The Middle Class: Pissed On or Pissed Off

I am writing this with the assumption that I am middle class.  I guess I really don't know.  The membership card hasn't arrived yet.  I am really tired of politics.  All you hear about is the rich and the poor.  The majority of us are in the middle.  If politics was a game of tennis, we would be the net, catching all the crap the other two hit. My wife and I work hard to provide for our family.  But lately I have been asking,"Why?"  It seems that people that don't work seem to get by better that me.  Free food, free health care, housing assistance, utility assistance, daycare assistance, school assistance, shall I go on...  and then they have more expensive cars, clothes, furniture, etc.  Am I jealous? No.  I'm happy with what I have but I'm tired of struggling. 

I hate it when I hear, "Well I'm going to get (fill in the blank) because it's free."  No, it's not free.  Someone has to pay for it.  Our system is so screwed up.  Our government keeps throwing money at taking care of some of it's citizens, while destroying others.  As the middle class shrinks, more hands will be held out looking to be filled and less hands will be doing the filling.  And then where will be?

I believe that there is a certain amount of government responsibility to its citizens, but there has to be a limit. With all of the different agencies, its no wonder people can "live off the government."  The government should help you when your down for a period of time not support you indefinitely.  Now there are special cases that I won't get into.  I am talking about able bodied citizens.

We need to combine all of these agencies under one roof, distribute more economically, and set more effective restrictions.  Cases of need should determined by the following: financial standing; including net worth, drug testing, and a government forced to balance it's budget.  Imagine getting one check and the government tells you, "Based on your household need, here is your help.  Spend it how you like, but remember, this is all you get.  Oh, don't forget, buying material things will increase your net worth and thus lower future government help." 

The rich have one thing right.  It's not their responsibility to support everyone else.  I have blogged about the rich before (Dollars and Sense).  What upsets me about the rich is that our government sets tax laws and the rich do everything they can to get around the tax laws.  It's all legal,  but as I said before: "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should."   A new tax system needs to be created.  I am very much for a national sales tax.  You are taxed on what you buy.  It's fair and not class based.  If all of this could be accomplished, a "more perfect union" would be created.  I'm tired of being the tennis net.

To sum it all up:  I'm pissed off about being pissed on.