Instead of solving economic problems, government welfare socialism created monstrous moral and spiritual problems. The kind of problems that are inevitable when individuals turn responsibility for their lives over to others.

The legacy of American socialism is our blighted inner cities, dysfunctional inner city schools, and broken black families.

Through God's grace, I found my way out. It was then that I understood what freedom meant and how great this country is.

I had the privilege of working on welfare reform in 1996, passed by a Republican congress and signed into law by a Democrat president. A few years after enactment, welfare roles were down fifty percent.

I thought we were on th...

Instead of solving economic problems, government welfare socialism created monstrous moral and spiritual problems. The kind of problems that are inevitable when individuals turn responsibility for their lives over to others.

The legacy of American socialism is our blighted inner cities, dysfunctional inner city schools, and broken black families.

Through God's grace, I found my way out. It was then that I understood what freedom meant and how great this country is.

I had the privilege of working on welfare reform in 1996, passed by a Republican congress and signed into law by a Democrat president. A few years after enactment, welfare roles were down fifty percent.

I thought we were on the road to moving socialism out of our poor black communities and replacing it with wealth producing American capitalism.

But, incredibly, we are going in the opposite direction.

Instead of poor America on socialism becoming more like rich American on capitalism, rich America on capitalism is becoming like poor America on socialism.

Uncle Sam has welcomed our banks onto the plantation and they have said, "Thank you, Suh."
Now, instead of thinking about what creative things need to be done to serve customers, they are thinking about what they have to tell Massah in order to get their cash.

There is some kind of irony that this is all happening under our first black president on the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Abraham Lincoln.

Worse, socialism seems to be the element of our new young president. And maybe even more troubling, our corporate executives seem happy to move onto the plantation.

In an op-ed on the opinion page of the Washington Post, Mr. Obama is clear that the goal of his trillion dollar spending plan is much more than short term economic stimulus.

"This plan is more than a prescription for short-term spending-it's a strategy for America's long-term growth and opportunity in areas such as renewable energy, health care, and education."

Perhaps more incredibly, Obama seems to think that government taking over an economy is a new idea. Or that massive growth in government can take place "with unprecedented transparency and accountability."

Yes, sir, we heard it from Jimmy Carter when he created the Department of Energy, the Synfuels Corporation, and the Department of Education.

Or how about the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 -- The War on Poverty -- which President Johnson said "...does not merely expand old programs or improve what is already being done. It charts a new course. It strikes at the causes, not just the consequences of poverty."

Trillions of dollars later, black poverty is the same. But black families are ...

Perhaps more incredibly, Obama seems to think that government taking over an economy is a new idea. Or that massive growth in government can take place "with unprecedented transparency and accountability."

Yes, sir, we heard it from Jimmy Carter when he created the Department of Energy, the Synfuels Corporation, and the Department of Education.

Or how about the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 -- The War on Poverty -- which President Johnson said "...does not merely expand old programs or improve what is already being done. It charts a new course. It strikes at the causes, not just the consequences of poverty."

Trillions of dollars later, black poverty is the same. But black families are not, with triple the incidence of single parent homes and out of wedlock births.

It's not complicated. Americans can accept Barack Obama's invitation to move onto the plantation. Or they can choose personal responsibility and freedom.

Does anyone really need to think about what the choice should be?

I would be okay with not taking my social security benefits if they were never taken out of my paycheck to begin with.

I understand this frustration, but the decisions of the financially secure, the wealthy, the well positioned, and congress to take because they put in greatly raises the cost of these programs. I find it slightly disingenuous for any conservative to rant against government programs, but take the handouts--- especially the damn fiscal stimulus package! Consider those same taxes you paid went to the war in Iraq-if you look at it that way, do you feel any differently (because in great measure they did)? I would like to have not paid my share taxes to supppo...

I would be okay with not taking my social security benefits if they were never taken out of my paycheck to begin with.

I understand this frustration, but the decisions of the financially secure, the wealthy, the well positioned, and congress to take because they put in greatly raises the cost of these programs. I find it slightly disingenuous for any conservative to rant against government programs, but take the handouts--- especially the damn fiscal stimulus package! Consider those same taxes you paid went to the war in Iraq-if you look at it that way, do you feel any differently (because in great measure they did)? I would like to have not paid my share taxes to suppport war financing, but was not given a choice. Your other point, beyond the scope of the article-I agree-no problem with her comments-just pointing out it is a simplification of the problem in the poor communities to be blamed on one mismanaged govt program.

billpar-wasn't personal at all, but I think you can understand the greater point. There are things I pay taxes for that I don't approve of. If I could opt out and not pay them, I would, but I can't, nor should you, the wealthy or anyone else in a democracy! If Bush wants to give me back my war taxes, I will ask Obama to give anyone who rants against social programs their taxes back too and not distribute any benefits to them! They can be on their own!!!! I think you get my point! A tax is a tax..... There are many conservatives who use your reasoning who don't NEED the socialist programs but take because they "paid taxes"- I find that disingenuous. I think many moderate conservatives lik...

billpar-wasn't personal at all, but I think you can understand the greater point. There are things I pay taxes for that I don't approve of. If I could opt out and not pay them, I would, but I can't, nor should you, the wealthy or anyone else in a democracy! If Bush wants to give me back my war taxes, I will ask Obama to give anyone who rants against social programs their taxes back too and not distribute any benefits to them! They can be on their own!!!! I think you get my point! A tax is a tax..... There are many conservatives who use your reasoning who don't NEED the socialist programs but take because they "paid taxes"- I find that disingenuous. I think many moderate conservatives like me want these programs to continue, but to get them better managed, regulated, and budgeted. (Our voice is being drowned out by the drumbeat of SOCIALISM!) And yes you are right again, I misspoke by saying one program (welfare)-not nitpicking at all! Thanks for the discussion.