Anent Welfare, the Stipend I have lived on for most of my Life--

Bill Weaver--knowing, with what brooding, conscious malice towards the Powers That Are, I obtained, and with what convoluted, cynical tenacity I retained, over the years, this staple of my existence--proclaimed prophetically (in the mid 70's, I think it was), loudly, in the midst of a Family Party, that I would come to regret it, and curse the day that I had ever extorted an unearned income from the State,  with all the bother that it entailed of hanging on to it.  I thought at the time that he said this, partly as a sop to his wife's nagging Jugement de petite Bourgeoise upon me, and partly as a caution to me not to get cocky.

I did not get cocky.  I lived and survived through the 80's and 90's--through AIDS, home invasions by negro gangs, and the deaths of friends--all the while retaining that ridiculous, never-adequate monthly stipend of money and food stamps.  Until 1999, the year I turned 57 and went [back] to college, and found that student loans, plus my never-ended welfare supplement, (neither of which had to be explained to, or reconciled with, the other) together, made one, quite comfortable, combined income.  I took to dining out at least three times a week, usually with a partner, always with wine.  I went on camping trips by myself.  I rode the train from Eugene to Seattle and back every so often to buy dope (i.e. marijuana, usually an ounce of bud, at $300.00 per) from the brother of a friend.  I went to concerts, and sometimes to the theater.  All while acquiring a first-rate education, that included seven glorious months in Europe, and in the course of which I learned many wonderful things, including the essentials of Geology, Astronomy, Latin, Italian and Old French.

Now about those Student Loans...I think that every civilized society that is a civilized society ought to provide educations suited to the abilities and capacities of its members.  At whose expense?  Let us say that any society which, through its institutions of learning, confers on its citizens academic degrees or awards for scholarship, is fully repaid thereby, and that, any debts or charges accruing thereto, should be paid out of the General Fund.