Leon Richard of Farmington, ME A true example of what hard work, dedication, and doing what you're supposed to do can accomplish. And nobody gave it to him. Nobody took him by the hand and walked him to the recruiter's office. Nobody, after boot camp, rode his behind to make sure he did what he was supposed to do, when he was supposed to do it, as good as it could be done. He did it, and now he reaps the rewards.

Too often in our society, well-meaning people take that away from others. They simply had it to the people they view as "in need", and then it is squandered. It's not valued, used as a "stepping stone" or a "hand up", simply taken and used and then thrown away.

Meantime, I work hard every day. The government helps themselves to half of what I make every week. Between gas tax, property tax, water, sewer, income taxes, unemployment tax, social security, student loan payments including interest, and a host of other deductions and licensing fees, administrative costs, I don't have much more left than I would if I had simply sat down and said, "Send the check every month to me."

"Work harder. Millions of people on welfare are counting on you. And hundreds of thousands bureaucrats are counting on you too."report abuse