This election cycle sure exposed the ugly sores of ignorance. The worst part of this is the people who most need options are the first to be targeted for cuts.
Offenders are released and are supposed to be supervised by parole officers, but the state’s corrections chief decides to cut hundreds of parole officers and reclassify who really needs to be watched, while ex-offenders target their new victims. The evidence will be increased lawsuits against the department and the state, at taxpayer expense, of course, the more expensive option.
An abused woman or child should be monitored by DSHS, but those positions are being cut also, the duties being redistributed to someone who not only cannot get it all done in the 40-hour work week, but is paid less than a Wal-Mart check-out manager to do it. Again, taxpayers will pay the more expensive version via a negligence lawsuit.
And then there is the person who is standing on the street corner holding a sign asking for some type of assistance. How many people drive by with judgmental eyes thinking “get a job!” without considering the fact that the person is mentally ill, can’t afford the medication needed for stability, and because they have been off the medication for more than a day or two, aren’t aware of the fact that they need or can get assistance.
Two long wars, a bull market run with hubris and greedy real-estate deals are the root cause of the country’s economic woes. Rather than focusing on these facts, the extreme elements of all the parties involved stereotype social programs as over-the-top privileges.
It sickens me to watch adults make these type of childish emotional statements, rather than an opinion based on an intelligent review and actions. Their motivations should be questioned and their political careers ended.
Social safety nets not only cost less on the preventative side, it’s the right thing to do. Just open up whatever book of faith you have, or look at your conscience — it says so in many ways.
R. Todd Fredrickson
Monroe
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