No, I am saying you may lack the heart to imagine what it's like to be them.

Actually, Mike, I was them for around 6 months when I was working my way through school. I had 2 broken legs and that made it difficult to tend bar, so I was on welfare and foodstamps for almost 6 months. However, I did not make it a way of life and now pay enough taxes to support a dozen families on welfare.

If I was able to get off public assistance, anyone who wants to should be able to get off of it.

I have already said it as plainly as I can say it. I have compassion for the less fortunate.

If you really had compassion, you would give them a hand up instead of a hand out. What is that old saying about "Give a man a fish"? Oh yeah: You have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you have fed him for a lifetime. Teach a man to sell fish and he eats steak <g>.