[Piper]

Originally Posted by Warfish

Yes.

Any attempt to cut or reduce the rate of increase of social welfare programs is a direct assault on the "poor and middle class".

The fact that the poor and middle class pay little to nothign for these services themselves is irrelevant. In this political viewpoint, any effort to enact fiscal responsabillity is a direct, and in their view immoral and unwarranted, attack on those "in need" to benefit the "greedy", i.e. those who contribute almost all of our current tax revenue.

This is the starting point for any fiscal debate.

I.e. there is no fiscal debate. Only a steady progression from personal responsabillity and accountabillity to a Euro-style social-welfare state, benefits only if you're the right kind of person, of course. Social Justice!

May as well get used to the idea.

Spot on.