Just got off the phone with a guy, who called to complain about the $200 grants that Gov. Paterson gave to kids in poor families last summer.  The irate caller pointed out that if the editorial page were serious about Paterson closing the budget gap we would have insisted that the governor take back the $140 million in grants.

It's not that simple.

I've come to realize that there are lots of people who feel just like this guy, a retiree who has had enough. He went on to tell me about a woman he saw at the supermarket who had a food stamp card and was ordering steaks while he had to buy hamburger. "I've worked hard all my life and no one ever gave me anything. Take the kids in the city school district. People are complaining about the food they eat. Well, guess what? The food they're getting is free."

I explained that Paterson could not have used the $140 million to close the state budget gap. Moreover, the money met a legitimate need. Contrary to popular belief, the grants went to many families simply hard hit by the recession.  They weren't the sterotypical so-called welfare families.

But I must admit I understand why guys like this one are angry. No one likes being used or feeling victimized.

I tried to help the caller understand that poor people weren't the only ones bailed out by taxpayer dollars. Consider the crooks on Wall Street.  Or look at the billions in tax credits that went to middle class new home buyers. Or what about the taxpayer subsidized clunker program?

Unfortunately, too many politicians exploit people like the caller.  They use such anger famong members of the working and middle classes to polarize for their own benefit.

I don't think I changed the caller's mind. But after 13 minutes or so on the phone, I think we reached a better understanding. Once the yelling subsided. We had a real dialogue.

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