Letter of the Day: Defining handouts

Defining handouts

EDITOR: Richard Cohen's Tuesday column was spot on ("Trivializing debate over government's role"). My late father — a 93-year-old Midwest farmer, strict conservative and anti-Obama — also decried government "handouts" and assistance.

I finally asked him what part of his assistance made him unhappy. He and mom's Social Security or Medicare? Ongoing VA benefits that allowed him to have three major surgeries without bankruptcy? Federal crop insurance? Federal price supports? Federal "set aside" programs that paid him not to grow crops? County road maintenance on his nearly private field-access roads? Public schools and colleges for his six kids? Federal student loans for his kids? Lengthy unemployment benefits for a son who was out of work? Consumer protection when he bought lemon farm equipment and demanded a return?

My dad grew quiet and didn't say a word. Moral to the story: For you, it's a handout; for me, it's my due.

SHIRLEY PHILLIPS

Santa Rosa