Private charity can only go so far. We saw it collapse in an event like the Great Depression. There are entire communities in this nation, small towns and the like, that would be incapable of existing on local largess. Much of the Conservatives’ beloved “American Heartland” their “Real America” wouldn’t exist without federal aid. Yet, like the Pharisee at lunch with Jesus they will ask “Who is my neighbor?” Sometimes they are more like Cain and ask “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Good comment, David! I also think that at some point (although I probably won't be around to see it), we're going to have to face the question of wealth inequality. I may be off on my figures, but I believe the ten richest individuals in the world (most of them Americans) possess more wealth than the bottom 50% of the world combined.
I do not believe in ZPG. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor then it cannot save the few who are rich. The real question is how much help should the poor get. Most people would agree there should be a safety net, UEC, and Social Security.
The many who are poor. let us remember are the backbone of national defense. If you don't like children then do you expect sheep to defend you? By the way I volunteered for military service and hold an honorable discharge from the USMC.
I believe in a strong national defense but also believe in universal free public education k-12 and easy access to college for those who are qualified. All of our children went to state schools and so limited their indebtedness. The state must provide for the common defense, to ensure domestic tranquility law and order. The state must maintain roads and offer some public transportation (buses AMTRAK etc). We are retired and often take AMTRAK to visit relatives. There must be some provision for public transportation for the poor and the elderly.
I worked hard to save enough money to get married -marrying at 26. We had three children (our ages were 27 to 38). I always worked as much overtime as possible and worked two or three jobs. We thought it better for the children to be educated at home in two languages, in religion and in literature and reading. Our children played sports but not club teams because we did not want them to travel and miss church too often. In high school they played a maximum of 2 sports because they had many AP classes and we thought AP classes were more important. At one point I worked four nights a week until 9pm and all day Saturday. My wife did not work outside of the home while the children were small. when our last child was in high school and through college she worked parttime as a medical translator. Essentially she paid for one daughter's college tuition. Our other daughter who did not get a car until she was 18 and working worked 35 hours a week at IHOP while going to school full time. She paid her own rent and tuition. The only financial aid we gave her was #1 cosigning the first year for her apartment #2 signing over a used car for her to commute to work. My son graduated in a six year period working full time the last three years. We had only one car for many years and have only one car now. We never had opulent vacations. Our biggest luxury was buying books (I can't live without books) , the WSJ and Commentary magazine. My wife and I shared one TV and one computer. I had a BOSE CD player and radio in my library and listened to podcasts and sports on the radio. I did not have a smart phone until 2020. Our oldest child is a high school Spanish teacher and soccer coach (he also works part time for the LA Dodgers as mentor/tutor). He has two children so far. Our middle child is a Dual Immersion k-6 teacher. She has two children so far. Our youngest is an engineer and unmarried. My wife often helps out with the day care for the youngest children staying 3-5 weeks at a time when necessary.
Richard writes "We had three children (our ages were 27 to 38)." I think that's the right way to do it. But many people have kids first and don't limit it to three. Richard strikes me as the type parent we need more of. One cause of poverty is what some sociologists call "children having children."
I call myself a "tough love" liberal. Re the statement "Conservatives . . . [say] that no adult should expect to support a family on the minimum wage. A family's breadwinner ought to find a better job." As a firm believer in ZPG, I'd also add "don't have five kids if you can't even support one."
Private charity can only go so far. We saw it collapse in an event like the Great Depression. There are entire communities in this nation, small towns and the like, that would be incapable of existing on local largess. Much of the Conservatives’ beloved “American Heartland” their “Real America” wouldn’t exist without federal aid. Yet, like the Pharisee at lunch with Jesus they will ask “Who is my neighbor?” Sometimes they are more like Cain and ask “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Good comment, David! I also think that at some point (although I probably won't be around to see it), we're going to have to face the question of wealth inequality. I may be off on my figures, but I believe the ten richest individuals in the world (most of them Americans) possess more wealth than the bottom 50% of the world combined.
I do not believe in ZPG. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor then it cannot save the few who are rich. The real question is how much help should the poor get. Most people would agree there should be a safety net, UEC, and Social Security.
The many who are poor. let us remember are the backbone of national defense. If you don't like children then do you expect sheep to defend you? By the way I volunteered for military service and hold an honorable discharge from the USMC.
I believe in a strong national defense but also believe in universal free public education k-12 and easy access to college for those who are qualified. All of our children went to state schools and so limited their indebtedness. The state must provide for the common defense, to ensure domestic tranquility law and order. The state must maintain roads and offer some public transportation (buses AMTRAK etc). We are retired and often take AMTRAK to visit relatives. There must be some provision for public transportation for the poor and the elderly.
I worked hard to save enough money to get married -marrying at 26. We had three children (our ages were 27 to 38). I always worked as much overtime as possible and worked two or three jobs. We thought it better for the children to be educated at home in two languages, in religion and in literature and reading. Our children played sports but not club teams because we did not want them to travel and miss church too often. In high school they played a maximum of 2 sports because they had many AP classes and we thought AP classes were more important. At one point I worked four nights a week until 9pm and all day Saturday. My wife did not work outside of the home while the children were small. when our last child was in high school and through college she worked parttime as a medical translator. Essentially she paid for one daughter's college tuition. Our other daughter who did not get a car until she was 18 and working worked 35 hours a week at IHOP while going to school full time. She paid her own rent and tuition. The only financial aid we gave her was #1 cosigning the first year for her apartment #2 signing over a used car for her to commute to work. My son graduated in a six year period working full time the last three years. We had only one car for many years and have only one car now. We never had opulent vacations. Our biggest luxury was buying books (I can't live without books) , the WSJ and Commentary magazine. My wife and I shared one TV and one computer. I had a BOSE CD player and radio in my library and listened to podcasts and sports on the radio. I did not have a smart phone until 2020. Our oldest child is a high school Spanish teacher and soccer coach (he also works part time for the LA Dodgers as mentor/tutor). He has two children so far. Our middle child is a Dual Immersion k-6 teacher. She has two children so far. Our youngest is an engineer and unmarried. My wife often helps out with the day care for the youngest children staying 3-5 weeks at a time when necessary.
Richard writes "We had three children (our ages were 27 to 38)." I think that's the right way to do it. But many people have kids first and don't limit it to three. Richard strikes me as the type parent we need more of. One cause of poverty is what some sociologists call "children having children."
I call myself a "tough love" liberal. Re the statement "Conservatives . . . [say] that no adult should expect to support a family on the minimum wage. A family's breadwinner ought to find a better job." As a firm believer in ZPG, I'd also add "don't have five kids if you can't even support one."