A three-year vacation

When government eliminates the consequences of laziness and poor choices, what do you THINK we'll get more of?

NBC 15's Andrea Ramey asked those who have been staying for free in hotel rooms after they moved out of FEMA supplied travel trailers. What she found out is there are some who are doing very little.
The scorching heat puts many at the Quality Inn poolside, but for Gwenester Malone, she chooses to beat the heat by setting her thermostat to sixty degrees. Malone's room for the past three months, along with three meals daily, have all been paid for by taxpayers.
"Do you work?" asked NBC 15's Andrea Ramey.
"No. I'm not working right now," said Malone.
Malone says she can't drive and it's too hot outside to find work within walking distance.
"Since the storm, I haven't had any energy or pep to go get a job, but when push comes to shove, I will," said Malone.

I think three years is well past the statute of limitations for blaming Hurricane Katrina for not "having any energy or pep to get a job." Plenty of others have managed to get on with their lives without living off Uncle Sam.

I've long said if we're going to insist on public "safety nets," there needs to be some stigma attached to them. Anyone can end up on the wrong end of hard times, but what you do next shows your character. Most Americans are generous enough to offer a helping hand, so long as the recipient doesn't start acting like they're entitled to whatever they can think to demand. Personally, I think if you receive ANY kind of public assistance: unemployment, disaster benefits, college loans, what have you, your voting privilege should be suspended until such time as you stop receiving the benefit. If you aren't in a position to look out for your own interests as a free person, you have no business deciding policy for others who are. THAT little caveat would, in a stroke, wipe out the self-perpetuating welfare voting block for whom there is far too much political pandering.

People think the old mindset of "you don't work, you don't eat" is cruel and heartless. But it's more cruel and heartless to allow a class of parasites to feed off the honest labor of others. An empty stomach and a lack of a roof is motivation to get off your rear and be useful. Time to give Malone and those like her that "shove."