Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom, socialism restricts it. Democracy attaches all possible value to each man; socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.      (Alexis de Tocqueville)

Today, in the world we cobbled together after World War 2, we’re watching the passing of what’s been called “The Greatest Generation”. That generation is composed of people who were the children of pioneers and innovators fully into the development of a maturing nation. These people of this generation inherited a common perspective devoted to understanding and being committed to the hard work that endeavor required.

From the heartland came people accustomed to working from “can see to can’t see”. They were familiar with labor and industry and producing the goods necessary to make this nation grow and flourish in a healthy manner. The native of this great land, who inhabited the coastal states, was acquainted with the rigorous labors of industrial commerce: steel making, shipping, transport and manufacturing and scientific and chemical development. Working for a living was the norm and the very concept of being “on government assistance”, or “the dole” was a point of abomination allowing those who were employed to pity those ill-equipped to function without help. People “on the dole” suffered shame for their inability to subsist on their own. Charity for these people was a matter of being cared for by family or in many cases through their houses of worship and religion based charitable organizations in place for that purpose.

Government wasn’t the “sugar teat” so many people nuzzle and fight others daily for access to the “freebies” offered by a socialist/progressive element inhabiting Congress and most specifically the White House. The modern welfare system is based in and dependent on the Social Security benefits paid into and earned by workers but regularly stripped to support people NEVER contributed to those funds.

AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) is a program administered and funded by Federal and State governments to provide financial assistance to needy families. In an average State, more than half (55 percent) of the total cost of AFDC payments are funded by the Federal government. The States provide the balance of these payments, manage the program, and determine who receives benefits and how much they get.            (www.census.gov)

In order to be eligible to receive AFDC payments, a family must have a dependent child who is under age 18 and living with them. Eligibility for benefits also covers children deprived of financial support from one of their parents due to the parent’s death, continued absence, or incapacity. This includes children in two-parent families where the principal family earner is unemployed. They must be a resident of the State they live in. The recipient must be a U.S. citizen or an alien who is permanently and lawfully residing in the United States.  (U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division)

Now just where is that money supposed to be replenished from? Where the Socialists claim the wealthy must be required to pay more taxes by law, those people enacting and passing the laws (people of extensive wealth) write tax laws allowing the wealthy and politically connected to avoid taxation by sculpting loopholes into all tax laws for themselves. Therefore those required to “pay the freight” for these social freeloaders are inhabitant in the MIDDLE CLASS; those most often proclaimed by politicians in need of assistance through tax breaks and legislation. They all say they’re for tax reform but none do it.

What happened to the crap Bill Clinton spoke about during his administration and others have followed suit in quoting him: “it’s a hand UP! Not a hand-out!” It would have been better if somebody would stand and say “It’s purely a slap in the middle class’ face” because it’s B.S. What happened to the requirement that people train for employment so they may finally leave the welfare rolls? It seems in many cases the employment followed by so many young people is the production and rearing of the next generation of welfare cheats. Welfare has become a generational thing in many cases.

The United States federal earned income tax credit or earned income credit (EITC or EIC) is a refundable tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and couples—particularly those with children. The amount of EITC benefit depends on a recipient’s income and number of children. This means  a married woman may keep her maiden name, declare herself “head of household” (HOH) with two children and get back a major portion of her taxes refunded because she earns under $40,000,00 annually. Because of her “HOH” status and the fact she doesn’t file with her husband, she skirts the issue legally through a loophole placed there by self-serving politicians using the legislation to maintain a bloated and shameless constituency. I worked for 30 years as a law-enforcement officer and saw generations live comfortably without employment or worked for cash at a lower rate so they could cheat and “game the system”.

Congress needs to be commanded to close the loopholes on corporate tax evasion and welfare fraud immediately. The tax code needs to be thrown away and the laws simplified to no more than the following: “everybody pays ‘X-point-sum’ tax on all gross income without regard to employment, corporate structure or corporate habitation either in the United States or without, unless a tariff be applied to goods imported to balance the tax base. (This would include traitor corporations who shift their corporate offices abroad to avoid their tax responsibilities such as General Electric and others.) NO MORE LOOPHOLES FOR ANYBODY!

Thanks for listening.