I'm calling this Personal Statement 1.
Personal Statement 1.
I’m tired of being frustrated by corrupt, irresponsible and double-taking politicians. It seems as if every time I watch the news or read an article about our current economic mess I want to scream! Career politicians make me nuts. They seem more concerned with pleasing their party than with representing their constituents. This seems to have spread to voters as well. Polarization has swept through America at an epidemic rate. When will people start to vote for their ideals rather than their political party? For many years I was a registered Democrat. As I have learned more about the way things work I have become increasing frustrated at many of the positions Democrats have taken. Our social welfare programs are a mess and we continue to throw money at a problem that seems to only get worse. More likely than not, my generation is never going to see a penny of the money we are now paying into Social Security, yet we are forced to pay into it. How is that equitable? Here is the first in a series of letters to share my thoughts on some of the issues facing our country and our communities today:Welfare and food stamps
It is important that I say this upfront: I am all for helping people in need. I was raised in the foster care system. I spent 14 years in more than 25 different foster homes so I, more than most, have a unique understanding of how impactful social welfare programs can be. That said, I have learned that if you continually give money or support to someone that is in need of help you do nothing more than hold that person down. Welfare should be a system of empowerment, not a system of repression. Take my mother-in-law for example, a woman for whom I have tremendous respect: When she was a young mother and could not support her baby (now my wonderful husband), she applied for and was granted food stamps and financial assistance. Through sheer will, hard work and perseverance, she was fully self-supportive and off of government assistance within a year. She used the system as it was meant to be used. She stands tall in contrast to my own mother who did nothing to better herself, or the life of her child (me), and ultimately had her parental rights stripped from her by the State.
By my observation, many of those who collect welfare today are abusing the system. Nothing is more frustrating to me than being in line at the grocery store behind a woman with two or three children, who is pregnant, and paying with food stamps. This makes no sense to me! NONE! I believe that no one has a right to tell a woman what to do with her body, but at the same time if that woman is asking for taxpayer money to sustain her family, the taxpayers should be able to make family planning a condition of that support. In my opinion, it is no different than AIG giving out $165 million in bonuses after the American taxpayer handed them billions of dollars in bailout money. The premise is the same and should be just as offensive. I believe that unless there is a medical reason that a person collecting welfare is unable to work, those receiving public assistance should be working in some form or another (these programs are meant to serve as assistance, something to help you stand up, not an entitlement or a free ride). Accepting assistance should also mean accepting responsibility. One should not come without the other.
Welfare and Immigration
I think it is safe to assume that no matter how one feels about the problems associated with illegal immigration, we can all agree that there are problems. A few years ago there was a uproar regarding the rights of undocumented immigrants. President Bush and Congress were attempting to push through a bill that would grant the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants amnesty. There was a popular uprising against this and President Bush spoke to the American people on national television. Admittedly, I tried to listen to Bush Jr. as little as possible when he was in office. In an attempt to justify this amnesty he made a statement that, to me as a hard working American, I found shocking and offensive. He tried to explain that the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country were a vital part of the American economy because they were (and are) doing the jobs that Americans will not (and don’t want) to do.
After I picked my jaw up off the floor I started thinking about what he had said and I came to a realization as to why I found that particular statement so ludicrous. It wasn’t the idea that the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants were a vital part of our economy that bothered me. Frankly, I believe he may have had a point there; and it was rare that I agreed with what he said. But to say that they are doing the jobs that Americans don’t want to do? I’m sorry, but how is it all right for a perfectly capable person to collect welfare and turn around and say, “Oh, I’m not willing to do that kind of work, but I’ll gladly take your money.” So in America we’ll pay you NOT to work so that undocumented immigrants CAN work? Am I the only one to whom this doesn’t make sense?
What we can do:
I’ve given the issue of illegal immigration and welfare a lot of thought because both frustrate me to no end. I think I may have come up with a solution that will help solve both problems. We need a system where the community helps those who need it, and in turn those who accept assistance from the community have a responsibility to the community. Let’s start with welfare: Jane, a single mother of two with no high school diploma, applies for food stamps and public assistance. Here’s what Jane can expect under my plan:
First, Jane would sign a contract agreeing not to have any more children and to set clear goals (the same conditions would be set for men not to father any more children). In addition to being willing to abstain from having more children, Jane would be expected to agree to the following terms while she is receiving public assistance: Jane’s children would be put in a state-sponsored daycare or preschool program, depending on age. Jane would be required to either get a job or complete the requirements to earn her high school diploma. If Jane chose to get a job, Jane would be assigned a job from a pool of jobs. This job could be anything from picking in the fields to janitorial work to office work. Whatever jobs are utilizing undocumented immigrants could now potentially be a job for Jane. While Jane is receiving public assistance, the tax payer will supplement her needs and the needs of her children. Jane will be made aware that, depending on the program she chooses (education or work) she will only have a certain amount of time in which she is able to collect benefits. Jane will be expected to report on her progress and everything possible will be done to help Jane achieve the goals that she set when she entered the program. Jane’s children would be taken care of as well. This, of course, is a very simplified plan but the basic outline and outcome should be clear. By holding Jane accountable, and helping her help herself, we are empowering Jane to be a more productive citizen in the long run. If we are giving so many of the jobs that illegal immigrants are doing to the Americans that need help first, then, in theory, we should attract fewer immigrants coming to our country illegally.
