes free healthcare and basic needs.

I think we're on the same page here, but let me just add some thoughts below.

> However, I have a problem with the majority of our society in the lower income levels - I have been there and seen it firsthand in many cities myself. Too many have no drive and determination to do anything but would rather get everything for free.

I'm not sure if the majority of the poor are lazy freeloaders. My sister and her group of associates certainly are. They are constantly trying to find ways to scam the system and me. One guy is an expert as mysterious injuries that somehow qualify of disability payments. I think (though I have no proof) that these types of people a high visible, highly annoying minority segment of the poor.

> I believe in the merit program - you get what you earn.

I hear ya. Societies that are meritocracies are much better for the individual and the society. Nations that embrace an old boys club eventually wither because innovation stagnates.

I propose that it is better for the society and for the rich to share the wealth. Since if this is done, there will be fewer desperately poor people and less crime. So the rich can look at this purely from a self interest, if they want to lower their chances of violent personal crime or property crime, they need to help the poor. If you look at murder rates, the US has triple the rate per capita of other developed countries. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder Being tough of crime works, but it doesn't solve the root cause. Whoah, I am start to drift off topic here...

> It is almost impossible to find teenagers today to work in fast food restaurants. They are lazy and do not want to do it. Let alone work in a shoe or chicken factory. My mother worked in many factories earlier in life and it was hard work.
Same experience here, my grandparents and parents did way harder jobs that me, thought I did my share of weird, digusting, boring and hard jobs too. Check this out:
- fighting forest fires
- pumping sewage out of houseboats
- moving case lots of products all day at K-mart (I'm only 5'7" and a slight build)

> I spent my early years working on a farm. We got up at 4:30am and worked til the sun went down when we were not in school.
Today, you can't find people with the work ethic and drive to do it.

But maybe it isn't work ethic, but there are easiers jobs that pay better.

> I have noticed a huge disparity in work ethic between the North and South of the U.S. It is amazing. I don't know if it is the German/Scandinavian ancestry, but in Wisconsin and Minnesota the average person worked much much harder than down here in the South.

I've noticed this as well, tthat the Germans, Scandanavians and Dutch pride themselves on their work ethic and value it in others. I think this is part of the larger protestant work ethic http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic where there is goodness or glory (even spirtual) in working hard and that had become part of the fabric of society. Not that I'm saying the Protestants work harder than any other religion, but just that they is mthology. I think is is sort of like the belief in North America that if you computerize something it must be better.

> They were more reliable as well.

This could be a small town thing too. I grew up in small towns, though I now work in the big city. People sometimes get ticked with me on both a personal and professional level when I won't automatically agree to something that I am not sure I can commit to or accomplish. I would rather say, I need more time or need to do some research to see if I can deliver this. I like to keep my word.

There is also difference in cultures too. Big city, small city and even with people from different parts of the world. Yes might mean that they don't want to dissapoint you by saying no. Yes may mean maybe. My personal annoyance is late people. To some people when you say 7pm, they litterally add minutes or hours to that.

I have insomonia tonight, as you might be able to tell from my long post.