On Nov 18, 1:52 am, Prometheus wrote:

Nobody was talking about kids. There are all sorts of adult land carp
taking up space in the world, and I don't know that I want to work so
that they can have free health care when their livers fail after 30 or
40 years of hard drinking, or after they get knifed in a scuffle. I
don't mind a little of my earnings going to help their kids, but only
if those kids are moved into a better situation.

A person has to accept the responsibility to look out for themselves
if they accept the freedom to act like an asshole. If they don't do
that, all the money and goodwill in the world can't help them.
Children and handicapped people (and I mean *real* handicapped people-
not hypochondriacs and drug addicts) are exceptions to the general
rule- but only because they *can't* make the choices they need to
make. Able-bodied adults who don't make the right choices simply
*won't*.

I can't argue with any of that. I'd hazard a guess that the vast
majority of people feel the way you do. I'd take it a step further and
require all criminal penalties and jail time incorporate substantial
public service and/or work. The amount of work performed would
contribute towards shortening the time served. Instill habits of hard
work and productive efforts.

The part about your not minding if a little of your money went to help
people out is also a commonly held viewpoint. That's one of the issues
I have with Walmart. They keep their costs down and let the government
take up the slack, other companies take the risks, other countries
violate the law, for them. One of the largest companies in the world
gets fines that would make a slap on the wrist look like the death
penalty. Something's wrong there.

R