Bless America

If you own expensive items, a array of clothes and shoes, a car made a after the year 1990 and go on trips and to shows you should NOT be asking for ANY government assistance whatsoever.

I use a Go Phone from TMobile. It's ugly, box shaped and doesn't have a camera on it (gasp). I have a $100 television set that can be lifted only with the support of two people. I rent a duplex and eat at Taco Bell because it's super cheep. I have no health insurance, no dental insurance, a 10 year old vehicle with 230,000 miles under its belt and still- I have not applied for any government assistance. I know I can afford a comfortable lifestyle though, and I'm proud of what I do have because I have worked to earn it for the last eight years of my young life. I also know that in the next ten years, I'll have even more to be proud of if I continue to work hard.

Why?! Why do I personally know more than three people in my network of friends, who were raised in middle class families, attend college and have all the latest gadgets who apply for things like food stamps and other forms of government assistance. They know they can get away with it. I know of one couple that doesn't get a job because their parents give them - GIVE THEM - more than $600 per month to live on and then they applied for aid. Wow! I can't belive my taxes go towards people who drive nicer cars than I do when there are actually people in this country who need that help. I would understand if there was a war vet with three kids who has only one leg and his home burned down by accident getting some help. That person more than deserves a hand up. I would personally help him rebuild and buy his kids dinner and I'm not even rich. But I believe in supporting people who are down and out- and willing to work to start over. I have also heard stories of these people and I'm happy to live in a country where they have the chance to survive, too. They use this chance for actual survival, not just a savings plan to that left over money goes towards a new Blackberry. I'm ashamed when I see my friends benefiting from flaws in the system. What's the old saying? "Character is what you do when nobody else is looking." It speaks to someones character when you see them running up credit card debt to buy fun toys but using government aid on the side.

In America, people have the opportunity to start over, to work from the bottom and reach the top (or at least close). I am proud to live in a country of opportunity. I'm proud of the ideas our country was founded on, and I live by them. I will not take advantage of them.