October 21st - Patricia Collins

Patricia Collins has been attending the Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Columbus since her parents first took her there as a little girl to learn the importance of helping those less fortunate.

Collins’ dedicated her life to helping others; members of the church, her community and the elderly with her job as a social worker for the state of Georgia. But Collins said there is a limit to the help government should provide disagrees with the notion that the federal government should be involved with “redistributing wealth.”

Patricia Collins of Columbus at the Pumpkin Patch held by the Edgewood Presbyterian Church. The profits help fund church missions and several local charities.

“I understand there are people who need help, but I don’t want my money to be given out by the government,” Collins said. “We need to help people in need but we also need to give them an opportunity to find their way.”

Collins is specifically frustrated with the proposed increase of entitlement programs, including the $150 billion additional bailout package being proposed by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake. The Presidential candidates support of an increase in government intervention has her absolutely “turned off.”

“I grew up with a father who was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed and who served in WWII. He went to school on the GI Bill and he raised me on conservative principles,” Collins said. “He taught us that we could make it on our own if we worked hard enough, but at the same time he bailed me out a couple of times so I understand some people’s situation.”

Collins wants to see the next President resist the urge to provide everybody with assistance and instead focus on those truly in need.

“I work for the government so I see the help but I also see the waste. We don’t need to spend more, we just need to get rid of the fraud and waste.”

On the Issues

Socialism? Yes and No