Long-Term Poverty Often a Choice

Alan Aker has an important column in the Rapid City Journal today.

Alan tells a bit about himself and his background because, as he says, he's received letters from readers who seem to think he's some silver-spoon fat-cat who has no idea what it's like to be poor.

You know that I’m a Republican who thinks government spends too much money trying to help people and takes too much money from wealthy people. You know that I don’t think there’s anything wrong with people having to pay $3 a gallon for gas.

You don’t know the whole story.

You don’t know that I grew up in a trailer house next to a wood treating plant and wore homemade shirts to middle school. You don’t know that I’ve been on welfare.

You don’t know that 15 years ago, I supported a family on less than $18,000 in income.

I am hard on poor people.

It’s because I used to be one.

It’s because I know that for most people,long-term poverty is a choice.

I have received many of those same letters over the years I've been writing.

They don't know I grew up the dirt-poor son of a small farmer who refused to play the big-debt games that some farmers do. I grew up without fancy clothes and fancy cars and didn't get to do a whole lot of fun things as a kid--we were always busy trying to keep the farm from going under--which it eventually did.

I've had my times as an adult, too. There was a long stretch where I lived on a can of store-brand spaghetti and a personal-size pizza with some Shasta cola every day until I could dig myself out of a financial disaster I foolishly allowed someone to drag me into. And times were lean again when I stared a new career after getting out of the military.

But I've not taken a single dime of welfare, unemployment, or anything from the government. And I'm proud of that. As any man should, I take pride in having taken care of myself, even when it was tough. Some folks absolutely have to seek the assistance of others for a short time, and that's okay.

But if you don't have the dignity that compels you to do for yourself, then looking to others to meet your needs quickly becomes a way of life. A poor, lousy, unpleasant way of life, but some people actually prefer that to the hard work of meeting their own needs.

I can't speak for Alan, but I suspect he's like me. He's seen enough poverty to know from his heart that he doesn't want people to live that way.

For those who have financial setbacks and major medical problems, there may be no choice. But for those who got that way because they like to drink too much, like drugs too much, like to gamble too much, or just flat don't like the responsibility of a solid work ethic, well, patting them on the head and telling them it isn't their fault isn't going to make it better.

Poverty isn't fun. But for some people, if we remove the unpleasantness of it through reckless government welfare, and if we remove the stigma by telling them it's the fault of some evil rich guy, it's easier for them to stay in that situation than to do the hard work of getting themselves out of it.

Sometimes, long-term poverty is a choice.

Old Christmas Movie

I was watching "A Christmas Carol" and thought how sweet -- religious Christmas songs were actually utilized once upon a time and society survived. Could that truly be possible? What a concept!

At least 5 dead in Plains, Midwest storm

AMARILLO, Texas - A blinding snowstorm blew from the Plains to the Midwest on
Saturday, causing at least 5 deaths and dozens of injuries in numerous multi-car
pileups and forcing authorities to close portions of several major highways.

In Texas, one person died in a chain-reaction pileup involving more than
50 vehicles, including several tractor-trailer rigs, on Interstate 40, police
said. Authorities said it would take a few days to determine exactly how many
were involved.

(Full Article)

Were people prepared for winter storms, when we are supposedly so facing global warming?

ACLU claiming conspiracy?

I read "ACLU lies about WorldNetDaily" by Joseph Farah (December 20, 2007 on WND), which led me to reading what Kary L. Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan wrote about them in the Detroit News. The piece is called, " Freedom of religion includes defending diversity of beliefs". Almost made me all teary-eyed. Teary-eyed from laughing -- not crying.

The ACLU exec writes, "Unfortunately, our victories for religious freedom are overshadowed by well-organized attempts to demonize the ACLU and curtail religious diversity by sounding the alarm bells on the purported "war on Christmas." '

Moss seems so proud when she says, "Yet for true religious liberty to flourish, everyone must be free to worship without government interference."

Excuse me, but aren't courts part of the government?

She goes on, "For instance, Christmas displays -- including nativity scenes -- are perfectly acceptable at homes, churches and even, in come cases, on city property."

Well, thank you ACLU for telling us where (according to your perception) it is acceptable to have Christmas displays. Yes, thank you and the government -- I mean the courts -- for not interfering.

But after all the discussion about Christmas displays and then religious displays, she suddenly says, "That is why the ACLU of Michigan is proud to count among its clients Joseph Hanas, an observant Catholic from Genesee County who was sent to jail for asking a drug court judge to remove him from a drug rehabilitation program that coerced him into practicing the Pentecostal faith. He was forced to read the Bible for seven hours a day and was tested on Pentecostal principles. The staff also told him that Catholicism was a form of witchcraft and they confiscated both his rosary and Holy Communion prayer book."

I think someone should explain to Ms. Moss that there is a big difference between a religious Christmas display and being "CONFINED" in a place that forces actual religious practices and teachings upon a person. In one case, anyone who wishes can avoid, ignore and freely walk away. In the second case, they are forced to remain and endure the exposure.

By the way, Ms. Moss, what if the majority want a Nativity Scene on the court house lawn? Are you going to defend our right to religious freedom against the religion of secularism that strives to suppress anything remotely of Christian nature, or have you determined that secularism trumps all freedoms and rights and what have you(s)?

Romney Symptomatic of Republican Problems

BY STAR PARKER
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
COALITION ON URBAN RENEWAL & EDUCATION

It's doubtful that anyone needs any more reasons to explain why Americans are fed up with politics as usual. Nevertheless, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has given us one more.

Apparently when Romney said, "I saw my father march with Martin Luther King," in his much publicized "Faith in America" speech, this was not exactly true. (Full Article)