Lt. Gov. Bauer Says Poor People Should Earn Their Benefits
– January 25, 2010
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer says that a statement he made last week during a town hall meeting may not be politically correct, but he is honest.
In a statement released to News Channel 7, Bauer acknowledged that his intended metaphor could have been delivered more eloquently, but said his overall message remains true.
“Government has bred a culture of dependency, and there’s absolutely no one in government with the courage to stand up and say, ‘We need to break that cycle of generational poverty and dependence. Well, now there is someone saying it.“
The Greenville News reported Saturday that Bauer said poor parents of students who eat free or reduced-price meals in school cafeterias should be required to attend parent-teacher conferences, or the students should go without. The Greenville News reported that Bauer drew a comparison between “feeding stray animals” and doling out government assistance.
“I do not care about being politically correct,“ Bauer said in a prepared release. “I care about being honest. And we honestly have a problem of dependency which is getting worse instead of better.“
Bauer said the government can’t afford to keep giving money away without requiring something in return. He said poor people should lose their benefits if they don’t pass drug tests, and parents should be required to be more active in their children’s education.
‘We are a compassionate people, and we will always take care of those who are truly needy, as we should,“ he said. “But there are also those who are not truly needy, merely lazy or greedy who are taking advantage of the system. And, unfortunately, the system is actually designed to encourage them to take care of it.“
Andre Bauer offers additional comments on “breeding a culture of dependency”
Andre Bauer Statement:
At a forum this week, I spoke out in favor of finding ways to break the government’s cycle of handouts and dependency.
Yes, I believe government is “breeding a culture of dependency” which has grown out of control, and frankly, amounts to little more than socialism, paid for by hard-working, tax-paying families… against their wishes.
At the same time, I feel strongly that we can and should help our neighbors who are truly needy.
In fact, I’ve spent much of my last seven years helping those in need… traveling the state to help provide blankets, shoes, food and health care to those who need it most.
However, there’s a big difference between being truly needy and truly lazy.
My suggestion to require parents of children who receive free lunches to attend parent-teacher conferences is simply a common-sense idea to help break the cycle of dependency, while at the same time providing a better education and a brighter future for the children affected.
Requiring drug testing for adults receiving tax-funded benefits is also just good, plain, common-sense.
Yes, I am speaking out for such requirements, even though they may be “politically incorrect” in the eyes of the news media.
It’s better for the children, it’s better for the taxpayers, and, in the end, offering a hand up instead of a hand out will be better for those who have become taxpayer dependents.
Americans are a compassionate people who will always help their brothers who are truly in need. But we cannot and will not allow those who are simply “riding the system” to continue to do so without consequence.
Warren Buffet once said, “No one washes a rental car.”
He’s right. We must find ways to instill some sense of responsibility or consequence into those who are now a part of the cycle of automatic hand-outs.
Generational welfare is bad for the people on it and bad for the state of South Carolina.
Two Democratic candidates for Governor, Sen. Vincent Sheheen and attorney Mullins McLeod each issued statements regarding Bauer’s comments.
“It amazes me how some Republican politicians claim a monopoly on Christianity and then go out and say and do some of the most unchristian things imagineable,“ McLeod said. “Lt. Governor Bauer’s comments are despicable and the total opposite of the Christian values Bauer espouses.“
Sheheen called upon Bauer to apologize to South Carolina’s unemployed workers and their families.
“You’re sick and tired of being embarrassed by elected leaders in South Carolina, and I am too,“ Sheheen told supporters. “But words like Mr. Bauer’s don’t just embarrass me - thy make me fear for our state’s future. We have to stop electing leaders who are so out of touch with regular people: We have to demand new leadership.“
Sheheen said, “that in stump speeches, candidates talk and talk about creating jobs and growing the economy, but we never lose sight that our failure to do so will continue to hurt our state’s most vulnerable citizens - our children - and our future. Those are the highest stakes of all.“
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COMMENTS
You should spend our years in helping people. They will be happy