they deserve it...or not

Read an interesting piece allegedly from an opinion letter to some local paper. I don't know if it was real...but I loved the concept. Basically, it was a guy writing in saying, "I don't mind paying my taxes, seeing them go to welfare, etc., and don't mind taking the drug test. But I think the people living off me working while they don't should have to pass a drug test first."

That is very much paraphrased, but I must admit...I like the way he thinks. It is one thing to help those who need help because they have not caught the breaks...some people legitimately ARE not intellectually capable of holding a decent job, others would have been but mental abuse and the crappy education system failed them...there are some people worthy of helping. However, people with Ricky Williams syndrome are a different story.

For those who are not familiar with the genius that is Ricky Williams...he was a talented running back out of Texas. Everyone talked about what a good person he was. He took a performance incentive laden contract for much less than he could have made. So far I was on board with him. But then something happened...he started enjoying the tree too much. As a result, he failed their drug test. Then he did it again. Then he did it again. He was suspended. He "retired" to "contemplate" (read "smoke weed"). His career in ashes, he was bankrupt, had teams chasing him for money he owed them when he did not fulfill his contract. He got another chance. This time he would want football, the money and fame more than he wanted to get high. HAhAHahahahahaha yeah, that lasted for a few months and then....wait for it...he failed another drug test. For marijuana. So yeah...he found his need for weed when he peed cost him feed. IN the millions of dollars. He would rather get high than be productive. And that is Ricky Williams syndrome...when a person's desire to partake of illegal substances overrides their need to hold a job and provide for themselves and their loved ones.


I have little if any sympathy for people who are on welfare because they chose drugs...including but not limited to alcohol...as their life choice. Yeah, it is hard...but it is also a choice. Don't try feeding me the "it's a disease" nonsense...no, it is a lack of self control.

And here comes the real gist of this. Things beyond people's control, those I am down with helping out on. Those who are taking a gamble...not so much. For example, I truly believe the government should be helping with snow removal, shelter and emergency medical care on Cherry Creek with the blizzard conditions.

However...I am not on board with Salazar demanding economic aid for the Colorado ranchers. Here is where my heartlessness shines through. Maybe we should do this in news flashes, or bulleting points:

- they are there to make money. these ranchers are not charitable organizations. they are involved in the pursuit of economic advancement. Sometimes in business you make money, sometimes as a result of your efforts and other times in spite of your efforts...and sometimes you go broke because of your decisions and sometimes because despite them. Business is business....and the risks, for good or ill, belong to the business owner.

- it snows in Colorado. Sometimes it snows a lot.

Therefore, the risk, sad as it is, is yours. I am not on board with taking money from other parts of the country and giving it to people in a risky business who got hit with an unusual circumstance. That is the risk you took. No, I am not happy about it, I wish there was another way, but the truth is...it is immoral and unethical to take taxes from people and give them to a business owner simply because s/he fell on hard times. If private citizens want to do something like that...more power to them. But that is not in the realm of the responsibilities...nor, I would argue, the rights...of the government to handle. And it irritates me that a Senator would be making those demands.