The last election raised the issue of the “takers ” in our society, and there was great debate about people receiving aid from the government. Certainly as with any system  there are abuses but to castigate the weakest in our society with a broad brush is unfair.Many who are in the safety net cannot survive without the assistance provided. As a society we are defined by how we treat the poor, the disabled and those who are out of work and struggling. In these days some of them may be relatives or close friends, but even if they are strangers, they are part of the fabric of our society. In the quest for a sustainable financial future let us not forget the charity and kindness that was promised by the behavior of our predecessors.