This is a lengthy response and I think it makes some important points (although partially unrelated to the original topic). So, I have made it a new post.
The problem is, when you ignore that the workers in the fields are illegals, you are basically condoning indentured servitude. Let's face it, these people aren't being paid according to the law - they are afraid of being deported. Thus, employers take advantage of them. They work long and hard for very little and in terrible conditions. They are afforded no workers' rights and are victims of unreported crimes. There is a fundamental problem with this that is ignored by the so-called compassionate liberals. This is no way to live.
Politicians that pretend to be concerned for these people by allowing illegal immigration to continue are lying. They are either ok with the near slavery of these people or they are incompetent. Either way, why would we allow them to represent us in public office? This is a very important point because it is also often true of "liberal" policies that appear to help people with entitlements.
Upon close inspection, you will find that entitlements create a class of people dependent on government for their very survival. They are often unable to lift themselves from poverty because success is never encouraged nor is success allowed. Instead, recipients are forced into a cycle of dependence on the system. When you throw people crumbs, you create slaves to the system who must beg for those crumbs. It is terribly sad that in 2009, we still allow our government to treat citizens as if they are not worthy of success.
Look at Social Security disability - if you are injured, you can either not work at all and collect a pittance from the government or you can try to work and eventually lose that monthly check - even if you are incapable of earning a living. If you are on medicare due to disability, you are not even allowed to purchase your own private health care plan. There is no room for people who still want to try to contribute - even if they can do less than they could before they were injured. There is no partial disability. It is an all or nothing proposition.
It is an illusion that these programs ever actually help people. The end result is that recipients are inclined to vote for the politicians who are in favor of entitlements due to dependence and fear. Thus, Democrats CREATE voters for themselves with entitlements and keep voters by reinforcing fear.
Republicans are equally guilty here. They allow this illusion to be perpetuated by not offering any reasonable alternatives and they gain power by touting smaller government with little regard for the existing entitlement recipients. They do not challenge democrats on these entitlements in a reasonable way and live in political fear of being labeled "insensitive" or "heartless". They fail to have a message of resolution to these issues because they allow their opponents to play on fear and age old party labels.
We definitely need smaller government - on that, I agree with Republicans. However, we now have a system full of people (generations of people in some cases) trapped by the very entitlements that should be helping them. We cannot just ignore these people and their needs/fears, which we have created with our votes.
I believe that, if Republicans can't find a way to address these issues in a meaningful way, we need a new political party willing to see that we can do better. Further, a new party would be a fresh start - free of the labels now afflicting conservative Republicans.
We cannot ignore that people sometimes need help. However, we can also no longer ignore the fact that all entitlements trend toward socialism. We need new, creative ideas that help people by allowing reasonable "safety net" entitlements that lift people up by rewarding initiative and success. We need programs that educate people back to work - not pay for no work. Of course, there are going to be some citizens who have legitimate issues preventing them from working and we must care for them as a society. However, the majority of the people must be weaned off of "the system" and into personal success. My personal feeling is that this can be done through careful planning and education. Further, we can reduce costs by requiring public sector work to repay the generosity of the American taxpayers.
The problem? This would require Americans to break from their political parties and actually vote to get something real accomplished rather than the same old party bickering. Honestly, I don't know if that is possible, but it is worth a try - America is worth a try.
