The American Dream is Dying
I grew up in a proud strong America, an era when it was honorable to work hard and not expect anything unless it was earned. There were no hand outs but your neighbor could give you a hand up when you needed one and you could do the same, cities and states were responsible for their people. The federal government was responsible for our nation’s security as a whole.
Now it is the age of entitlement. I have seen recent immigrants and refugees surpass me in living standards. It is not that they work harder it is because they are being encouraged and coached by groups like ACORN and the ACLU who have told them they are entitled to free healthcare, food stamps and living expenses. These agencies coach so-called underprivileged what they need to do to qualify, in most cases do nothing for the really underprivileged or handicapped. They are told if they show any savings or means, i.e. money in the bank property, in their names or means to make a living, they will not qualify for the social programs. If they don’t show any means the government will give them free food, money and healthcare. What a great deal.
I gave 22 years serving this country around the world. I have seen how many of these third world countries are and I do not blame anyone who would want to come to this great country, after seeing what else is out there.
People who are here or come here are shown how to take advantage of our kindness. Some who encourage this are funded by the government. I watch this every day and I would challenge anyone who works for the welfare system to tell me this is not happening, at an epidemic level.
This country was built by people willing to work hard and receive an honest day’s pay for an honest days work. This has changed for many and with that change I do not feel it is possible to keep the American Dream alive without drastic changes to our entitlement system.
A number of years ago I could have qualified for food stamps, but I worked a second job instead. I was fully capable to work and support my family so I did. I do not see that in many people today. They are told they are entitled food Stamps, rent assistance, and welfare, so they take it.
To kill the American Dream you need to kill the spirit, the spirit which makes us believe what we do today will make things better tomorrow. Well, I am losing faith because I work hard and see my neighbor out drinking beer and relaxing because the government gives them a hand out. I see someone go into the supermarket and buy a bunch of meats, energy drinks and maybe some healthy food and pull out food stamps to buy it. There is not much wrong with that except the case of beer in the bottom of the cart they pull cash out to pay for.
Why should I work hard and be away from my family when I can get the same and not do anything for it except lie to a few government workers, it’s ok “everyone does” except those pesky tax payers.
The rule of law is what makes this country great. Third world countries are that way because they do not enforce laws equally. Lately, the US government has chosen to enforce only the laws it thinks are important. If the laws are not important remove them from the books! Otherwise enforce them or we will be a third world country.
To move forward we need to crack down on those who take advantage of the kindness of the US taxpayer. It common knowledge some stores and companies take food stamps and give people cash in return. How can this happen? In the private sector namely the credit card industry this would be shut down in a short time. There are entire networks set up to defraud the government, but the government must be turning a blind eye or be completely incompetent, either way the government is not doing what the law says it should.
We must establish incentives to make these types of frauds painful for the cheats and reward those who report these abuses. Set up task forces to focus on these wrong doers who defraud the states and federal government in Medicare, Medical, food stamp and other welfare programs. If we allow private companies to get cash awards for each person who is proven to be ineligible for benefits, it would start an entire industry which would benefit all, but the cheats.
It is reported that California has one third of the countries welfare recipients. If they enforced the eligibility requirements for their welfare programs they would surely eliminate their budget problems.
First they say they do not have the staff, they don’t because they don’t want to enforce the laws. Reward the private sector for patrolling the recipients. Only the government would be able to decide who is entitled but as long as the people don’t see it wrong to lie to the government and see no penalty it will continue. Yes the bleeding hearts will say it is cruel but when it is exposed how much this is really costing the economy the cries will subside. That is why I believe no news agency has had what it will take to tell the real story since we can’t even admit it when our own family members are abusing the system.
Welfare to work must be established. All able bodied people must work; establish a two year cap for benefits for all able bodied recipients. There are doctors who will diagnose most anything for a buck. Doctors who participate in fraud must lose their license to practice and go to jail. Taxpayers have the right to be represented and protected from fraud; after all it is our money paying for these programs.
Please don’t let the American Dream die. It is only available for those who earn it. If something is given it is normally not appreciated. We owe it to our children and those who are really needy to enforce the laws and standards which have been established. We do not need more laws we just need to enforce the ones we have.
God Bless America…….
