Heather, from what you said it reminded me of an anecdote about Davey Crocket. While he was in the congress they voted to give some government money for the relief of.. I can't remember if it was either a hospital or an orphanage that had burnt down. Anyway , when he was back in his home district one of his constituents gave him a good dressing down and reminded him of how unconstitutional such an act was, however well intentioned.
I have a personal story as well.
When I was in high school in 1978 I had a history class in which my liberally bent teacher used to add his own political views to whatever part of history we were learning about. One day the subject of the Chrysler bailout came up during class (the 1st one). I don't remember what exactly it was that he said, but it prompted me to raise my hand and ask ,"Why is it the governments responsibility to bail out private industry?
He asked if I was one of them rugged individualists that pull themselves up by the bootstraps. I said yes. After this he went into a short tirade that ended with him pointing directly at me and saying," Just be glad everyone that we are not as cold and cruel as Mr. Gunn over there!"
