believe it or not, ever since I started listening to people with more money than me and watching how they manage their money I have become much better myself at acquiring wealth (and keeping it). Apparently you get all emotional and take offense. I guess we differ there.
First, let's be clear here: I wasn't talking about me. I was talking about my observations that most people take offense at the idea of anyone telling them how to spend their money. None of it had anything to do with my personal view on the matter, so please don't jump to conclusions like "apparently you get all emotional and take offense".
Second, while it is sometimes smart to listen to financial advise from those with more wealth than you, this certainly isn't always the case. Remember many times people obtain their wealth through means that have little or nothing to do with their ability to generate it themselves. Also, even those who can manage their own finances fine don't always make good advisers to others.
That's the point... many of us are not happy paying taxes so that people can decide to coast on gov't welfare. I don't care if that's what they want to do... I don't want to provide for it.
I'm not sure why so many people have this possessive attitude toward tax money, and why they can't seem to accept the simple truth: Once you've paid your taxes, it's NOT YOUR MONEY ANYMORE. It belongs to whomever it goes to, not to you, so your decision making power on it is severely limited (if you have any say at all).
There is no need to obsess over how your tax dollars are spent. Sure, you should be concerned tax dollars aren't spent in an unwise manner as a general rule, but too many people get caught up in thinking of it as "MY tax dollars" when in reality it's no longer your money so it's out of your hands, so vote for those who make wiser decisions if you don't like the way it's spent and don't worry about it the rest of the time.
The bottom line here is this: It's NOT you who is providing for these services, it is your government. So go to the government to create change or vote for change. Don't attack those who merely utilize the programs - go to the source.
Not if their chosen lifestyle is to live primarily off of government handouts, which is paid for out of the taxes that I pay based on the work that I do. Why should my hard work subsidize the lifestyle of somebody who chooses not to work?
If your argument is people shouldn't be allowed to choose not to work, then that argument should apply across the board, to any and all who choose this - including the independently wealthy, the house wives or house husbands, and anyone else - not just to those who use government services.
If your argument is about government services, your problem is with the government, not with those who are merely using what is provided to them.
Either way, there is no reason to attack the people using the services.
Sure. If they're not taking government handouts, they are free to live their life anyway they want.
Your problem is with the way the government manages its "handouts", not with people.
EVERYONE is free to live their live any way they want. If you have a problem with the way the government manages "handouts", deal with the government. Don't attack the people for living their lives.
You say "taking advantage". I say "abusing the system".
This is the same thing everyone does in America. They take advantage of opportunities given to them. Your problem is that you don't think they deserve to be able to do this, but that problem should be directed at the government, not at the people who are doing it.
They are doing the same thing most Americans do - they're just doing it in a way you personally disapprove of. That doesn't mean they're abusing the system, but it could mean the system needs fixed. Either way, to blame them for doing the same thing you and others do every day (albeit in a different way) doesn't make any sense.
Of course you won't see the logic in this argument because you probably see yourself as somehow better than those people and more deserving of what you have in life, since you work harder or don't get "handouts" or whatever.
The fact is both you and these people are simply doing whatever they can to legally make themselves as comfortable in life as possible. The method is different, but the goal is the same.
When did I ever say that "all people taking government handouts are freeloaders"? All I said was that some are. Do you disagree that some people do abuse the system?
Capitalism works based off of greed. People will take advantage of anything they can to make their lives better, including taking actions that are LEGAL yet appear to some to be "abusing the system". This is no different than those who take advantage of tax loopholes, open businesses designed to exploit the poor or elderly or others, etc. It is questionable ethically but completely legal.
If you don't like that, take it up with those who make it legal, which is the government. Don't attack those who do the same thing you do, which is take advantage of what is available to them to make their lives more comfortable.