The topic is " Government Welfare Programs" . I do not consider Social Security nor Medicare to be welfare programs nor entitlements because American workers were forced to participate. Politicians like to brag about them as entitlements as if they are your benevolent benefactors. But the truth as we know it is that it had been because of their mis-management that these two programs are in dire straits. So in my mind discussion of Social Security/Medicare is a separate issue

This mismanagement also applies to welfare programs. There is no question that some of us will need a helping hand for a brief period and some of us because of disability will need to be provided for life. It is the human thing to assist and its the Christian thing to do.

However, the federal government too often knowingly use these programs as redistribution schemes and as vote getters quid pro quo arrangements and the like. And/or they lack the knowledge or the motiviation to fight fraud and abuse

I hold both Democrats and Republicans equally responsible for allowing this to continue because it has created generation after generation of slacker and the ranks among them are growing .

I also chose this topic because I am sick and tired of talking about candidates ad nauseam. By now we all know who they are and we all have made up our minds about the spin that surrounds their campaigns.

It would seem reasonable to discuss substantive issues, policies etc and the affect we believe they will have on us

Personal Best Regards