[Soft*Silver]

I am following thru on Yellow Bands thought. This is the time of year that many social service programs help the needy. I am one of those needy, but thankfully I dont have kids. I get by with the help of family and friends, and frugal resourcefulness. However, it PAINS me to no end as a long term liberal to go to programs that assist the needy and see people grab like maniacs all they can. From one program to another, they snatch up everything they can get. When I worked and ran programs around Christmas, I was dismayed to see families show up at the various programs i would put on, to get our free gifts. They got more gifts per child than my own child got from me. I know for a fact, some families got 5 turkeys one year apiece.

So what, you might ask. So what if they get alot during the holidays, because they live so pitifully all year round. Well, hate me if you want, but I know what a pack of cigarettes cost and when all the adults and some teens in the family all smoke. well, I see where the money for utilties go. We wont mention other addictions.

Assistance programs are not meant to enable people to stay poor. They are suppose to empower people to get on their feet. I NEVER ran a program that enabled anyone. If it didnt empower and actually make a difference, I wouldnt work there. And I wouldnt let someone sit in a chair of one of my programs that wasnt willing to work on getting out of poverty or whatever they were there for. No free rides. No entitlements...no one owes anyone anything just because they are poor. We owe them compassion and assistance but thats not forever if they arent willing to help themselves, no matter how small of an effort they can make on their own part! SOMETHING!

i was talking to a nun who helps hand out Christmas food and gifts to the needy. Her church asks families what the children might like. They get lists that include all the new game systems, tiny tykes playhouses, computers, etc. Really? three kids in one family all want their own laptop and one of them is 4 years old. Shakes my head.

she asked me what i wanted. I said garden seeds. So I can raise my own food and enjoy the outdoors. Who would have thought that would make a nun cry. I gave her basil out of my garden last year. Thats how we met. i raise food to eat and give away.

I am sickened by our greedy...the rich as well as the poor. greed raises fools on both ends of our economy....