Shook my head here too

[RvW]

The thread was locked before I had a chance to reply to some pretty juvenile accusations.

First of all, here is what I did NOT say in my post.

"Mexican" Didnt say it.

"Chant" ..not there either.

I feel I have a very valid reason to be upset at what I saw, and it has NOTHING to do with racism!
I do not walk a wide circle around people of other races, nationalities color ect. I treat and view all humans as exactly that...HUMANS, individuals.

It is the nature of many HUMANS to find the easy way, to seek out the simplest path for survival and exploit it. In this case, I feel the abuse effects me and other people who work hard and pay taxes to support programs that I believe are abused.

I did not go on to make a point that these HUMANS in front of me would BE on food stamps if they were honest about thier NEEDS, but I did imply that it appears there was little need for food stamps in this case because each was dressed well, driving a $40k truck, and just happened to have a visa card for the non food items in thier carts. It is questionable if there was a genuine need in this case, and I think I effectively QUESTIONED it, but didnt assume there wasnt.

The word "designer" clothing was the best I could think of at the time, and I am well aware of what the difference is between 5 pairs of brand new Nike or doc martins shoes, old navy sweatshirt,tommy hilfiger puffed down parkas (you often see gang members in LA wearing), and what you might find at a local goodwill store.

I was irate not at the suspicion of abuse being somewhat confirmed, but because even with the visa card to back up the food stamp purchase, THE BABY FOOD WAS LEFT BEHIND!

I certainly agree that there are people in genuine need, and I have no trouble doing what I can to help. I think the first step is to weed out people who DONT need the help, so those who do get more.

If I say freeloader..Im NOT attacking the nationality of a FREELOADER... Those who think my problem is the race color creed of a person doing the FREELOADING may very well have the same shallow intollerant attitude they accuse me of.
My statement which contained the word "spanish" was one of FACT and not sentiment.

Excuse me, but I must now go and contribute another 8 hours to the cause.

Thanks for allowing me to clear this up.

[ 03-12-2003, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: cirrhosis-of-the-river ]

[Bigdog]

[img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[lost_sailor]

For some reason you felt compelled to point out what language they were speaking. You would have avoided a lot of the backlash if you hadn't.
Perhaps the person receiving assistance did not have any transportation at all, and caught a ride with someone else.

Maybe you're willing to give me a ride to Safeway in your new truck ... that doesn't mean you should be buying food for my kids.

When I use a VISA card at the grocery store -- it's because the bank is empty.

You either have to let the system work, or work to change the system. Headshaking doesn't do much, unless you're a chinook!

[Boedy]

Abuse of the system is what COTR is talking about not the person’s race that perpetrated the abuse. The left always to try to shift the real issue to one of race and calls of bigotry so they can advert attention from the fact that there is wide spread abuse of the States welfare programs. The thought that anybody questions this welfare state we are creating is always met with calls of racism and ignorance instead of calls for reform.

Sad to say but it seem to be the way the democrats play these days, avoid the issue and play the race card anytime they can’t admit that there is a problem. The old give a man a fish and he eats for a day teach a man to fish and he eats for life comes to mind. I am all for giving assistance to people in real need but there should be a tougher standard for that aid and more checks and balances to insure that only the people in real need get the assistance. With the states current budget woes it strikes me as odd that no one is actively looking at this problem as a way to cut back on the huge welfare bill this state has.

[ 03-12-2003, 09:49 AM: Message edited by: Boedy ]

[Straydog]

COTR,

From your original post, go back and read it, "chanting spanish phrases".

I stand corrected on the word "Mexican." My apologies.

You are splitting hairs when you say 'chant' was not there.

I ask you, when you are describing a conversation with a white anglo to someone, do you say "So and so was chanting about this and that in English over lunch today."?
I doubt that.

My question is, if race and prejudice have nothing to do with your post, which you likely really don't realize is evident, why make the distinction at all? Why not say "I saw some people buyng stuff on food stamps and have assumed they are abusing the system."? Or something of that nature?

Further, my wife shops at Goodwill and brings stuff home that is brand new, top of the line stuff that she buys for pennies on the dollar. A result of the huge wealth gap in our country today. The wealthy donate a lot of their unneeded goods and that is a good thing.

Boedy, why must you always make this a Liberal vs Conservative or Dem. vs Republican?

I am a Republican that was taught to believe we are all created equal. You seem to be more comfortable putting us all in little boxes.... Why is that?

[ 03-12-2003, 10:11 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[Boedy]

Your the leftist leaning Republican I have every seen Dog :grin:

[Straydog]

Try moderate.........ever heard of Tom McCall? :grin:
He was my motivation to become an R.

BTW, you avoided the question and most of the content of my post.

Care to elaborate? :whazzup:

[ 03-12-2003, 10:07 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[lost_sailor]

Left, right ...

When I am offended by prejudice, I have to say so. Saying nothing is not an option.

That's such a bad thing?

Maybe we can "get over it" and discuss COTR's genuine issue about (perceived) abuse of the food stamp system.

Teach THEM to lock a thread, eh?
Nice moderators, thank you, good job, thank you, you are our favorite moderators, the best!
to the mods!

[Jennie@ifish]

Quit fighting. Period.

Some people are racist. Some people are not.
Some people hate to be called racist.
Some people are proud of it.

Yip, we are all different here, and we do not know one another, for the most part.

Don't assume anything.
Quit fighting.

Jen