Entitlement Mentality from the Start

I'm a big believer in immigration. It is an important thing and in the case of Canada, it is absolutely necessary because of our low birthrates.

I belong to an Immigration forum because of the computer charity I created. A woman started a forum thread entitled "Three-month waiting period for healthcare". Here are some of the entries:

When I arrived in Canada, I didn't realize there would be a three-month waiting period before I could be covered under the public health care system. [A friend even joked that I wasn't 'eligible' to fall sick for those many months!!!] Does anyone have any expeierences where you needed medical care in those first three months and weren't covered? Do many newcomers actually get private health insurance?

I came to Canada with 7 months pregnancy and me and my husband had to pay for all the costs of the delivery, including doctors and hospital. Anyway, it was very clear on the information provided by the Government of Canada that we would have the three month waiting period. If it's fair or not, its another discussion. But we have to agree that at least for the skilled workers immigrants it is clear that we have to pay for all the costs related to health care in the first three months after arrival.

Some one told me that you can get your money back after when you are covered. However I am not sure if this is correct. I think the time for the medical cover takes 4 months. First month you have to wait for your bank statement to come thru post which takes 1 month and then 3 months for medical. May be you can show some other document perhaps such as accommodation but I am not sure. Waiting for my bank statement to come really then I will initiate my medical process. In fact I have my phone bill arrived thru posts but the medical centre did not accept this as a valid proof of residence.

Is it just me, or have these people already forgotten about what the word "privilege" means and instead converted them to "rights"? Whatever happened to newcomers wanting to come to Canada to work hard and make a contribution? Now it seems some of these folks already have the entitlement mentality from the get go. This is beyond sad.

The Corporate Welfare Wish-List Grows Longer

"The forest industry wants the federal government to maintain $300 million in existing programs, add a new program worth $300 million over five years and speed up tax breaks to create "world-class business conditions," says Avrim Lazar, president of the Forest Products Association of Canada."

That's how this story opened. While I will never argue with tax reductions, they should be across the board and not for specific industries.

Economists will endlessly argue about the correct amount of personal welfare, but IMHO any corporate welfare is wrong, wrong, wrong. But now that it looks like billions will be given to the Big 3 Automakers, it's not unexpected that everyone else (and their dogs too!) will be putting out their hands as well.

May I share with you that one of my dreams for Canada is a flat tax for individuals and companies with NO exceptions. There are too many vested interested for it to ever happen but I'm absolutely convinced it is what should be done.

Interesting Discussion on the U.S. Federal Reserve

If you're as confused as me about what on earth is going with the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, then do yourself a favour and listen to an interesting interview between John Batchelor and Jim Rogers. Tune to: 1:11:50.

According to Rogers, this is a blatant example of corporate welfare, protecting the riches of a tiny few, at the risk of hurting all the rest of us.

The Downside of Liberal Political Correctness

One common facet amongst liberals is that they adamantly believe that they're smarter, wiser, and kinder than you & me. Here's an exposé of such liberal minded thinking. God help us!

Update: Here's a similar story about what's going on in the U.S. I suppose I should call up the white parents of my Korean friend and tell them how loathsome they are. Nuts!

Nutty Mommy

Some time back a female friend of mind got me reading Amy Alkon. In case you haven't heard of her, she's like a cool, hip version of Dear Abby. This week she shares an incredible series of e-mails shared between her and a welfare mom. Make sure you're sitting down, with no sharp objects around, and read this.

Welfare Entitlement Mentality

I was in a good mood this morning until I read this and this.

The editorials are about a 58 year old woman in New Orleans named Sharon Jasper who is the poster girl for excessive liberal entitlement mentality. She has been on welfare for 57 of those years. In a separate article, she was featured in her government subsidized apartment, complete with hardwood floors and a large screen television. But that's not enough for her. Though she pays no rent, she's complaining that she also has to pay for the utilities that she uses. Wow, shocking, there is actually something in life that she has to pay for herself! Human rights violation! Social injustice! Racism!

How about, "Give Me A Break".

After reading all of this, I couldn't help but be reminded of John F. Kennedy's famous quote: "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

The thing is, people like Jasper exist in every country of the world where welfare exists. I would suggest to you that the more generous the welfare, the larger the percentage of people who are on it. I am in support of getting rid of it? Absolutely not, but every government should go back to first principles and ask what welfare is for. Then they should change it so as to incentivize people to get off it and start working.

In my own life, I find a certain percentage of recipients from my computer donation program who have exactly this mentality, this sense of entitlement. Where their level of greed becomes too great, we reject them ... without apology. I often wonder if we're the first ones who have ever said 'No' to them.

Another big difference in Canada is that most of the people with the same warped view of the world as Jasper are white. So I absolutely detest that when people like Jasper are hauled onto the proverbial carpet and described for exactly what they are, that "racism" is automatically decried.

I'll leave you with a definition that I believe well describes this entitlement mentality:

in·fan·til·ize (nfn-tl-z, n-fn-)tr.v. in·fan·til·ized, in·fan·til·iz·ing, in·fan·til·iz·es

1. To reduce to an infantile state or condition.

2. To treat or condescend to as if still a young child.

A New Requirement to Receive Welfare?

Today, I heard something very interesting that I'd like to throw out for open discussion. A fellow working up in the Alberta oil sands drives heavy machinery and, as such, must submit a urine sample once a month to prove that he his not taking any drugs. His company takes safety very seriously and anyone on drugs operating such equipment would put countless lives at risk.

So in essence, a requirement for him to be paid every month is to submit to a drug test. He earns well over $100,000 per year, a big portion of which is paid in income tax, which goes toward the services that all Canadians enjoy.

Now let's compare him with someone on welfare. Is not welfare a temporary measure that provides short term funding until a person can find a job again? That's what I always thought it was for. If someone is being paid by the government in this way, then what responsibilities do they have? If their primary objective is to find a job then wouldn't it be fair to say that being high on drugs some or all of the time would not be conducive to getting hired?

That oil sands worker strongly believes that everyone who agrees to receive welfare must also agree to a compulsory drug test. What say you?

Interesting Use of Social Assistance

This evening I was listening to Ray Khan, the coolest Muslim fellow on the radio. He appears every weekend on BBC London.

An older retired fellow, Mark, called up and started talking about why he no longer follows the tenets of the Jewish religion. One of the reasons he cited was that he believes prostitution should be legalized.

Ray couldn't resist and asked Mark if he made use of such services. Without hesitation, the old fella said, "Oh yes, about twice every week." He then went on to explain how he divides the money from the government into food, drink, and sex.

I'm convinced there's an hilarious joke here but I'll leave it to someone else to make!

52.6% of Americans Receive "Significant" Government Income

This article boggles my mind. It makes me wonder what percentage of Canadians are receiving similar significant amounts of income. I have to believe there'll be a tipping point beyond which those paying will refuse to any longer.