I was raised as a latch key kid too. From first grade. The school was a block away, so it was all good, I guess. I'm a '63 model myself, and my parents put a roof over our head, and fed us. They demanded that chores be done, of course, but had no interest in anything with us unless we got in trouble. Thank God for our grandparents who taught us life lessons, and supported us while we matured. My Granny was the most patient, wise woman on the planet! She cannot be replaced, or replicated, but, she lives in all of us.

Now that my brothers, sister, and myself are, and have been past the dysfunction of our raising, we're all thriving!

Yep. Mine did the divorce thing to when I was 12. At 17, when I legally could, I moved out of my mother's house.
Now I have two grown children, six grandchildren, and one on the way. Life has been tough, but, my kids are successful, and at least act like they love me now!
We have become a close knit bunch, as a family should be. I didn't grow up with that, but my kids did.
And, I dare you to mess with me!
Those two brats will eat you alive!

For most people, even being on unemployment benefits is degrading, never mind welfare. Yeah, sure there are those that game the system like there are bank robbers and drug dealers. But it is a small percentage, minuscule. Yet find one "Welfare Queen," and the whole system is condemned, and Reagan created that scenario. All are bottom-feeders: it has just been verified by that one indicted person. Please try to imagine and then know the devastating effect on millions of people in the 2008 financial crisis. America did not just suffer a severe set-back, the country almost went under, destroyed. Let them starve through no fault of their own? Begrudging them some possible delicacy or extravagance for all they suffered at the hands of Wall Street and the Banks is just?

I had an upper middle class family. Never really wanted for anything. I had a job just by wanting one. So it should have been hard for me to imagine how "these people" couldn't get off their butts and find any sort of work. Did they have no p***e or self-respect? Then we come to the harsh reality: we are not all created equal after all. And this reality: some jobs, usually minimum wage and part time, like most of the Fast Food Industry, pay less than benefits and now forced to pay for childcare and travel, the food and clothing allowance is greatly reduced. What would you do for your family?