what did you mean by that?
[2005-10-22 - 1:39 a.m.]

An attourney from Hartford Connecticut was saying on the radio that there has emerged from the recent string of natural disasters a 'mean spirited right' who is mean spirited because they feel that the poor and disadvantaged people who were affected by the disasters don't have a 'right' to get government assistance, or if they should, it shouldn't be 'an abundance' of assistance since of course their own choices have caused them to be caught 'with no resources' for a 'rainy day'.

Since when is this a new idea? And who says it's mean spirited to expect people to live with the choices they make?

You've been smoking cigarettes for the last 8 years. If you had saved that money, what would you have now?

You've bought dozens of lotto tickets every week for the last 8 years. If you had saved that money, what would you have now?

Let's not get into what you've spent on porn or booze.

Of course, not EVERYONE who is poor had 'chosen' that situation. I just get the feeling that we're wrong in using the term 'mean spirited'.