This week I decided to take time off from work and volunteer at the local homeless shelter. This was the first time I volunteered at the shelter, and it was a revealing look at what happens when you subscribe to the liberal mentality of giving entitlements to people for nothing in return.

When I arrived at the shelter, they gave me a bag and some gloves and asked that I clean up the street and sidewalk. As I walked around picking up hundreds of cigarette butts and beer cans, I realized that I was the biggest sucker in the world. I was surrounded by at least 150 people watching me pick up the debris that they had thrown on the floor the night before. The worst part is that most of the people at the shelter were able bodied. Not only were they getting a free place to stay and free meals (paid for by my tax dollars), they had to do absolutely nothing for it. Imagine that! I take time off from work, I pay for their meals, I pay for their housing, and I pick up after them too.

This is what is wrong with the welfare mentality. Why would you want a job when you have me to provide for you?

I agree. A few years back - I went out with my church to "feed the homeless". To my surprise, most of the people there were young males who at a glance, did not have mental or physical problems. Some of them were actually quite witty and quick on their feet. I would say that only about 20% of the "homeless" actually seemed to have problems. At that point, I realized that giving people things did not help them at all. These people needed to get a job, not food - which I know sounds heartless. However, I think that by giving people food/shelter, you are only keeping them down.

This is why when I volunteer, I help dogs. I volunteer for dogs that can't help themselves and need attention. There is no need for able bodied humans to sit around and milk the system. Handicap and mentally ill is a different story!