Billionaire and lefty wingnut George Soros had a brilliant, spread the wealth, idea for the less fortunate people of New York State. He gave $35 million of his own money so needy children in our state could buy school supplies, federal taxpayers gave $140 million in stimulus money routed through the state to do the same.
The intention was clear, the money was supposed to go to help children. The execution, like most government and socialist programs, was deplorable! $200 for every kid whose parents were on welfare, no strings attached on how the money could be spent.
Where did the money go? To the purchase of flat panel televisions, videogames, beauty parlors, and even in some cases disappeared in cold cash. In short widespread abuse. Luckily my county of Monroe has an executive, Maggie Brooks, willing to stand up to the abuse.
For those of us who are upset though not surprised about the behavior, the left has its simple argument that they have used in every case of abuse, mismanagement and flat our stupidity with the stimulus and other government programs. What do you care? It is stimulating the economy, generating sales tax, stop being mean!
Abuse is rampant in Medicaid, welfare and food stamps and it costs taxpayers billions every year. Abuse has destroyed local and state budgets and has collapsed the federal budget into debt. Programs like this back to school are exploited or worse left completely mismanaged by the government with no care for how the money is spent. Just as banks have run amok with TARP money, citizens have brought massive abuse to every government welfare program.
Worse welfare kills individual spirit and the ability for people to move themselves further on the social and economic ladder. It removes the value of work and the value of property. I don’t doubt that this latest folly was put together with the best of intentions, just like every other twisted socialist program. The road to hell is paved with such intentions and this is one more mile of bankrupt highway.
