Historically, if you were willing to make sacrifices and work hard in this country you at least had the opportunity to get yourself and your family ahead. Most of the problem now is that we allow (maybe even teach) people that they don't have to make any sacrifices to get ahead. They deserve not just food and shelter but cell phones and cable and flat panel TV's and new cars. They also deserve alcohol, cigarettes, tatoos, etc. just like everyone else does. Even now if you watch those fortunate enough to be born in this country vs. immigrants who don't or barely speak the language, I'll put my money on the immigrants. They already know what it's like to sacrifice and have NO opportunity. Give them the opportunity and they will make sacrifices until they are successful. Do you know why there are so many successful Chinese laundries, Greek restaurants, Indian 7-11's, etc. Those people seized the opportunity while making personal sacrifices to build something. They also worked incredibly hard. Don't ask me to feel sorry for able bodied poor in this country. That's how my family started too. If you need charity, don't ask this US Govt, go to your church. Oh, that's right, churches are evil and mean to gay people. Sorry. I think FDR created the notion that government is one big fat charity. Well, I have news for you. It can't be. It won't work. We need to separate church and state, including the charity part that everyone loves to ignore. If we all got back to the place where we stopped trying to take everybody else's dollar and committed ourselves to making our own dollar we would all be fine.