A Sign of the Time: Near Riots in Atlanta over Section 8 Vouchers – When Will Common Sense and Decency Prevail?

Crowd shown waiting for Section 8 Housing Application: image AJC.com

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution: A crowd estimated at 30,000 were on hand to pick up vouchers for Section 8 housing being distributed at a local Housing Authority office. Apparently, after standing for hours in the heat, some “cutting in line” resulted in some pushing and shoving, with the result of “riot police” being called to the scene. There were dozens of individuals requiring medical treatment due to the heat – one can, from the article, sense the heightened desperation of families who feel there is nowhere to turn, with the exception of the state.

With the amount of monies being thrown to institutions deemed “to big to fail”, (which is the normal ebb and flow of business), millions spent on signs touting the Government’s planned projects under the “Stimulus”, etc., one cannot help but wonder what other better uses that money may have been put to, in order to avoid this type of scenario. Perhaps a Franklin D. Roosevelt style of ‘workfare’, modified to include education and housing in order to give individuals a hand up, would have been in order.

Yet the trend continues, and as the administration passes spending bill after spending bill, there is a diminished tax base to support the bailouts of business as well as states who have shown the same lack of restraint when it comes to spending. A recent article in USA today, ranks government employees as earning twice the amount as someone doing the same job in the private sector.

While the “elite” are sustained, those who are considered the “masses” are being driven into the depths of poverty (Progressive think) – and those left to support them both (the middle class) must either pay increased taxes, (pushing them into poverty), or stop, by way of the ballot, the spending that is neither necessary or relevant, and which causes situations such as the one in Atlanta to occur. The time has come to put the ordinary citizen to the test, perhaps a candidate who has little experience, lacks a Harvard degree, but has worked in the private sector, or has been self-employed, might have more common sense than those who are expected to have the knowledge, “experience” and common sense, but obviously do not. In almost every district, in every state, from the individual statehouse to the Congress and Senate, there are challengers who fit this description and these men and women, may be the answer. To stay the current course, is obviously, not working and historically, has a record of failure.

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution: A crowd estimated at 30,000 were on hand to pick up vouchers for Section 8 housing being distributed at a local Housing Authority office. Apparently, after standing for hours in the heat, some “cutting in line” resulted in some pushing and shoving, with the result of “riot police” being called to the scene. There were dozens of individuals requiring medical treatment due to the heat – one can, from the article, sense the heightened desperation of families who feel there is nowhere to turn, with the exception of the state. With the amount of monies being thrown to institutions deemed “to big to fail”, (which is the normal ebb and flow of business), millions spent on signs touting the Government’s planned projects under the “Stimulus”, etc., one cannot help but wonder what other better uses that money may have been put to, in order to avoid this type of scenario. Perhaps a Franklin D. Roosevelt style of ‘workfare’, modified to include education and housing in order to give individuals a hand up, would have been in order. Yet, the trend continues, as the administration passes spending bill, after spending bill, with a diminished tax base to support the bailouts of business as well as states who have shown the same lack of restraint when it comes to spending. A recent article in USA today, ranks government employees as earning twice the amount as someone doing the same job in the private sector. While the “elite” are sustained, those who are considered the “masses” are being driven into the depths of poverty – and those left to support them both (the middle class) must either pay increased taxes, (pushing them into poverty), or stop, by way of the ballot, the spending that is neither necessary or relevant, and which causes situations such as the one in Atlanta to occur. The time has come to put the ordinary citizen to the test, perhaps a candidate who has little experience, lacks a Harvard degree, but has worked in the private sector, or has been self-employed, might have more common sense than those who are expected to have the knowledge, “experience” and common sense, but obviously do not. In almost every district, in every state, from the individual statehouse to the Congress and Senate, there are challengers who fit this description and these men and women, may be the answer. To stay the current course, is obviously, not working and historically, has a record of failure.