I took a chemistry class in college on how the test for HIV was created and works. With any biological disease test like that you can never make it perfect so you have to decide if you are going to create a test that has some false positives or some false negatives. If you have false positives some people will be told they are sick that aren't and when more test are done will learn they are healthy. False negatives and people who are very sick will never know.
I always think about that idea when I read or hear people discussing government programs. Our system is flawed and needs serious work. But in order to improve the system I think we need to increase the thoughtfulness of our discourse and stop spreading propaganda that the majority of people on welfare are abusers who want to maintain this fun and free lifestyle. The numbers show that this is not the factual case in our country. Yes, there are people who abuse the system without a doubt and there will be people who abuse ANY system. That sucks and it's not fair. There are a lot of wealthy business owners who also abuse the system. (I think you could make the case that they perhaps have an overall greater impact)
I have lived right on the edge of south central Los Angeles for over 10 years now and before that I lived in a low income area of San Diego. I see a lof of food stamps and WIC and head starts and section eight housing and kids whose only meal is their subsidized school lunch. I know that not everyone using them is using them well. But, I also see a lot of people who are disenfranchised and are struggling and who are trying as hard as they can to give their kids a better life. I see people who work harder than I will ever work and will always have less than I have. That sucks and it's not fair.
I always vote for false positives. I would rather pay knowing that I am paying for some people to abuse the system than live in the sort of place that let's people drown. Let's discuss realistic ways to improve our programs rather than degrade the people who may need them because we could all need them at some point.
I always think about that idea when I read or hear people discussing government programs. Our system is flawed and needs serious work. But in order to improve the system I think we need to increase the thoughtfulness of our discourse and stop spreading propaganda that the majority of people on welfare are abusers who want to maintain this fun and free lifestyle. The numbers show that this is not the factual case in our country. Yes, there are people who abuse the system without a doubt and there will be people who abuse ANY system. That sucks and it's not fair. There are a lot of wealthy business owners who also abuse the system. (I think you could make the case that they perhaps have an overall greater impact)
I have lived right on the edge of south central Los Angeles for over 10 years now and before that I lived in a low income area of San Diego. I see a lof of food stamps and WIC and head starts and section eight housing and kids whose only meal is their subsidized school lunch. I know that not everyone using them is using them well. But, I also see a lot of people who are disenfranchised and are struggling and who are trying as hard as they can to give their kids a better life. I see people who work harder than I will ever work and will always have less than I have. That sucks and it's not fair.
I always vote for false positives. I would rather pay knowing that I am paying for some people to abuse the system than live in the sort of place that let's people drown. Let's discuss realistic ways to improve our programs rather than degrade the people who may need them because we could all need them at some point.
Last edited:
