Not exactly sure how to express my feelings here, but here goes.
Wasted money? Yeah, theres a lot of it. I used to be a PBX operator for the welfare dept here in Okla... One of the things we had to do was fill out change of address info forms for the "clients" that moved..
Op:May I help you?
Cl:Yeah, ive moved and i need to give you my new address.
Op:Alright, what is the new address?
Cl:im on 123 Main St.
Op:Thanks, and how much is the monthly rent there?
Cl:Oh, I had to move to a smaller place. My rent is only $525 a month here.
OK, this operator is working 10 hours a day, making somewhere in the neighborhood of $700 a month. Trying to get by with a small 1 room garage apartment that cost him $300 month.
Car, gas, food, insurance, utilities, etc and if he is lucky, may get a used half functional TV from the local Pawn shop or thrift center. Easy to understand why the rest of this conversation may be accompanied with the sound of grinding teeth.
Next point...
Over weight
Hypertension
Clinical Depression
Diabetes
Neuropathy(sp)
Sleep Apniea(sp)
Unable to find a decent non-physical job due to health
Half blind due to diabetes
Right cornea transplant
and just for laughs. a b/k amputation
After 3 years, still unable to get a dime from SSI while the guy across the street is getting full schlorship to the local college plus $1,500 tax free monthly from Uncle Sugar just cause he stepped on vietnam's soil and got a splinter in his toe.
Now, dont get me wrong... I know there are a lot of deserving guys who really need help from the country they fought for. But sometimes I can still here the teeth grinding.
IMHO anything we have put into the space program has already been returned to our economy by 10 fold. if were having trouble with this, have them check out my neighbor's toe, then watch me hobble around in my chair.
Off my soap box