It seems it is a matter of each of our views of what it is to be a citizen of this nation. Some folks views are built around every man for him/her self and that our economic system is perfect.
As for myself, I have a full understanding that with our economic system full 100-percent employment is not part of it and there will always be those left out of gaining employment.
Our economic system changes as time passes. The same system has changed where as at one time a one-earner household allowed for a family to enjoy a reasonable lifestyle. Now it takes two and in the future it will take a multi-generational, multi-income home to support that same lifestyle that one-earner once covered.
The same goes for our nation”s government as the population and needs for government services have grown. The cost of our military, law enforcement, fire protection, highways, water and sewers, public transportation, government agencies that protect our citizens public assets and food supply, parks, etc., has grown as our nation has grown in size. There is and never has been a simple, permanent dollar cost for these things, and the cost will always need to be adjusted to the economics of the day.
It”s a no-brainer to cover the taxation needed by spreading it across the board with fair and balanced taxation of all of our citizens and business”s that benefit from those funds spent.
Lastly, for those families, who are left in need for basic needs for health care, food and clothing, housing, etc., because of the type of economy our nation has; it is the responsibility of all who understand the humanity of doing so as part of being citizens of what most of us believe to be the great nation that we live in.
Our military has a strong standard, that no one is to be left behind and that goes for those killed while protecting our nation. Should we as citizens feel any less noble having no desire to leave some of our fellow citizens who will not be part of the American dream, due to no fault of their own?
It is a proven fact that the higher the employed numbers are the less crime has to be dealt with. Does this not speak well for helping those in need if it lessens the level of crime on our streets, thus lowering the cost of law enforcement along with the use of taxpayers dollars? Our nation produces enough surplus food that the surplus should first be used to feed our own citizens and then sharing this bounty with the poor of other nations. This goes for basic health service for all our citizens in the name of the human part of our social values that allows us to spend billions of dollars for our domestic pets.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
