Charlie Dent Wants More Welfare
Written by Sam on January 15th, 2007Hat Tip: GrassrootsPA
Congressman Charlie Dent, R-Lehigh Valley, joined the entire Pennsylvania delegation last September in signing a letter criticizing how HUD funds authorities.
According to the letter, the system disproportionately redistributes funding from northeastern states which have high utility and maintenance needs to southern and western states.
More than half the state’s housing authorities will lose about $40 million over the next 15 years, according to the letter. Conversely about 92 percent of Texas authorities will gain almost $651 million and nearly all housing authorities in Florida will gain a total of $502 million over the next 15 years.
Dent said the delegation has asked HUD to delay its new system to at least prevent further funding cuts. Congress is also requesting HUD submit a budget that would fully fund public housing operations, he said.
What we have here is another self-serving politician who wants to go out and pander to a base of his constituency and say, “Look what I’ve brought back for you.” Rather than standing up in front of Congress and speaking about the damage done to freedom and liberty in our country when the government provides handouts to those who have chosen to not be responsible for their own livelihood, Dent whines that it’s not fair. It’s not fair that some states get more feed from the public trough than others. It’s not fair that the wealth distribution isn’t equal across the board.
What isn’t fair, Congressman, is that the rest of us in this country who have lead responsible lives get money stolen from us by you to give to those who have made irresponsible choices with theirs. If I rob a guy at the ATM and take $100 from him and hand it to the homeless man down the street, I would be criminalized and sent to jail. When the government robs me of $100 and gives it to the Section 8 lady down the street who didn’t earn it it’s called “compassion”.
It’s nice to know that we have members of our party standing up for small government. But don’t give all the credit to Charlie. He was joined by his fellow Republicans in the PA delegation.
Phil English - PA 3
Jim Gerlach - PA 6
Tim Murphy - PA 18
John Peterson - PA 5
Joe Pitts - PA 16
Todd Platts - PA 19
Bill Shuster - PA 9
15
PM
Peterson’s my rep. He’s the worst kind of pork RINO.
15
PM
I agree handouts are not a solution, but how do you propose to break the cycle of poverty? What about those who are simply born into that situation?
15
PM
These people don’t believe that there’s a cycle of poverty. As far as they’re concerned, all children of poor black people are just coincidentally stupid and lazy, and that’s why they become the next generation of poor black people. Having grown up in privileged backgrounds, they just can’t imagine that there’s ANY inequality of opportunity or institutional barriers.
Do you think it’s OK that 16.9% of children in the United States live below the poverty line?(compared to poverty rates about half that even in countries like Poland where per capita GDP is substantially lower). Do you really believe that these children have the same opportunity to do well in life that you or I do? If you answer in the affirmative, you’re either lying or incredibly stupid.
15
PM
Xandra, other than the handful of homeless living in our country, there is no poverty in the USA. The poor in this country live lives far better than the average human being in this world.
But, to address your question, there are a few things the government could do to help. First of all, governments across the board can drastically lower taxes of all shapes and sizes. The more money in a person’s pocket translates into more self empowerment. There is so much pork that could be cut which would eliminate billions of dollars of unnecessary spending without even having to touch entitlement programs.
But for the most part, the choice to move out of “poverty” comes from you, the individual, not the government. Being born into a poor family is not an excuse to remain such the whole of your life. I had my own set of circumstances to deal with and I made my life what it is today by working for it and not giving up. Nobody paid my way for anything.
There are certainly people out there with some sort of handicap that prevents them from taking care of themselves and I have no issue with government provided care in those circumstances, but for the most part, the need for government assistance is self-inflicted. By rewarding poor choices you only encourage more of it.
15
PM
It looke like Mr. Barringer has taken the “incredibly stupid” route. I think he may actually believe this, but I’m not convinced.
He’s behind the times though. This “stupid lazy poor black people are stealing my money” rhetoric went out of fashion in the 90s. This sort of inflamatory and ignorant garbage is a non-starter even among most Republicans these days.
16
AM
Except that Sam didn’t bring up race, you did. I’m not a Freudian, but perhaps some projection on your part?
16
PM
Oh come on, we all know the racist code words. “Clean up the streets” is another good one.
I was once talking to a Republican who professed to be a civil libertarian and, in the next breath, praised what Rudy was doing in NYC. Her explanation? “Those people down there need it.” If you don’t think there are racial undertones to comments like this, you’re nuts.
17
AM
Race aside, I cannot see how children of poverty can be said to have an equal chance. Sam, you may have gotten to where you are in life largely on your own, but by the tone of your articles, it doesn’t sound as if you have sympathy. That makes me doubt you have any first hand knowledge of the difficulties facing those going without. And if government kicks back taxes, again, how are the poor going to see any benefit?
I don’t have any surefire answer, but I have a proposal. Everyone should be entitled to get as high and filthy rich as they want, but if taxes were to increase with income, it would supply money for to train the beggars of the world to doing something useful while creating a middle class again! Unlike the backwardness of today, it should get increasingly hard to set yourself apart from the middle in both extremes. The poor always complain about not being able to get employed because they have no permanent address or whatnot, but if the government would create jobs that pay in services such as meals and housing, everyone would be better off. And if they are motivated, then they truly have nothing standing in their way.
Maybe there already exists this plan, but what do you think?
17
PM
Financially, they don’t have an equal chance. They may have to work harder than others to achieve what someone else is lucky enough to have handed to them, but they have that right and opportunity to do so, unlike people in many other nations. This is called life.
You are free to doubt what you will. Regarding charity and sympathy, that is something that comes from an individual. There is no government charity because the government has no money of its own. It has only ours so any redistribution from my pocket to someone else’s in the name of “economic fairness”, which is Marxism, is theft of my livelihood and freedom.
Taxes do increase with income. We have a progressive tax system in this country, which I oppose, but even if we had a just flat tax the wealthier would still be paying more because 10% of a million dollars is more than 10% of $10,000. Addtionally, the wealthier have more buying and pay more sales taxes, more property taxes, etc. They are pay way more than their share. As far as the middle class, we have a very healthy middle class in this country. The claim by the left that it has disappeared is a lie. If you want to help grow the middle class stop making them pay for other’s irresponsibility.
That is a flat out endorsement of Communism.
I now have a better understanding of where you are coming from. What you are asking for is a Marxist society in which people are restricted from possessing freedom and liberty and having to be responsible for themselves. The ideas you suggest are those of Stalin, Marx, Castro, and Mao. Perhaps you would be happier with the Chinese model for America?
17
PM
Xandra,
1) ….but if taxes were to increase with income…
Taxes already increase with income. The progressive tax structure doesn’t help the poor; rather, it discourages entrepreunership and achievement. With a flat tax or a similar proposal, with everyone putting the same percentage into the tax revenue regardless of income, not being punished for making more money will motivate more Americans to strive for great heights; this would create more jobs and expand our economy, helping the lower class.
2) ..it would supply money for to train the beggars of the world to doing something useful while creating a middle class again…
It is not the government’s role to provide jobs, only to provide the best possible conditions for the free market to function at optimum levels to provide jobs.
3) …if the government would create jobs that pay in services such as meals and housing, everyone would be better off…
See #2. The government is also not a foster organization. The free market provides this service through soup kitchens and homeless shelters. One can conceivably live in a homeless shelter for a while, work a minimum wage job flipping burgers, and save up capital and work experience to eventually be able to become a manager and save enough to get a cheap apartment. These opportunities already exist; it’s not the government’s job to provide them.
4) And if they are motivated, then they truly have nothing standing in their way.
That right there is the key problem with impoverished people in this country. People who practice behaviors that are more likely to lead to success are going to garner wealth, and people who practice self-destructive behaviors are going to become impoverished. Only an individual can motivate himself to change, not the government.
17
PM
Yeah, I did kind of outline progressive tax, didn’t I…
I’m going to try to address the problems you bring up.
Impovershed children not only have a financial disadvantage, but they are raised not knowing any other way of life. They might not have the opportunity to attend school. Without education, you really have no options. And even if they were to score a job, if you were in that position, wouldn’t you feel a need to also help your family? Without education or a strong family environment, it is much more unlikely that these kids will turn out to be the citizens America hopes to foster.
Have you ever been homeless? I haven’t either, but it’s just an observation that the better off you are, the harder it is for you to relate to these problems. It’s said that the highest proportional percentage of charity comes from the lower economic entities.
If this inbred unfairness is what you call life, why don’t you buck at the notion of setting the Iraqis free from such oppressive rule and economic dichotomy?
It seems to me that in life, everything gets harder as you get closer to you goal—climbing a mountain, losing weight, becoming an authority in your occupation. Why is it then that money matters are backwards? I don’t think progressive taxes would discourage those who are in this for the challenge anyway. If I have 2,000 apples and you are starving, it makes no difference to me if you take a couple. But to you it means survival. And I most likely earned those apples by your sweat anyway. The reason Walmart is a near monopoly is because the poor or economical must shop there to make ends meet. So you are making your profit from their tough situation. I don’t believe in government charity, but we can all profit from getting those people into the labor force. And the way I see it, it would cost much less from our pockets if they were 75% earning their keep instead of being totally dependent on handouts. And to Langley, how does an expanding economy help the poor if we have no system in place to encourage them anyway?
I wish you would stop implying all people in bad situations are irresponsible. You seem to think it’s a caste system. Born to a farmer, you’re a farmer… But this is America and you shouldn’t be classified by your predecessors.
Nope, China is a bit scary in their government. America suits me fine, but I think we can improve some things. And by listening to each other’s arguments and seeing different points is a good way to tackle it.
17
PM
You are completely contradicting yourself!
I don’t believe in government charity, but we can all profit from getting those people into the labor force. And the way I see it, it would cost much less from our pockets if they were 75% earning their keep instead of being totally dependent on handouts. And to Langley, how does an expanding economy help the poor if we have no system in place to encourage them anyway?
First you say you don’t believe in government charity, then you clammer for a government system to somehow cure the ills of poor people. There is a system in place. It’s called the ever-expanding, dynamic, job-creating American economy.
Over 7.2 MILLION jobs have been created in America since August of 2003.
Our unemployment rate is 4.5%, which is historically extremely low. Typically, 5% unemployment is called “full employment.”
Wages are going up. Low-paying jobs are being exported, opening up more service and managerial jobs being available here.
The economy is rapidly expanding. I really don’t know what you want or expect the government to do.
17
PM
I’m aware and glad the American economy is looking better in comparison to previous years. I don’t know what to think about low wage jobs or any jobs being exported. Is that good?
I am specifically talking about the homeless and those who cannot fulfill daily needs, not just the unemployed.
It’s not a contradiction to want less of a burden on our government by this group of people and not believe in charity. You want to expand the economy more and revoke govt handouts of your hard earned money? Then install a system to do just that. Make them earn their handouts. I mean, the govt already is supporting their full existance. To regain 75% of the funding going into this problem would be a great improvement.
You still didn’t answer my question. How does me earning more money help anyone else?
17
PM
Have you heard that 3.5 million people are homeless in a given year?
And of that, 1.35 million are children? Maybe I’m an idealist, but I think we can do better.