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One of the biggest problems facing the poor and the needy right now when it comes to getting help is the illusion that the government takes care of people. If a person is in need it is assumed that there is something horribly wrong with them, because the governemrnt takes care of people. While this is true to a small degree, it is most certaintly not true to the degree of assistance that is neccesary. When I was a kid I lived at the Path House, this is a place where people with nowhere to go can stay if they have kids. Great idea, and in the private sector to boot. My mom got a job there later and I stayed in the office over night alot (there ws always someone working there, my mom got the overnight shift alot.) She must have gotten 5 calls a day from people when there were no spaces available.
There is great need for charitable people in the private sector, the means donating to places like the red cross, or churches if you're trusting (some churches it goes to administrative fees, others it goes to missions, but some go towards helping the poor)
Another great way to help is by volunteering, time is valuable. red cross, habitat for humanity, anywhere you see people *really* helping people.
if you choose to donate be careful, some are no better with money than the governement at handling it.
What does this have to do with taxes?
We can only eliminate things like welfare and medicade and ssi if we prove that we're willing to help people that are willing to help themselves. By putting forth the effort and helping these organizations, we are another step closer to pushing the government out.

If the economy is so bad, should i not pay my rent so some woman on welfare can buy a candy bar?

I think America needs to start donating to these programs significantly more to change the political mood. The more people helped through private charity, the better outlook America has on private charity. People who have been helped by the charities will also respect them, giving the helped a view on private charity that is like our own.

*applaudes*

Besides the fact that welfare is simply the legal process of going into a rich neighborhood and demanding they give you money. I work for my money, why should I be forced to give my money to somebody who didn't put forth the same effort to get money that I have.

Also, people need to be held more accountable for their actions. If you're poor because you choose to be, then I see no need to help you out.

>.> Americans complaining about your taxes make me mad.

In Canada, apparently we have some pretty OK social programs. Or so I've been told. We pay for it with taxes. Though unfortunately, sometimes those tax dollars go into the pockets of our leaders rather than into the pockets of those who need it.

Though, personally, I think that if we didn't pay for these programs through taxes, most people probably wouldn't donate the money they would have spent in the taxes to the programs that need this money. So... It's a bit of a draw up.

One thing about Religious programs is that they tend to give money to people across the world rather than the poor here, and though I *like* that people in Rwanda and Uganda and other third world countries are getting this aid, I feel that our people that need help are often neglected to a vast and unforgiveable degree.

I donate canned goods to my local food bank once a month or so. At least every two months except around christmas. (Because they have all the food they need when they can guilt otherwise greedy people into donating) because I grew up receiving food from them. (The very same food bank) Though I suppose it would be better to buy my own food, I borrow canned things from my home's pantry and put the donation on my mama and papa's souls too.

This year, when I have a job of my own I plan to buy some toys for the salvation army chirstmas for kids programs. Not stuff that has been used before. Something nice.

It's not always - and, allegedly, usually isn't - the fault of the individual that they are poor. It's usually due to lay-offs or the like in an already sub-par conditions.

It doesn't matter how you feel the subject should be dealt with, as long as you do so without any pretty rationalization - frankly, if you have to wrap youself in a warm blanket of lies to get to sleep at night, then you aren't believing what you really want to.

Except... welfare and charity don't apply to goats. *grin*