Question for Extreme Fiscal Conservatives: What Would Happen If You Got Your Way?

[cubby1223]

What if all safety nets and all income redistribution were really done away with? Do you think that ALL Americans would be able to feed, clothe and house themselves? If not, what would happen to those Americans? Do you think that charities would help ALL of them?

Compared to many on this board I'm fairly fiscally conservative, but I do think the government should guarantee some very basic things like shelter, food and clothing. Shelter could even be a tent and food could even be military rations. For those that don't support even the most basic safety nets, what do you think will happen to the people at the "bottom" of our society?

Why do you think many Republicans run on a platform of family values?

Everyone knows that there must be a safety net.

The question is, who provides it? Are we better off with the federal government providing it? Or when it is provided by family, by local communities, by local religious organizations?


You ask: "What if all safety nets and all income redistribution were really done away with? Do you think that ALL Americans would be able to feed, clothe and house themselves?"

I say: in our current situation, not ALL Americans can feed, clothe, and house themselves. You're stuck in your ideological mindset and cannot see any other way. You are open to disagree with the other ways, but you have to at least acknowledge them.

The federal government has waged a war on poverty since the mid-1960's. Guess what! Poverty still exists in increasing numbers. The federal government is more competent in fighting Osama Bin Laden than they are fighting poverty.



Really, it's all about having faith in the generosity of people. Because, if you cannot even have faith in that, then how can you have faith in government to provide generosity?

 

[her209]

Really, it's all about having faith in the generosity of people. Because, if you cannot even have faith in that, then how can you have faith in government to provide generosity?

Get rid of tax deductions for charitable donations and see how generous people really are.

 

[Infohawk]

I have no problem with having a "safety net" - but it should be PAID for. People who advocate for more benefits for the poor rarely want to provide those benefits with their OWN money. Don't pretend to be some sort of humanitarian by forcing others to borrow money just so you can take it, give it away, and declare yourself better than the rest.

I'm talking about safety nets that are paid for by the government. It sounds like you're talking about charity which is not what I was referring to in my question.

 

[zsdersw]

Why do you think many Republicans run on a platform of family values?

Well, if Democrats can run on a platform of job creation, I guess Republicans can run on a platform of "family values". It proves, once again, that both parties are full of sh!t.

 

[Infohawk]

I say: in our current situation, not ALL Americans can feed, clothe, and house themselves.

Like I said earlier in this thread, it's primarily the insane that find themselves without necessities. Everyone else, beyond short-term homelessness, has access to public assistance.

You're stuck in your ideological mindset and cannot see any other way.

Stop making assumptions about my ideological mindset, asshat. I asked an honest question and you're attacking me for it like an idiot. Honestly, it's sad that so many far-right conservatives respond to a question with the kind of anger that is on display in this thread. And you didn't have the decency to answer the question either.

 

[TheSlamma]

2) They would rob, pillage and steal from productive members of society and volunteers.

I know the real outcome (hint - it's not #1, specifically because of #2) and that's why I've been stocking up on ammo and food, making sure I live near a water supply. Because it IS coming.

You haven't been paying to world events I see.

There will come a time very soon where the haves and have-nots will war. It's all part of the communist in chief's plan. Learn from history and prepare. It's already started.

Learn from history, it's happening all over again. But the last time we believed in country, and now the left has mobilized via a "community organizer" as president.

I'm prepared to survive him, are you?

Just like all those fancy weapons and armor protected the Romans from those starved Visigoths.

 

[JTsyo]

We may need to radically rethink what a safety net is, to make it something affordable. Once we bankrupt this country we'll all find out what that new standard of living is.

If I got 'my' way, then Conservative states would do their thing, and Democrat states would do theirs. We'd have competition and people would move to the state with benefits that they enjoy having. Eventually the failures and the success stories would be self explanatory and everyone could opt to follow the route to success.

My way is pluralism where we live together in harmony, not trying to FORCE the other half of this nation to live the way WE demand of them. My way allows us to move swiftly to learn our lessons, placing only a portion of the nation at risk from new experiments in government.

My way will not happen with the fascists in power, and this nation WILL fall under its own weight. Then we'll be lucky to have any standard of living.

Wouldn't the poor people then move to states that would help them, thus putting more strain on the system? It seems then the states would need vesting periods for people to qualify for welfare.

 

[Munky]

Most of the posters on these forums want the "bottom" part to suffer. They hope something comes along and wipes them all out. They are banking on the rich squeezing the bottom until it pops.

Even though these posters themselves are human trash, they somehow got into their diseased mind that they are better.

Sorry, you are trash - plain and simple. Don't flatter yourselves thinking you are somehow better; an inbred bloodline, missing teeth and racist fears aren't something to be proud of.

Troll, troll, troll your boat....

 

[Munky]

Maybe not all americans are able to feed themselves, but that doesn't mean the solution is more welfare spending. Those poor americans enjoy their $100/month cellphone plans, high speed internet and watching TV all day in their air-conditioned homes. We need solutions that will make these people less dependent, not continuing expanding the safety net.

 

[Mursilis]

I'm talking about safety nets that are paid for by the government.

So was I - just not "paid for" with borrowed money.