FDR's New Deal...

I was driving thru and economically depressed area of Hartford on the way to an appointment and my frustration with the status quo began to grow again. You should have seen how many people were outside, on the streets and, most importantly not working in the middle of the afternoon.

It didn't seem to me like these folks were on injured or independently wealthy. So why then, are they home in the middle of the work day? Could it be because our "leaders" have empowered them to do so? Empowered is a poor word choice, encouraged is better.

Asses this situation. You are a hard working individual with few marketable skills who works 80 hour weeks to still struggle to get by and put food in your family's mouths. Your neighbor is a disabled alcoholic receiving SSI who lives with his baby's mother receiving section 8 housing, food stamps and other forms of public assistance. Who is better off? Who has the better quality of life? Who is the roll model for many in our inner cities and rural areas? Is it the hard working individual or the one on the public dole?

The sad fact is that the one on the dole is better off. Working 80 hours a week is tiring. Trust me, I used to do it. Shouldn't the hard working individual be given an incentive to work so hard? Shouldn't the individual on the dole be given an incentive to get a job? I think so. In fact, I know so.

Here's is what I propose. No free rides! Simple right? If you are given a check from the government you need to work for that benefit. If you are unable to find work, we will find you a job. I do not care if you do not want the job we give you. There should be no trash on the side of the road, no graffiti on building walls, no infrastructure in disrepair. If you get a check, you go to work. If you are unable to do physical work because of age or disability, I'm sure our government needs people to do data entry or filing. If you get a check, you go to work. If you need child care, guess what, I just found a job for someone. If you get a check, you go to work.

What incentive is there for someone to better them-self if we give them a check to sit on their backsides all day doing nothing? Shame on the politicians for not seeing this. If you get a check, you go to work.

If you don't like the job we give you, better yourself, go get a marketable skill and find yourself your own job! I have a problem with a number of the social programs and reforms brought on by the New Deal, but when it comes to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), FDR got it right. (Lets face it, if you anger the unions, you probably got it right.) The CCC was a work relief program for young men from unemployed families during the Great Depression. Why did this ever go away? Wouldn't this be a good program for people on the dole today? If you get a check, you go to work!

God Bless America,
EG
erik@exchangeyourgovernment.com