Didn't union welders make at least $50K back in the 80s? With full medical, pension, ect?
I'm truly glad there are skilled trade opportunities for our young people that pay enough to survive, but the wage hasn't kept up with the cost of living/inflation relative to what was being made 25+ years ago.
Our corporate taxes are completely messed up. Some companies and individuals loophole and taxbreak their way into paying nothing, while some small-midsize businesses and their owners are crippled with tax burden. Personally, I'd like to see a complete revision of our corp tax system such that it reflects how well they treat their employees. For example, if you own a company where everyone makes a living wage and has benefits sure, your taxes should be low. If you're a Walmart, and half of your employees still qualify for the never ending welfare you speak of, they should be taxed til it hurts.
And agreed, a hand up is way more practical than a handout. But a huge chunk of people in this country think of any tax dollar spent helping someone as a handout. To me, a hand up is anything from federal scholarships for trade schools to Headstart to help mothers that need to work before their children are old enough for school, etc. Many look at those as handouts.