Comments

Volume 10, Issue 37 - Feature #3871

Hurricane Evacuees: A New Perspective

I want to thank you for your at of charity as a nurse and servant to our country. It sickens me to see the continual abuse of our system. Those who truly need care can't get it. Those who don't deserve it think they are owed it. I had to got to the local government clinic to get an updated TB test. I substitute teach for my city. It turned my stomach as I watched filthy little ones running around out of control while their tatoo covered, multi-pierced parents sat sprawled out talking on their cell phones. I wanted to ask them how much those tattoos and piercings cost them. I wondered how much they could have used that money on those sweet little ones that would probably grow up and be another issue for our government to deal with. On the flip side, I know of a sweet young lady that made a bad choice to get pregnant at 18. She hates having to get assistance and still works two jobs. She has no parents to bale her out and she is devoted to getting her education and repaying in some way what she has taken from hard working tax payers. My 18 year old son will soon be inducted into the Coast Guard. He wants to be a career member and eventually become an officer. I know he will have many times in life when those he saves and protects will not appreciate what he does. But, many will and you can bet that many went home from that storm with your face written on their hearts in a very dear way. Keep the faith!

Paulita Aldridge Hayes - 2008-09-16 15:38:25

Rod Murrow's forward of Hagerhjelm's perspective on some of the hurricane evacuees is a classic example of government at its worst and charity organizations at a disadvantage. Entitlements have become expected and benevolence is taken advantage of. That said, I learned a long time ago--charity breeds entitlement and entitlement breeds contempt. It always has and always will. During the late 1800's and early 1900's as the industrial revolution evolved in the U.S. so did social service groups. There were at that time many widows with children and orphans that needed a hand up, poverty was the norm and sickness prevailed. As the U.S. progressed some illnesses were eradicated and poverty dwindled significantly. However, the character of our nation changed in ways we hadn't expected. Uninteded consequences grew exponentially and now we (government agencies/churchs/charitable orgs)are responsible for perpetuating this phenomena. I agree with Hagerhjelm, and like her, cynical of the system. I've seen it in my work (the contempt)and now that I'm retired hope I don't see it again.

Marvin Wiebener - 2008-09-15 15:07:14

For those of you who live in a buffered rural community, and do not witness the day-to-day abuses of the American social welfare system, this say it all. I had never experienced it first hand until I moved to Tulsa. I see generations upon generations who know every nuance of extracting government funds, from public assistance on housing, free medical and dental needs, to find just the right combination to claim disability. If they would put as much effort into finding legitimate work, they would probably be quite successful instead of being quite content with Uncle providing for their every need. Our elected officials have made it all too easy in order to get those needed votes; however, very few of the abusers take time to go vote. They just wait on the free ride to come.

Terry Smith - 2008-09-14 19:09:32

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