Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Ah, the poor

This post concerns two-no-three recent WaPo articles, the first about how "high housing costs & an unpredictable job market" sends many into homelessness; the second how a young boy died of an infected tooth and the final one (today anyway) concerns childcare subsidies for poor "families." Secondly, this post is also about how liberal publications like to throw sob stories around as proof that we need to do more for the poor and our social services need to be "reformed" (read: more bloated with my tax dollars with still no end in sight).

In the first article about a couple who lost their jobs and because of aforementioned economic woes, is now "poor" and "homeless." It also mentions that the female is pregnant and that prior to their joblessness, they had been supporting children from "other relationships."

The second article is about a kid who had an infected tooth and by the time his "mother" found a Medicaid dentist, the infection had spread to the boy's brain - and he died. First, let me say, I feel bad for the kid - I cannot imagine the suffering he went through and I cannot imagine having such an irresponsible parent.

The third article, in today's WaPo is about all these "poor families" who desperately need childcare subsidies so they can stay off welfare. And they spotlight this single mother (is there any other kind?) who is staying home from her job to take care of her child because she's on a waiting list for childcare subsidies (VA state & federal funds - that means tax dollars to you and me).

Here are a few of my observations:

1. Liberal publications like WaPo like to find these sob stories (it's all about the CHILLLLDDDDRRRENNN!) and basically try to guilt the rest of us into supporting more government programs to help the PPPPOOOOORRRR! Then they manage, ironically, to find the least sympathetic people to highlight.

2. Case in point, if the folks cannot even afford to support themselves or won't take the steps to do that, why are they having children?

3. What? Ever hear of condoms, people? If the females in question can't manage their own contraception and are too irresponsible and weak to demand condom use from the dogs who are screwing them, perhaps they should just keep their legs closed.

4. A glaring omission in the last two stories: where are the sperm-donors and why aren't they contributing to the children's upkeep? I know, out impregnating other females! In the first story, it's stated that the dog is happily depositing his sperm everywhere with no care about consequences until bills come due.

5. Another glaring omission in the second story: why do/did these kids (both of them) have such rotten teeth? Answer: because their "mother" doesn't ensure that they're actually brushing their teeth - or for that matter, around to monitor their eating habits. Come on people - both items are part of parenthood! And I don't have to be a parent to know that - I had two who actually attended to those responsibilities! Go figure!

6. In the first article, these two are so irresponsible and plain stupid, it's hard (actually impossible) to feel any sympathy for their "plight." They abdicate thought mostly and pop out kids they have no way to support. Yet look suitably sad, desperate and pathetic for the Post's cameras. Yeh, it's all about the economy!

And if all of us (I mean folks who work, and live within our means, paying gobs of taxes for all these programs) just stopped working and keeping this industry (yes, poverty and its attendant helpful programs is an industry - and a self-perpetuating one at that!) humming along, what then? No matter what cosmetic actions politicians may enact to mollify us (conservative, responsibility-oriented "us"), there will be yet another pop-up program (see "childcare subsidies") to soak up more cash and accomplish - well, more programs! Welfare by any other name is still welfare. I suppose these liberal publications seek to elicit a response - and they do - in me it's anger.

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Friday, February 23, 2007

Now I'm sure my gov't is on crack

Read here about what both DHS and my own Arlington County is spending taxpayer money on (WaPo, February 22, 2007). Wow - how's that for a security booster. I'm a friend to animals, but this is ridiculous.

Here are some wonderful quotes from the article:

The Department of Homeland Security approved the county's use of $20,000 of a $217,000 Urban Area Security Initiative grant for pet sheltering, Powers said. The county decided that the trailer was the best way to use the funds.

Because Arlington County, illegal capital of the country, knows about security!
Arlington resident Christopher Bannon, 47, a software developer, said he was "shocked" to learn that the county was "spending homeland security money on pets. It doesn't seem to be the right priority."

Yes, I'm "shocked" too, Christopher.
Last year, Congress passed the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act, which mandates that localities have provisions for pets in their emergency plans.

Um, what? Are you all insane?!

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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Credit cards for illegals - come get your goodies!

Bank of America cares about illegals - mostly that they're potential customers. So...persons without SSNs or credit history can now get BoA credit cards. Story here. Yeah!

Some folks aren't actually thrilled with this development and some are actually doing something about it:
-Dennis Miller closes his account with BoA.
-A San Diego Radio Show Host holds a BoA credit card shredding party for those who want to demonstrate their dismay.

Unfortunately, BoA isn't the only bank catering to illegals; Wells Fargo & even the Federal Reserve Bank are cashing in on the complete lack of border control. Sellouts. Well, I don't have time tonight to get the links to these stories, but hopefully will soon...

Hat tips: The Stein Report & Michelle Malkin.

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Thursday, February 08, 2007

Five things I'm really tired of

I may just do a "5 things" blurb from time to time...This is "5 Things I'm really tired of":

1. Jihad, jihad, jihad. I'm sick of reading accounts of suicide bombers, honor killings, of torched cars, of offended Muslims, of Muslims in this country crying discrimination and - uh - racism! Etc.

2. Racism, racism, racism. It's the fall-back charge whenever the "slighted party" wants to avoid any real discussion of the issue. Like illegal immigration. Like criminal activity by certain other parties. Like Muslims detained for suspicious behavior on airplanes.

3. Marching. Any demonstration - don't care what your topic is - don't you have something better to do with your time?

4. Metro incompetence. You've heard it before: can't handle any little snow or rain, escalators and elevators always out of order.

5. The cold. Hasn't been that long a spell, but I'm ready for spring and temps that reach freezing.

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Saturday, February 03, 2007

Book Review: Not Enough Indians

Not Enough Indians, by Harry Shearer (of Simpsons & Christopher Guest movies fame), has an interesting premise: a bankrupt town decides to save itself by requesting federal recognition as an Indian –ahem- Native American – tribe and subsequently setting up a casino there. Now, I was first attracted to this book because Harry Shearer is a hoot in his various incarnations, especially movies like Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind – so I thought he would render a pretty funny/clever novel (even if it was his first). Well…while the book had some funny (not roll-on-the-floor-funny, but chuckle-funny) moments, it was rather insipid overall. The characters were two-dimensional, even stereotypical. Before I read it, I had put it on the potential selections list for our book club, but after reading it, I realized it was so content-lite that it wouldn’t provoke much discussion at all. So, I retracted that particular suggestion.

Although not a horrible first effort, I was not really jazzed by Shearer’s first novel. I’d rate this book a B- or C+.

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