SNIP
>Similarly, despite your tax burden, even if it goes up, you're living a whole lot better than the people who need help from the government. The image you used earlier (the person on welfare buying T-bones and driving a BMW) is baloney. The idea of the "welfare queen" was promulgated by Reagan to create animosity between classes. Yeah, I'm sure there are a few cheaters out there, but the vast majority of people living on welfare and food stamps are living at a standard well below the way you and I live.
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>Tamar

I have to disagree here. It may not be the norm, but that image is real and does exist. On the same note, I think there has to be a balance. The government (and hence the people) should contribute to help those in need. My issue is who are the people in need. That needs to be handled better and more focused. I have no problem contributing so the living standard of the elderly and disabled is better. I have no problem contributing so those temporarily out of work can get additional job training or a helping hand while they find new employment. The problem I have is the many, many folks who don't put out the effort. There are indeed many of them out there. That includes those who refuse to use the time on government assistance to retrain or find another job, any job.

I too fall into the category of those who cannot get financial aid for college. We are researching that right now for my daughter. I wanted my daughter to take out a student loan or get finaincial aid with the agreement (between us) that if she graduated, her parents would pay it off (the student loan). That essentially means me. I wanted her to take on the responsibility and know that if she didn't put forth the effort, it would be her debt. She cannot get financial aid though. Student loans are virtually drying up. Either I pay for her college or she doesn't go.