Stimu-less

So... I am not going to pretend that I am an expert on the government or economy. I have tried lately to become more informed. I even started listening to (conservative) talk radio. Unfortunately the only thing that has come from my efforts so far is increased anxiety. My chest tightened today as I read about the stimulus package getting approve and I immediately began worrying. My main question is "Who's gonna pay for this?" and "How is more government debt better?"
My job has tainted the way that I look at government aid. For those of you who don't know, I have been working as a foster care case manager for the past 2 1/2 years. My entire case load consists of families that are living on my hard earned tax dollars. I get so frustrated and so sad when I think about all of the families that are stuck.... stuck living on free handouts... stuck because that's what their parents did.... stuck because they can be. Sometimes it seems appealing to me to live in an apartment that is free or very inexpensive. To be able to eat (the name brand stuff!) without having to pay for it. To be able to have free health insurance without having to work to earn it. To be able to have as many kids as I want without having to worry about how I'm going to provide for them. To be able to live without RESPONSIBILITY. Let the government be responsible!
But then I have to ask: Where's the dignity of a hard day's work? Why is the government making it so hard for these people to get unstuck? Why should they want to? Where is the motivation for "change"?
I don't claim to have the answers. I have some ideas that I think are pretty good ;) And I don't want Obama's job (but I don't want him to have it either!) All that I know is:
1. Debt is bad. Work is good.
2. Bigger (government) does not mean better
3. Nothing is free
4. God is bigger than all of this
5. (For some reason) God let Obama be president and I need to honor that. Instead of spending my energy complaining about him, I should be praying for him.

(I know that there are situation where people really need help and cannot work to support themselves. And, to be clear, I am not talking about those situations.)

So, I will continue to do what I know to be right. To work and honor the Lord in my work. To be thankful for and faithful with what I have been given. To pray for humility and against bitterness. To trust the Lord with the future. To be a witness in the world. To write Obama an impressive and persuasive letter... just kidding.

And all of this is only by the grace of God.