Thoughts on Public Aid

If you've read anything I've posted in this blog, you know that I have a very difficult time identifying with the current Republican administration. I think that America made a monumental mistake in 2004 by reelecting President Bush. I forgive the 2000 mistake because the majority of Americans actually voted against Bush.

But my politics are more nuanced than Republican vs. Democrat. I believe in fiscal responsibility. I believe in diplomacy before warfare. I believe in gun control and small government. I was against going to war with Iraq and now I believe we broke it so we have to fix it.

As for public aid, here is what I believe.

• "Struggle isn't bad."
• "Struggle makes you strong."
• "It is better to be poor and self-sufficient than rich and dependant."
• "We shouldn't make policy around the pocketbooks of rich and successful (i.e. worry about taxes)."
• "Policy should aggressively target the struggling poor."
• "The goal of social welfare programs should be providing attainable advancement opportunities."
• "Along with suitable short term safety nets, the government should provide significant advancement opportunities."
• "Aid should be primarily focused on education, reeducation, and retraining programs and on health care."
• "The poor should be taught that if they want to succeed, they can count on sufficient health and sufficient education to do so."
• "Every person who desires to advance through education and retraining programs should not be limited by lack of financial resources."