Republicans & Hand-outs & Entitlements

by Rev. Wayne Perryman

Republican's boast that they are the party that believes that if you work hard instead of sitting around asking for handouts, you will be successful and experience the American dream. But what they will not say is that: they believe in hand-outs for those that are accepted and connected, but not for those who are not.

As I traveled throughout the country, I have met many hard working low-income Republicans who were frustrated and disappointed. Many felt that unlike the rich and powerful in their party, they are never fully recognized, accepted or appreciated for their contributions to the party (the same is probably true in the Democratic Party). These working class individuals are the same individuals who provide hand-outs in the form of millions of dollars in campaign contributions for rich candidates (many of whom who are successful businessmen or business women now running for office) and have provided the same for low income-candidates who were in desperate need of funds to finance their campaigns.

Because we stigmatize the poor, a number of low-income Republican wage earners suffer because many are convinced that only those who are running for office deserve hand-outs (in the form of campaign contributions). Republicans have no system or program to help their own when they fall on hard times. These individuals must rely on government entitlements programs for their survival, particularly those who are on fixed incomes with no family to assist them. The myth that all Republicans are rich and/or middle class is a lie that most Republicans have bought into. During my travels I have given out hundreds of books to low-income Republicans who could not afford to purchase them. These individual usually wait around after the event to request a book, so others would not hear that they did not have the financial means to purchase them. Financial entitlements in the form of campaign contributions to finance individual political campaign and hand-outs in the form of volunteer services (i.e. door-belling, manning phone banks and putting up posters and signs) are common among Republicans, butentitlements and hand-outs for the poor are not. Without the hand-outs and the entitlements of millions of hard working American volunteers (many of whom are low income wage earners), few Republican candidates would ever get elected.

When a person request help, whether they are a rich successful businessman or woman who happens to be running for office or the working class poor who happens to fall on hard time – technically speaking, they are both asking for hand-outs. One happens to be rich and the other happens to be poor, but they both are seeking help in their time of need. Everywhere I go I see the poor, the politician, the preacher and the Tea Party leaders, asking for financial hand-outs to accomplish their personal or collective objectives, but only the poor are condemned for doing the same.

So I ask: Are the poor the only ones who ask for hand-outs? Let's be honest, rich Republican candidates like Mitt Romney ask for hand-outs, rich Democratic candidates like John Kerry ask for hand-outs, corporations ask for hand-outs, foreign governments ask for hand-outs and lobbyist representing all types of special interest groups ask for hand-outs. Why do we condemn and stigmatize the poor for requesting hand-outs, while glorifying and honoring others who do the same? Since the beginning of time, both the preacher and the politician have asked for hand-outs, but we never condemn them. And why are we reluctant to extend unemployment benefits to the unemployed, who at one time through their income taxes (as employees) provided billions in foreign aid for other countries, but seldom do we ever condemn foreign countries who seem to always have their hands-out even though they have never paid one dime in federal income taxes? Shouldn't charity start at home then spread abroad?

In conclusion: We must admit that while we make some feel guilty for asking for financial assistance, we give others a free pass. Like the story of the rich man and the beggar in the Bible, we freely give to those who are accepted and connected and justify turning others away by classifying them as worthless individuals who are only looking for a hand-out. Instead of condemning persons who ask for hand-outs, Republicans should say we support entitlements and hand-outs for a selective few, but not for others.

I know that not many Republicans will accept or agree with this editorial, I only ask them to think about it.

Merry Christmas to all

Including the working class poor and the little baby boy that was forced to be born in the manger because they had no room for Him in the (end) inn.

Rev. Wayne Perryman