Dear George:

My good fellow democrat Ed Wayland had a classic pavlovian reaction to my little piece. It exemplifies why the traditional liberal --as opposed to centrist (working class people)-- Democratic Party is bankrupt.

Yes, I knew it when I was writing it, that I would hear about 19th Century ideas about "the deserving and undeserving poor". Sorry, as far as I'm concerned they are all deserving, but the question is why does it persist as a problem in such a rich country, with so many opportunities for advancement, that lures immigrants --legal and illegal-- from all over the world, including Africa.

Ed does not need to challenge me to live on a low income. My single mother raised me on her meager income as a seamstress and saw me through all the way to college. If you wanted to learn about budgeting, making do with little, self-sacrifice, delayed gratification and striving for advancement, you had the right person. Besides Ed, you know better, that the real equivalent income of TANF recipients is worth much more than the $354 per month you report, once you factor in all the other benefits, subsidies and grants. It just sounds good to scare the unaware.

The issue shouldn't be what or how much they get in welfare benefits, but how to get them to join the rest of the tax paying population, and figure out what really holds them back. Unfortunately, what holds them back are internal factors more than external conditions. Internal factors that have to with acquiring the right habits and outlook. And Ed, --I am sorry to beat up so much on a fellow Democrat-- but if you think that developers are successful without investing time, money and effort, you ought to try it some time.

I think it is time for Democrats to get out of the middle 20th Century and develop a vision for the 21th.

Henry Weinschenk (electronic mail, April 5, 2000).