I think perhaps I take issue with the "it works on paper" assertion, when so many things seem to work on paper, yet this doesn't mean they are positive or beneficial. Genocide "works on paper" yet it is hardly desirable. I see nothing beneficial from mediocrity.
In my opinion, capitalism is the most beneficial system in the world. The United States has one of the highest quality of life for our impoverished people.
Food for thought
Point taken, but the idea of a communist society wouldnt have to address that there are 'poor' households.
The reason why the united states has the highest quality of life for our impoverished people is because of our 'required' socialized care, something I disagree with.
I work to make money, and there for, I get to give money to a government that hands my earned money to people that dont earn it.
As a working class citizen, I am forced to contribute to programs that I dont agree with that give money to people who do nothing to earn it, or people that dont deserve it.
I still believe in the old concept of the American Dream, where a person can work had and make a good living for their family, which has since shifted to a person can get something for nothing.
Do I think that we should turn our backs on the poverty stricken? No. But I do not think that we should be required to help them. It should simply be a choice.
Why?
The woman who has another baby to collect more welfare money (and subsequently disregards the fact that the money is to help feed and raise the child, thus creating more povery)
The drug dealers collecting welfare.
The unemployed worker collecting unemployment checks while not searching for a job.
The families on welfare that live in a crap apartment complaining they dont have enough food to eat while watching their 50" LCD tvs with cable television.
People CHOOSING to be poverty stricken because "thats how they were raised" or they CHOOSE not to get educated.
Panhandlers making $40k/yr
We offer plenty of avenues for people bring themselves from poverty, and there are people that choose to stay in poverty to collect their benefits that I get to pay, rather than taking the opportunity to become a helpful member of society.
Back to these programs being selective and not obligatory...
There are plenty of non-profits that help the needy. The nice thing about those programs is they create private sector jobs (generate tax revenue) and regulate their systems very well.
If we let these organizations handle these welfare systems, they would regulate who receives what (the deserving needy), and thus we would need minimal regulation to monitor their organization creating less tax expenditure.
Lets face facts....most people that talk about us needing these programs to help the needy, would not voluntarily put money towards a program that they are not required to do so.
Plain and simple.
Only the people that are in poverty that are trying to get out of poverty by [getting an education, a job, responsible spending] should receive any support, where as those that do NOTHING to help themselves get NOTHING.
Something we fail at in this country.
Why should I help you if your not willing to help yourself?
