| ----... Of course, the "Father-Daughter Talk" that you forwarded to me makes all of you Republican types smile and nod. However, it is a poor analogy for public assistance programs. To begin with, the top few percent that control most of America's wealth don't work very hard for their money. It's either inherited or raked in on the backs of minimum-wage employees. But, more than that, is the idea -- implicit in your little parable -- that the poor are out partying all the time, and then want to get paid for it. This is ridiculous AND insulting. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for many families in this country to bring in enough cash to pay expenses. A recent study shows that it takes about $50,000 to feed, clothe, shelter, and pay for child care and medical care for a family of four (yet the official US poverty line for such a family is $18,000). In such situations both parents, making $10 an hour (well above the minimum wage), need to work 50 hours a week EACH to make ends meet. What is a SINGLE parent supposed to do? You will say, "They shouldn't have kids," but that is a pointless argument when the children are already here. The goal then, in this land of plenty, must be to adequately care for those children. Is it better to force mom out the door -- and away from her child -- to work at a minimum wage job in order for her to qualify for some benefits, rather than to have her at home raising her kid? Wouldn't we all agree that being a parent is one of the most important and difficult tasks there is? And that the way that child is raised will impact society, for good or not, down the road? Do we, as a nation, understand that that we have chosen to force mothers to wait tables or clean motel rooms while others care for their children? Jim Correale |