But let's keep in mind, that it is your opinion. Your view of what you think society should be. There are others which have a different opinion (as evidenced in other threads in this post). Is it right to force your opinion on others who don't believe what you believe?

It is interesting that you would bring up the indivdiuals who self-medicate or make a choice that puts them in jail. Right there, you are making the assumption that we, as a society, are responsible for their behaviors....this comes back around to "saving" someone from themselves.

I'm just asking the following questions in a rhetorical way, not that I believe they are valid....

Why should I spend money on an individual who will make the decision to get strung out on drugs? Why would I spend money on an individual who makes the decision to break the law and get put in jail? These are extreme questions, but they are certainly the mindset of many (even if they are unspoken). Questions will inevitably come around to "Why should I spend money on people who can't be responsible with the little they have?"

Interestingly enough, we aren't a Christian Nation in thought, but certainly not in deed. Maybe we started out that way, but we're not anymore. This is evidenced that as a society, we aren't ashamed of sin...and in fact are fully willing to support a person in their sin. But that's a theological issue....

It is interesting that you feel that those who are born wealthy (however that wealth got there) have a duty to "pay it forward". How would you feel with someone forcing you to give your family's money to <insert poor person's name here>, who dropped out of school, has a pack of smokes a day habit, and chronic health issues due to being over-weight? This is the picture that many look at. Is that the norm? No. But that doesn't change the perception. What many rich people see is their money being given to those who are doing the daytime TV talkshow circuit on "Who's your baby daddy."

So then let me ask you a question directly. Why do you think that everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed? I'm asking this honestly, because I want to know.

So here's just one thought from me. I'm essentially a stranger to you. If I disappeared one day, it may be remarked, it may not. But either way, I say this not to argue with you, but just to point something out for you to self-examine. Just like many on the other side make the assumption that the poor are lazy (and that's why they are where they are), you are likewise making the assumption that the million/billionaires are making the money "off the backs" of us poor cubical/manufacturing line/drones. Or that they don't want to let a penny slip out of their hands. When you phrase it like that, you do yourself a disservice.

~Jeordam