A Dilemma

I have never received anything for free. I never expected it; I never asked for it. I have now reached a point when I am getting back more money from Social Security than I put in. I don't know if I should feel guilty or not.

In the 1930's, some misguided politicians passed a law establishing a mandatory insurance program. They felt obliged to mother those who didn't save for their own retirement, and it fell upon all of us. In those days, people tended to die soon after their 65th birthdays, and Social Security was a profit-making endeavor for the government. Since then, the drug companies have pumped us full of medications which have greatly extended our life expectancy, and the system is now in danger of collapse.

I feel very strange getting something for nothing for the first time in my life. I would tell the government to stop sending me my pittance, but that would undoubtedly interfere with my Medicare, which I need, and I do pay for. Perhaps I should apologize to those who are paying in today, and who may never see any of it in their old age.

There are many other people, however, who are getting government money for free. I don't wish to be counted in their number. They ask for it; they expect it. The fall into three major categories: the indolent, the ingenuous, and the illegal.

The indolent are those who are too lazy to work. Many of them were prominently displayed on TV during the Katrina disaster. They are those who think the government owes them a living. It doesn't.

The ingenuous are young, and are replacing their mother's teat with government welfare. Instead of laboring, they work the system to support themselves and their children, because the system is particularly sensitive to the needs of children. Sometimes the ingenuous produce multiple offspring just for the increased income.

The illegals sneak over the border in contravention of U.S. law, and then hold ugly mass demonstrations in major cities demanding to be treated like citizens. The receive benefits not even available to many citizens, such as free health care, and many of them make little effort to gain citizenship. They are a drain on the U.S. economy when they send their earnings "home."

It is said ad nauseum that all Americans are descended from immigrants. My descendents were middle European Caucasians. They pursued immigration through legal channels, and all they asked of the government was the opportunity to work, become citizens, and live the American dream. They got nothing for free. They didn't expect it; they didn't ask for it.

The least I would ask of those living in the U.S is to support the government and make their own way financially. As to freebies from Uncle Sam: don't expect them; don't ask for them.