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OPINION

Doyle on the Dole

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Townhall.com.
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"Suffer for About the First Six Months After Leaving Home"

I found the printing and bookbinding overpowered with hands in New York. I remained idle for twelve days in consequence; when finding there was many out of employment like myself. I determined to turn myself to something else, seeing that there was nothing to be got by idleness. The trifle which I had saved was going from me fast. I drove about accordingly and was engaged by a bookseller to hawk maps for him at 7 dollars a week. This I done much to his satisfaction but when the town was well supplied he discharged me and instead of paying me my entire bill he stopped 9 dollars for maps which he said I made him no return for.

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I had to look for justice but was defeated for want of a person to prove my account. I lost the 9 dollars which I reckon to be 45 shillings. However I got such an insight into the manners and customs of the natives whilst going among them with the maps as served me extremely. I now had about 60 dollars of my own saved, above every expense. These I laid out in the purchase of pictures on New Year's Day, which I sell ever since. I am doing astonishingly well, thanks be to God and was able on the 16th of this month to make a deposit of 100 dollars in the bank of the United States.
- Letter from John Doyle, 1818


There were a lot of bizarre moments during Kathleen Sebelius' Congressional testimony yesterday but nothing stood out to me like the proud comments from Rep Mike Doyle D-PA. Rep Doyle bragged about the fact his 33 year old self-employed kid will be able to get healthcare insurance at half the price he currently pays. The reason for this is because taxpayers will subsidize the congressman's son's premiums. Right now Mike Doyle thinks his wife is paying the insurance so he proclaimed for all the world to hear they will save money.

Let me get this straight! A congressman earning $174,000 a year and paying nothing for his own health care insurance thinks it's okay for taxpayers to lessen his load and pay insurance for a grown able-bodied man? He went on to implore Mrs. Sebelius to make the website easier to use because young people aren't going to use it otherwise. What the hell is happening in America? I thought the goal of Obamacare was to provide healthcare insurance to 30 million people without coverage. All I keep hearing now is how it's going after people with current coverage.

A new entitlement is roaring into the sky like a giant sequoia that will cast as great a shadow on the economic future of America as other unfunded liabilities. It's become such a muddled hodgepodge of mistakes and lies it's easy to miss how dangerous this could become to the nation within a short period of time. We're reminded this week of government arrogance that excuses lying in order to help people otherwise too uneducated to help themselves or understand what they like.

We're also seeing the further erosion of the fabric of America... that can-do spirit of pulling one's self up by the bootstraps. In this world 33 year old kids are still worthy of taxpayer subsidies while they build a business or look for their calling. This pacification of America is designed to dampen our fight and determination, lower our goals and stoke resentment. In short it is designed to strip away pride, replacing it with an entitlement mentality the erases any shame from living off others. The Doyle name has been synonymous with pride from the very beginning. After yesterday it will be hard not to think of the glee Rep Mike Doyle displayed for the entire world to see as he bragged about a new handout for grown men.

Dark Foreigner

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More than 1,100 years ago the indigenous Celts called the Danish Vikings that raided and settled Ireland Du-Gail of Dark Foreigners which became Doyle. Their warrior spirit and never-say-die approach to life is legendary.

Killole Abu
With their war cry and fearlessness the Doyle clan quickly settled the northern coastline. The O' DubhGhaill name first appeared in 978 Annuals of the Four Masters.

It has to be noted that last names began as a consequence of government taxation of personal income and property, in England called Poll Tax.

Wild GeeseThe Irish joined with others in a series of uprisings known as Jacobite to restore James II and VII (James II and VII was King of England and Ireland as James II and was King of Scotland as James VII) back to the throne after being removed by parliament (Jacob is the Latinized version of the name James). The battles began in 1688, and by 1690 the ill-equipped and smaller armies finally lost and the Doyle clan along with cousins McDowell fled into exile with the wild geese. Many resumed fighting by joining forces in Spain, Austria and France (there were 15 Irish regiments).

There were numerous uprisings and rebellions throughout the history of Ireland, including the 1798 rebellion, a three month skirmish called one of the most violent. This was led by the Society of United Irishmen, which began as an organization looking for independency through Parliament but later inspired by the American and French Revolution, decided to fight for freedom. Like all endeavors against all odds, legends were born including Mary 'Molly Doyle' of Castleboro who became known as the Heroine of Ross.

During the fight she sent her elderly father home and took his place. She is said to have done sentry duty and carried a musket with pride. In the midst of the battle of Ross her fellow rebels hesitated so Molly, carrying a scythe took command, leading the men into battle. In the lead she cut ammunition belts of opposition soldiers and threw them to her comrades. On this day the Irish rebels won.

The biggest migration to America from Ireland came during the Potato Famine 1845 to 1849. The trickle that began in early 1800s soared and by 1860 two million Irish arrived in America.

One of those immigrants was John Doyle whose determination in this new harsh and intimidating land is an example of how people from all over the world made it in America. I wonder what he would think of a 33 year old son of US Congressman getting taxpayers to pay half his health insurance. I know being self-employed isn't easy which is why I have so much respect for those that take the plunge. But, it's the character-building process that makes people good at business. The struggle informs the outcome. The suffering becomes the fabric of the business and keeps it on guard for future pitfalls and challenges.

I was thoroughly embarrassed when Rep Mike Doyle bragged about his son's great fortune. I bet Molly Doyle would be embarrassed, too.

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Tell me you want to help those without and we can put together a plan, tell me we're creating a new entitlement for people earning less than 400% of poverty and I'm yelling Killole Abu!!!!!

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