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Originally Posted by newtoli
But how much more do you want the govt to give?
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I think we are both asking one another the same question
845 billion American dollars going elsewhere is a lot of money, especially when we borrow from other countries. We have to get our own debt in check before we start handing out money. If you owe AMEX $2000, do you take a cash advance from VISA to pay it? Or do you whittle down the bill out of your own pocket?
For me, it's a matter of the government keeping foreign aid payments level for now. Notice I am not saying we eliminate it, just merely no raises, like many Americans who haven't seen raises that match the soaring cost of living increases. We have to get the American house in order.
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Do you want to move to a fully socialized system? How is this bill directly taking away from the poor in the US?
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I do not support a move toward a socialized
anything in the USA. My town has many college profs and Ren tech people who are here from countries which were former socialist governments. I've sat for hours listening to stories, dumbstruck at just how terrible a corrupt socialist government can be; not that some of our allegedly democratic self-serving politicians are much better. (Hey, at least we can stock up on TP!
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The NYS family of 4 income figure I pulled, $75,513.00, represents a decent salary in other parts of the US; on LI it does not (why I inserted my expenses against it -- I feel they are fairly modest) We have people here who are earning that, or less, and are struggling to make it. Some have no choice but to remain here (sad but true) and others leave, but have to find new work elsewhere (like you would do if you left when the costs became to much to bear.)
People earning this amount on LI are going to struggle to make ends meet. As costs go up and incomes stagnate, they will be forced to decide what is no longer necessary, or alternate between who they don't pay If they can't afford to purchase items, sales will stagnate (much like they are now.) If they can't afford to pay their mortgage, they will lose their homes (we're seeing this now.) If they can no longer afford to pay health insurance, they might opt to go without -- which could be financially ruinous in the event of major illness or accident-- or put off going for regular physicals, allowing hidden conditions to get worse. The people in this position will ultimately require some form of social services for support -- they will be drawing upon social programs our taxes fund as well as upon charities that some of us contribute to.
That was the median income; there are people on LI who are below that number. They are hurting. The struggle is very real for them.
Things are getting worse here and in other parts of the country. By allowing the working poor to cross over to poverty will serve to tax already overtaxed Americans more. Add to it the burden of sending more money out of the country and we have a recipe for disaster.
Bringing the American people down a notch or two closer to poverty while decreasing global poverty is socialistic.
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My point in summary (we are obviously not going to change each others minds here), is that it benefits us here at home to feed the world.
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I respectfully agree that we won't change one another's minds and believe that we both should remember the other's point of view.
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
"Think globally, act locally."
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ps - I have no college degree and am an Admin Asst, my husband is in IT. When it becomes too expensive to comfortably live on LI, I will leave. I feel privileged to live in such a place, so close to NYC.
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You are in a good position that each of you have a career you can take elsewhere; in this economy it's a 'good thing.' I take it you are younger than I and without children (?) which makes relocating a bit easier.
There are those of us here who own businesses which we can not up and move -- we've established clients, a good reputation and a following. My husband is self-employed; to move elsewhere would represent at least a 65% reduction in income. My children are in good schools here, have friends, connections through extracurriculars. A move to leave would be disruptive on too many levels. I hope never to be placed in such a position. I am happy here.
And you're right: we are privileged to live in such a great place, close to NYC yet just far enough away
PS -- Thank you for the interesting counterpoints.
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