by Ashley Murphy

Welfare. Food stamps. WIC. These can make a lot of people very happy. Or, they can tick a lot of people off. What I'm about to say about those government programs will probably also have people cheering or tick them off to the point of a lynching mob. I really don't care about the latter. It's my money I'm giving away to these people. Shouldn't I have a say? And I say a drug test for every recipient and applicant should be mandated. And the strictest guidelines followed once a person is approved.

No, I'm not a complete cold, heartless, selfish witch who goes flying around on my little broom cackling at those who are less fortunate. I know there are people out there who have genuinely fallen on hard times and need some help until they can get back on their feet. But that's the difference between these people and the majority of those on some type of welfare, they are TRYING to get back on their feet. They want to be able to make their own money and provide for themselves or their families. They want to succeed. I don't mind a portion of my hard earned money going to help these people. They are putting forth an effort and will one day - after getting back on their feet - help someone else who was once in their position. It's the others I have no desire whatsoever to help.

When you sit on your sorry arse all day getting drunk, smoking pot, snorting cocaine or shooting up meth making no effort to right your sorry excuse for a life, why should I help you? I could care less if you ate, had a roof over your head or even had clothes on your back. After all, why should I care, if all you worry about is getting your next high? That's not what my money should be intended for. I have my own worries, bills and needs to see to that are far more important than that junk.

I understand that even though they are an addict, these unfortunates are human beings. Someone's daughter, son, husband, wife, brother or sister. I get that. But if they have no desire to change and refuse to better their life and support themselves, don't be angry at me for not wanting to continue to support their habit. I want no part of it. If it miffs you that bad, go out and get yourself an additional job to work the hours and making the money the moocher should be making. There's no reason at all on this planet the government should have to pay for that junk with the money they take out of all of the hard-working Americans'  paychecks.

Words just can't express the frustration and disdane I feel toward the government for handing this money out to the first person who comes along and says they need it to get by. Do some checking to make sure they're just not out of money and looking for a free handout to get their next high. Maybe it'd do a lot of the actual tax payers a favor and keep more money in honest citizens' pockets and get a lot more deadbeats off the streets. Whether they clean up their act and go straight or whether they end up in a coffin, I really don't care, as long as I don't have to pay for it. Because either way, a lot of people are better off in the end.

Heartless?

No.

Just honest.


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