Arggggg... I can't help it... so here goes again... I really think we need to help the helpless.... its the 4-10 BILLION to illegals that really bugs me! And... no cuts for them!

Lonewolf, I have to agree with you. Then again, like Joe Biden said, maybe it's time for seniors to realize that you can only do so much for them. He was referring to health services but I feel this is a good analogy.

Jay, I am a senior citizen also. I think that the time has come for us to realize that the only time the politicians cater to us is during the campaign, government sees us as a non renewable vote and as such will abandon us without a second thought.

As I predicted, the government cuts the programs that cause the most whining, complaining, and danger to public safety first.

In the mean time, you can get $1000 to replace your wood stove with a new high-efficiency design from the California Air Quality Resources Board. You can get $500 to put a catalytic converter on your diesel tractor. You can get free money to watch your own grandchildren while your daughter (who is on welfare) attends free school and changes majors every year so that she never really graduates, and it does not matter what her grades are.

There is a ton of money being given away by the government, and thousands of employees paid to give it away. You are not looking hard enough.

So, California has a 50 bilion dollar budget problem. I see letters from seniors who don't want their services reduced, school teachers who don't want their pay reduced, state workers who don't want their compensation reduced, fire fighters who don't want their retirements reduced and taxpayers who don't want their incomes reduced through higher taxes.

So just where is all this money going to come from?

Loomisresident, once again I agree with you. I don't want to see the helpless suffer but each of us has to take responability for our own lives. We can not depend on our government to take care of us in our golden years nor could we ever. We have a nation of people who have never saved for tomorrow and now many of them are seniors.

Oh look, more people looking for a free handout. Pull yourself up by the bootstraps seniors! Social Security and Medicare are socialist programs.

If we cut all the extra programs that help the helpless, then we would have some money. Why do you think all these people come to the State of California?, because we have the best programs for ANYBODY who wants to live a free ride. I do feel sorry for the elderly and people with special needs, but lets get real people. Get a job and work your butt off like everyone else!

Thank you Candice. You are right, these disabled seniors need to do what their children did; get a job. Why should we support a group of people who sit around all day? Taking money from the pockets of us hard working people and giving it away to these seniors is redistribution of wealth.. aka SOCIALISM.

Bottom line: If you support benefits for disabled seniors, you are a socialist.

I know 3 or 4 people who receive SSI who have alcohol and drug problems. There is no reason we the taxpayers should be giving them even a dime.

Bronzz,

I know a lady who never paid a dime of Income tax, yet she has been collecting SSI for the past 15 years. Its time we give these seniors what they overwhelmingly vote for election after election. No more handouts for the seniors!

So... Looks like many seniors need to reunite with family aka... move in with their children for care.... Or... get a job! I hope I don't get treated like that... I have prepared for the future as long as it is not taken away.....

Lonewolf,

I do not think Seniors should reunite with their family. In Communist China children take care of their senior parents. Are you suggesting we should be more like Communist China?

The choice is clear. Seniors either need to get a job, or do their patriotic duty and remove themselves from society. Anything else would be an act of socialism.

Remember seniors Governor Swartzenegger is from Austria, just another German with their way of thinking. He came here as an immigrant and got his citizenship and then made a ton of money flexing his muscles and now is in command and he is taking all his cues from Pete Wilson the former govermor and so what can you expect. Pete Wilson ran the state in the hole and then we had governor Davis and he was doing a great job until Enron and Dick Cheny ran the energy bill and the big boys decided with all their money they could get him voted out with Isas money. Money talks and bull hocky walks always. Be so thankful that this governor cannot run for president as he wanted to do by getting the constitution changed. I pray every day he goes away but am afraid he will run for senator next. You in California got waht you voted for and now he has ruined the state again.

Joszef_Pelikan - I have to agree with your insightful analysis. Even elderly Eskimos beyond their productive years know to "walk the ice" so as to not be a burden to their family and tribe. The polar bears recycle them. But here in the lower 48, I even know one or two old farts who don't do anything except hang around on their walkers all day getting haircuts and reminiscing about their youthful days without laxatives or Depends. Why, that's nothing but socialism! Here in the good old USA, the old, sick, lame and lazy should be forced by the police to do the low-paying, dangerous or humiliating jobs that nobody else wants, like picking up dog poop or dancing topless. Anything else would be socialism.

Skeptic,

You are absolutely right. The title to this letter should read "Disabled seniors, take hike".

Diligent. Any more Fairy Tales you want to tell us.

J_P, the fact that the family is very fragmented in this country is a sad fact. The Chinese take care of their elders, that is not due to Communism, that is due to family values. I did the same thing with my parents while living in this Country, again it had nothing to do with what type of economic/ political idealism you live under. It is much easier for children to put their parents out to pasture so as not to crimp their lifestyle than it is to give up a few material things to help them in their final years.

We have to face the facts. This country has taken over raising children, we expect the schools to teach them not only the 3 R's but also everything that used to be the parent's responsibility, the same applies to senior citizens, our parents took care of us for at least 18 years, we should repay them during their last years. OK, there are people that truly can't afford it, and yes there are dysfunctional families also. but as a whole, we should take care of our own.

Come on, you can do a lot better than these few posts, this has nothing to do with Communism, Capitalism or Socialism, it is about personal responsibility and family values, two things that have been on the decline since the mid 1960s..

Loomis,

I pretty mich beleive the opposite of everything I posted here. Oh, and my wife is a Chinese national. We plan on taking care of her parents when they get old.

Ok, you got me there. I was beginning to wonder since I know in the past we have been pretty much on the same page on this issue.

Have a great Sunday.

Swartzenegger is a bully. Why not slash tax loopholes for upper income, get rid of special reps and per diem? So easy to step on the necks of the weak. Socialism? Try Social Darwinism.