If you have never seen the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness", I would suggest you do so before you make any more comments.

Silence Dogood

While he may be young, a lot of what Mr. Tilton said is true. You told him that he is young (true) and naive (how do you know?) I would not characterize myself as young anymore, but I agree with a lot of what he has said. There are too many people who would rather accept a handout than get to work and support themselves.
Yes, there are many people who are victims of circumstance, but there are also many, many people who have made very bad choices and don't want to take responsibility for their actions.
I don't think that it is the responsibility of our government to bail out every person who has made bad choices, especially if the rest of us who have made responsible choices have to work harder and give up more of our hard-earned money to do so.

you didn't really understand my comment. Mr. Tilton's comment that "I’ll be paying for those Americans who are living off welfare because they are too lazy or unwilling to work to make something of themselves." shows a horribly closed minded and unrealistic look at our country. Case in point, my son graduated with a B average from a major university in 2003. He was unable to go to OCS since there was a huge rise in recruiting due to the Iraq war. The Officer programs were only taking people with 3.75 or better. He got married and his wife (unintentionally) became pregnant. Unfortunately his job opportunities were limited due to the sinking economy. He was interviewing in his field against employees who had, after 20 years of experience, been downsized and were starting at entry level again. My son lost many jobs to people who were clearly overqualified. He finally landed a job that paid very little. They qualified and received EITC (socialism tax rebate that Tilton so clearly despises). With this help they were able to make it until a better job came along.
My son took all advantage offered here in PTC. I was able to send him to a major university. He worked hard and graduated with a B average. His timing was bad. He was a victim of circumstances.
Mr. Tilton would see him as "lazy and unwilling" to work. Simply an unfair and, frankly, bigoted view of too many people.
Oh, just for interest sake, the "Redistributionist in Chief" was actually Ronald Reagan. The EITC was founded by Ford, expanded slightly by Carter, then expanded greatly by Reagan. Reagan saw the economic advantage of lower income people having money to spend in the economy.
By the way, this "socialism" is actually a rebate of taxes to people who, although they get a full rebate of income taxes, all are working and pay payroll taxes, medicare taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, fuel taxes, etc. They pay far more in taxes than they get back. As for the upper 2%, their average marginal tax rate in 2007 was just over 19% (look it up). What was yours? They were the major beneficiary of Bushes tax cuts. Obama is simply reinstating the former tax rates for the upper 2%. Hardly socialism.

As for Tilton, I hope his circumstances always provide him a good job. I would hate for someone to think him "lazy and unwilling."

I understand your view and your comments, however I would like to take your example and explain why most people have a problem with this issue.
Let me begin by saying that in no way can any sane person consider your son lazy. What he achieved in school is to be applauded and he and your family can be very proud.
However, let us take a look at a few things in your example that stood out to me.
1) Since he was not able to get into OCS he chose to not join the military. He could have enlisted and reapplied until he was accepted, gone the route of Warrant Officer, or remained in the proud ranks of us lowely NCO's.
2) Marriage, his choice.
3) Children, maybe not intended but still his/her choice. Science has proven the cause of this.
4) The economic timing was bad for him to have the job he wanted.

I was married at a young age (19) and am still proud to be mariied to my beautiful bride to this day(just a few months shy of 20yrs). We had our children early in our lives and I can remember us going through some VERY tight times on the pay of an E-4 in the Army. We never once, even though we qualified, went to welfare. We worked and sacraficed until we got through it. I ask nothing less of the people around me.
There are cases for those with severe medical conditions or elderly that welfare is for and warranted. There may be some others that I cannot think of right now that are warranted.
However, let me be perfectly in this, most hard working people have a problem paying into ANY of the social programs in the USA today as they are used by politicans on both sides as a vote buying tool.
People in our country, especially the younger generation, need to learn that sometimes it takes a lifetime to build the life you want.
I fully expect the attacks to flow in, I have wide shoulders and peace of heart, so let them flow.
As for your example of your son's plight. Let me be clear that I in no way think he is lazy, however, using the information from your post I feel that he was unwilling to work outside of his chosen career.

Rick Ford
Fayetteville, Ga.

There is a big difference between those that want to work and can't find work and those that will not work even if they are capable. There are situations like your son's across this country. No one is calling him lazy. I was once in your son's shoes. I worked hard and made something of myself. No one ever said life was easy.