I grew up in a family of depression era parents. They and their parents made do in hard times, working odd jobs and at times for the WPA, as well as growing their own vegetables. They forged their future through hard work and as gato points out through community. There was no hand out or looking for something free. That was something the Bowery bums did. Today too many are on the dole that should not be. The BBB was correct in imposing work requirements on able bodied Medicaid recipients. But to hear the whining from the left one would think a kid with CP would be abandoned.

When I worked in an inner city clinic the number of patients who were on disability was staggering. Young guys wearing high top basketball shoes and warm up suits would come in complaining of back pain so bad they could not bend much less work. I started using the $20 bill test, dropping the bill as I walked to the exam room door. If the patient jumped off the exam table, and bent over to pick up the bill I told them to hit the road (And give me my $20 back so I could use it on the next guy). It’s only gotten worse.