Monday, June 4, 2007

When JFK uttered this noble sentiment during his Inaugural Address, America stood, en masse, put its hands out and applauded. The great contradiction of our time is that a great number of Americans did only not sit down, but kept their hands out. Thus was the "Gimme Generation" created. Gimme subsidized housing, food benefits, health care and money to pay for my mistakes, etc., and I'll give you my vote. This is the great strength of the left, a growing constituency. The "cradle to grave" subsidy mentality came as a result of the "War on Poverty" by the Democratic administrations of the 1960's and subsequent Congresses. I understand that a society must have a safety net to catch its citizens during hard times, but it should not be a trampoline to jump on for life. It is now a lifestyle choice.

The entitlement mentality believes that I was born in this country and this country owes me a living.

It is not the "seasoned citizens" that I complain about, they should have all the help and support possible. But it is the millions of younger Americans who play the system for all it's worth. Imagine how much we could do for the elderly if the "Gimme Generation" wasn't siphoning off so much.

I don't know who won the "War on Poverty," but I know who lost: the American taxpayer.

Greg Theriault

Skowhegan