by Gene Scarborough » Fri Mar 04, 2011 11:09 am
Not sure whether we are agreeing or disagreeing. We are citing some of the same suff though.
I don't think we really have a clue whether we have a democracy / socialism / or somewhere in between. We certainly have a mess!!!!
I sat on the LBJ first Title XX Project Committee in SC back in the early 70's. I was Pastor of the FBC Bishopville, SC, and the white hospital administrator asked me to be one of 2 representing Lee County. The 5-county Santee-Wateree district was our location and it encompassed Sumpter / Camden / Florence / etc. It is near the famous Darlington Raceway.
We had several millions to distribute and fund programs like free transport for medical services / free housekeeper once a week / food stamps /etc. I asked the Federal representative a couple of questions as we started: (1) Can you tell me what part of a dollar paid in taxes in this area comes back to us after the bureaucracy is paid for handling it? (2) Assuming we are a blessed country which should care for its most disadvantaged citizens, should we put in any program which makes a person want to continue on welfare?
The first question he could not answer, but I suspect we are lucky to get back 40-60 cents of that dollar in services. The second has been answered in the, now, 4th generation of Welfare recipients---not that many have opted out with hard work and a significan advantage in minority hiring rules. We are on a dead end of continued self-imposed slavery. Too many enjoy being slaves of welfare or their own lack of motivation to advance in society. It is a sad story of the greatest opportunity society on this earth proving what Jesus said, "The poor are with us always." Sadly too, some enjoy sitting on the porch doing nothing more than getting fat!
With respect to "southern economy" let me invite you to visit Rocky Mount, NC, which in the 80's used to be a great place to live and raise kids. Now---every large manufacturing facility is closed and moved out of country / drugs and crime rule / welfare is a way of life in the hood / I wish I could find a few people of color willing to work for me at fair wages over sitting and selling drugs. I have had employees break into my house / sell drugs to a new employee who stole my truck---and all my equipement on it was traded for drugs as he made his way to western Pennsylvania. I'm not whining, but trying to tell you the truth about modern slavery in my world. Do you live in this real world or pastor some church somewhere "safe?"
Gene Scarborough