A few points of conflict with Jackie L's (Eilonnwy) article.

[thesummerqueen]

Every one of your avatars further cements my belief that you lounge around looking pretty all day.

[blush] not at all - on occasion I indulge a certain older gentleman and he has an inexplicable talent for coaxing a good half-candid picture out of me.

Yeah, I've just seen the systems put in place fail miserably, so I guess I am disenchanted with the idea that America is the land of opportunity. Don't get me wrong. I love it here and, believe me, I know it's terrible in a lot of other countries. I just think that no one's life experiences can be ascertained by the location of their home land.

I do see your point, and perhaps I was wrong to say that "no one is helpless," but for the most part the conversation addressed people who had a voice and weren't medically or otherwise incapable. There are going to be those who slip through the cracks, unfortunately, but at least we as a country have tried to put them (programs) in place. I know you're not arguing that; again, I just thought the approach to the issue was entirely wrong and more than a little ridiculous.