Judge me. How bad a person am I?

[stanwyck]

A few months ago, a very "fiscal conservative" friend died of a heart attack. He was very fit, 54 yrs. old. He left a wife and two college-age children. Immediately, his fraternity brothers began an aggressive email/phone campaign to solicit funds to help his kids with college. Fine. Except that the deceased had no life insurance. He didn't believe in it. He also had ranted for years against government assistance of any kind, welfare, Social Security, Medicare...you take responsibility for your own. He left massive credit card bills and a second mortgage. His stock market dividends had not been pouring in as expected.
I sent money.
Today, I received a memo that a co-worker (adamantly pro-Bush, Hillary is Satan, a proud listener of Rush)is in desperate need of money to pay his wife's hospital bills. We're encouraged to donate.
I will.
But I have to admit. I'm a little resentful.
If these folks weren't so myopic, we might have a national healthcare plan by now. A basic all Americans deserve. So you don't have to worry about bills when a loved one is seriously ill.
And education would be a priority. Another basic for Americans. So your fraternity brothers aren't begging your friends for college tuition for your kids since you believed more in the stock market than a simple life insurance plan.
Go ahead. Judge me.
I need to be a better person.

[RPM]

1. you re a good person

let them live the lifes they wanted - by dying

[trotsky]

2. You're better than I am.

I may have given money to your friend's family (they didn't have anything to do with his selfish beliefs), but I doubt I would to the co-worker. They bitch and moan about the "entitlement state" and tell people who need money to just get a job. Well, fine, take your own medicine.

[warrens]

3. Keep your money

Let him declare BK and wipe out the bills. If he ain't willing to pay them, or file for BK, why should YOU pay for it?

[MemphisTiger]

4. If it's a legitament story, I would help out

In the end, we're all human beings. Some are just misguided.

[Shoeempress]

5. You are more generous than I. I would have helped the family of the

deceased, because they should not suffer for his stupidity, but the co-worker, I wouldn't give a dime. You voted for the moran, you live by the moran's rules. But I am really mean.

[Burma Jones]

6. Welcome to the Ownershit Society

At least you are no hypocrite, good on ya mate. I would attach a political message to the donation and ask whether this really constituted personal responsibility on the donees part.

[DS1]

7. You're a better person than me

If I ~did~ choose to donate, it'd be very difficult for me to not point out what a bunch of fiscally unconservative morons they all are, and that they should just work harder if they want more money.

[rustydog]

8. That is so sad. I am always confused how these people can

go against their interests and support such divisive assholes as the current Neocon populated Republican party.

I have co workers who bitch about their crappy veterans benefits yet thing George bush and Cheny are Gods.....

[DS1]

9. It's like a Tornado - always happening to 'someone else'

until they find themselves up shit creek, sans paddle.

[LastKnight]

10. you helped em... youre a good person.

me, i probably woulda just said tough luck. was their idea to not get even the most elementary life insurance.

thiers nothing wrong with trying to make a bit of money in the stock market. just make sure your own family is provided for before you go spending your burial money.

that being said, if his family was more open minded than him... i woulda given, but forget the hardline lockstep republican. you dont want any form of financial assistance... thats too bad, dont look for it from me.

[GumboYaYa]

11. It's funny how so many Repubs suddenly become liberal when

the service and benefit cuts hit them.

My wife's aunt is very ill. A lifelong school teacher, her assets are quickly dwindling. In a few months she will be faced with not having enough money to stay in her long-term care facility. As a result she may be moved into my parents-in-law's home. They simply are not equipped to handle a person as ill as my wife's aunt.

My parents-in-law are lifelong, die-hard Republicans. In Missouri where we live, Matt Blunt (the Republican govenor) just made major cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

This weekend we were at my parents-in-laws house talking about the situation and my wife said "Good luck with any government assistance b/c your govenor has gutted all those programs." My mother-in-law replied "That son-of-a-bitch (very unlike her to use those words); he will never get our votes again."

Hate to say it, but we told you so.

[stanwyck]

12. I'm not sure I gave money

for the "right" reasons...I didn't want to appear hypocritical myself as I've always believed we have a responsibility to help those in need. I think I was too aware of what other people might think if I didn't give.
The college students really are victims of a parent who was such a wannabe. (If I vote like a Cheney or a Bush, I'll be filthy rich like a Cheney or a Bush), he trusted the stock market to make him at least solvent, if not wealthy. Some people desperately want to be thought of as rich Republicans -- even when they're not.
My co-worker is another story. He's bigoted and brainwashed by hate-radio. But his wife is very ill. I know he needs the money so I'll help.
But I feel very conflicted.
I don't feel this is the appropriate time for my tirade on his narrow-mindedness. But I'm going to have trouble stifling my urge to lecture him.

[SOteric]

13. The horrible truth of the situation is that it both these circumstance

it isn't the conservatives themselves who suffer, but their loved ones; who may well be liberals for all we know of their voting tendencies.

[WeRQ4U]

14. If you can afford it, help them out...

You can save your lecture for when he makes another sanctimonious speech about his political ideals, because there will be one. They quickly forget.

But when someone is ill, making remarks is tacky and it makes you seem just like them. Save it for a rainy day. You did a good thing.