What is it with people saying that Government's job is not to help people?

[coloradodem2005]

When the Republicans are in charge, things seem to be made worse. Pieces of legislation they pass are now at a point of directly affecting my life. What a bunch of bullshit.

[Kanary]

1. Welcome to my world.

"Pieces of legislation" have directly affected my life for years now.

Kanary

[AmandaRuth]

2. over propagandized by right wing radio

so how many of these people who say that have ----

used a government program to buy a house

taken money for an on the job injury - or collected unemployment insurance, or used government funds to get job training

have elderly parents dependent on SS

use or have a relative who uses block grant money for day care, so they can work and be somewhat independant

have ever lived in subsidized housing, used food stamps or have received reduced lunches at the public schools

what makes me mad is, I personally know, here in frepperville USA, people who describe themselves as Rush Limbaugh conservatives, who have taken advantage of the first three. But true to the repig wisdom, its all about them, now isn't it. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

[Sugarbleus]

3. Hey K... we are hot on each other's tail..

We UNDERSTAND ColoradoDem. Everyday citizens, their lives are going downhill faster than the Hindenberg!!

It's OUTRAGEOUS. Things have been steadily going downhill for us peapickers down here closer to the bottom for some twenty years; we are hanging on by the skin of our teeth. Now, we see naked, neo-fascist aggression slapping around the middle class too.

Something has to be done and damned quick! WRITE TO YOUR REPS. for starters....DON'T LET UP. IT'S THEIR JOB to take your complaints. They keep writing back those standard replies.........well, keep sending in your complaints......do so until they either cave in or puke. It's the only thing I can think of, at this urgent moment, that can possibly do the trick. Meaning: POWER IN NUMBERS. Keep at them and find others who will join you in mass mailings or protests etc. I don't think we utilize our state and federal reps enough.

One voice, they ignore..........100 voices they may perk up..... 10,000 VOICES they may get off the damn dime! It's a start.

When they say it's not government's job to help people, often times the people reply saying well then what's it good for then. They come back with "You're Right" what do we need with government' and then they try to abolish it.................ONE PARTY SYSTEM=FASCISM. Get busy people.

[the Kelly Gang]

4. they think government is there to help corporations

[Cat Atomic]

5. Most of the people who say that have government jobs.

At least that's my experience. Odd how that works.

[NuttyFluffers]

6. what is government's job if it isn't 'the people'?

gov't comprises the people and the land they work. the whole purpose gov't was created was to provide for the people of the land it controls. now how it provides, and to whom, what, and where it provides is an issue of politics within the gov't. be it elitist and militaristic or egalitarian and democratic the only reason for gov't's existence is the people it serves. period. noticeably gov'ts that are working towards the good of the people earn the people's trust and hence do not collapse as easily as petty, antagonistic gov'ts. history has shown this countless times. so to have stability, which is good to make money and exert your power and ego (what i use to sway the hardheaded, selfish bigots who hold this confused childish view of gov'ts purpose), requires a stable gov't that allows circulation of resources and prevention of latent dissent.


honestly i never understood that argument from such goofballs myself. doesn't it drive you up a living wall, too? i am of the opinion that most are confused by polysyllabic words...

[Leilani]

7. A lot of people resent the amount of taxes they pay

but do not realize what the gov is really spending all that money on.

[leftyandproud]

8. You mean this guy?

"The policy of the American government is to leave its citizens free, neither restraining them nor aiding them in their pursuits."

an extremist...

horrible...

idiotic...

wacko..

Thomas Jefferson

[Pithlet]

10. Generally

When people like Thomas Jefferson say it, they mean it isn't the job of government to rule over every aspect of our lives.

When right wing nut jobs say it, they usually mean Government isn't for the people, unless it is an issue they agree with.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

9. I think it's a result

of corporate America and the wealthy spreadiing this idea. As far as they are concerned it's the Governments job to help them! :)

[Bandit]

11. Government's job is to maintain the Health and Welfare of the Nation

The nation is not a bunch of dirt it is the people. Republicans think geography is more important than people.

[skygazer]

12. "The common good"

I believe that's the phrase used in the Constitution when it describes the government's function. Republicans always seem to automatically cry "welfare"! when you speak of social programs. They yell about how they don't want to pay taxes to support "lazy people". What I find interesting is that they never seem to offer any plans to eradicate poverty nor do they support programs that get people out of poverty (job training, after school, etc.). However, they freely use such programs themselves.

[info being]

13. A Democracy *IS* a population helping itself through government