Why don't conservatives see that welfare programs are good for society as a whole?

[Minimalist]

The problem as I see it is that the government isn't properly accountable.

Not sure how it is over there but over here the first thing the conservatives do when they get a chance is cut funding for the inspectors who investigate fraud. Then they bitch and moan about all the "fraud" and the stories are usually apocryphal and circulated via the internet!

We see the same shit with the Child Welfare office. They cut the staff, increase the caseload to absurd levels and then when there is an incident blame "government" for not doing the job.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

At the root of the issue, you shouldn't need such wide spread social welfare.

Actually,it's the OPINION that widespread welfare should not be necessary,which is a strawman. The simple fact is that it IS necessary. Ideological/moral/religious opinions of what 'should' be' ,are irrelevant.

[The Magic Pudding]

I heard this morning the US is reducing its defence spending but will still spend more than the next ten largest countries combined. Thanks US people for making this sacrifice to make the world stable so we can spend our money on health, education and other useful stuff.

Australia's minimum wage is $15.51 per hour, our dollar is worth a similar amount as the US$.

Politicians and shock jocks use bullshit stories of the poor to stir up resentment, create an us an them situation, it gets them supporters. Corporations and the rich finance them so they usually leave them alone. Ye I know everybody knows that.

[Minimalist]

Yes, by a whopping $45 billion a year...for ten years...( out of a $730 billion budget this year.)

And already the republican warmongers and their arms merchant buddies are screaming like stuck pigs.

http://www.kxxv.com/story/16457957/new-defence

WACO - Republican lawmakers are already blasting President Obama's new defense strategy that could slash the budget by $450 billion and reduce troop levels by 10 to 15 percent.

[Perhaps]

The problem isn't the rich or the system. The problem is the government which regulates the system and propagandizes the poor. Instead of blaming the rich for being successful and greedy, perhaps more time should be spent blaming the government for not doing its job in providing for the people. It is NOT the job of the individual to provide for the collective. It IS the job of the collective to provide for itself.

Rework the government so that welfare and education are its two highest priorities. From this you allow the poor to live while educating the future so that they can have an opportunity in the market, instead of getting hand outs from those who have no moral obligation to give their money away. All you need is equal opportunity, then it all relies on work ethic. Right now we don't have equal opportunity, our school systems are fundamentally flawed and the rich take advantage of the broken system - something which is intelligent and greedy.

Actually,it's the OPINION that widespread welfare should not be necessary,which is a strawman. The simple fact is that it IS necessary. Ideological/moral/religious opinions of what 'should' be' ,are irrelevant.

I call bullshit on this one. Unless your talking about relative to a certain point in history, which I could see, but overall this claim is blatantly false and the most anti-progressive I think I've ever heard. The goal of society should not be to live off of everyone else, but to provide for yourself.

[Minimalist]

Rework the government so that welfare and education are its two highest priorities.

What country are you from, Perhaps?

[Perhaps]

What country are you from, Perhaps?

America - perhaps I should specify further, by saying two biggest priorities I mean that they receive the vast majority of the federal budget as well as the vast majority of federal attention in a non-fiscal manner.

[rhonin85]

Education needs to be a priority but again the conservatives oppose this at least on a federal level. Their biggest education goal seems to be getting Intelligent Design taught in public schools. We just had something like that happen here in KY, thankfully, the Education commissioner stuck to his guns and left Evolution to be taught in biology.

[Perhaps]

Vote for the policy, not the name. I don't care what you prefer to call yourself - conservative, liberal, independent, etc. - I only care about what you say you will attempt to do if put in office.

[Minimalist]

What country are you from, Perhaps?

America - perhaps I should specify further, by saying two biggest priorities I mean that they receive the vast majority of the federal budget as well as the vast majority of federal attention in a non-fiscal manner.

I had to go to another board to get this for you. Consider it carefully and you'll see what you are up against.

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/22/144079041/...udget-cuts

Leander has already eliminated golf and tennis. What if football is next?

"I'd spend a thousand bucks out of pocket myself to make sure it'd stay," says Ross Briton, whose son plays football. "I'd work two jobs if it took that to do it. End of story."

Briton says it's not just a sport here: It's part of the culture and a big part of the community's identity. The district should pare down the curriculum before it cuts football, he says.

"I would cut most liberal arts out of the high school. I'd keep math, science, reading. I'd add the vocational education back, because I think there's too much fluff," Briton says.