"...I see the attitude of "don't tax me" while some poor individual dies of cancer they can't afford to get treated, through no fault of their own, .."
I agree, so far as what you say, "though no fault of their own". Those we can help and, if evidence is correct, we do help, a lot, and gladly so.
Unfortuantely, by far the most of those who live in deep poverty do so as a matter of choice. Since I have limited means to care for my own family, demanding that I should stand in line to pour my means down a poverty rat hole and deprive my family of my means is silly. Seeking a benevolent govenment to tax me so they can give it to those who refuse to do what they could do to take care of themselves is not selfishness, it's realistic.
Consider that the vast majority of those in poverty are poorly educated in spite of a free public education being offered to all, in fact demanded to all. But the "professional poor" chose, of themselves, to live in that life style. They disdain education and have no work ethic, without which their lives will not change.
Don't tell me that some school systems are not as good as others. However true that may be, any education is better than no education and personal effort to learn overrides many obsticles. I didn't attend fancy schools either. We had no AC, no ETV, no computers at all. We had schools with bare wood floors, torn books, limited liberarys and few recreational activities. But we invented computers, took man to the moon and back and defeated communism's most massive state without firing a shot.
It was because WE WORKED! We never sat on our fat fannies and whined about how hard life is with only free housing, food, etc. to help us get by while surrounded by cable TV, CD and DVD players, Boomboxes, autos, cigerettes and wine. And worse. They destroy the free housing given them for kicks, I've seen it. So, my sympathies don't run too deep for those who refuse to help themselves.
Do I have sympathy for the little kids? Sure. But, given their parents and the determined bad community environment, what can I, or the gov., or anyone else do about changing it? Nothing at all! We HAVE tried and the percentage of those living in poverty is virtually unchanged after some fourty years of trying.
They are hopeless "victims" of themselves and will remain so until THEY change. That won't happen until they and THEIR "leaders" quite demogoging others and avoiding the issues. They will have to get off their duffs and get their kids into school and have them go to work if they ever want things like the rest of the nation, those who do work.
They have to learn to go to work, even if they "don't feel like it." Even if their education doesn't qualify them to run the place. Stay there, where ever it is, all day, every day, even if they feel the boss "disses" them". And never quit a job until they have another in hand.
Honest work is not beneath anyone. Work builds character and self image based on accomplishment, not psyco-babble froth. Work isn't for recreation or ego stroking, it's the way for the poor to earn a living and care for themselves and their own families. If they do that, they too will soon resent being robbed to care for the lazy who won't do a thing for themselves.
And even touchy-feely liberals should understand that.
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