On a friend's social media, I politely chose not to respond. They're allowed to believe what they want. I'm not the thought police. I needed to explore each topic, to explain to myself what I believe and why:
1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. Period.
The churches used to do this. Was it done perfectly? No. Government has made it increasingly difficult for people to help. They've shut down soup kitchens, stopped many stores and restaurants from giving away leftovers, and banned people and churches from bringing food to the homeless.
Pretending the government will accomplish this task is living in fantasy land. It's failed spectacularly so far. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
The government costs exponentially more. If all the money given to the government for the war on poverty ($22 trillion) were equally distributed to every person in America (329 million), cutting out the government, each and every person would be given $67,000. The government wastes billions of dollars, losing it, without a trace.
If you could keep more of your money, what would you do with it?
Using shaming language "should" "call itself civilized" is manipulating emotions. The only ones who are going to feel guilty are those who are already doing what they're able and then some.
Sorry, but you can't legislate morality, and yes, taking care of others is a moral issue. It is a Judeo-Christian concept, the whole "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Some other cultures also aspire to this idea but many do not. Many believe that you are clever and superior if you can steal from and/or trick others. Mix those two cultures together, and it gets really messy.
Jesus charged us, as individuals, to take care of the poor, the orphans, the widows.
Why wait for the government to do a slipshod job? Be the change you want to see! Encourage others to follow your example. Be a shining light on a hill.
1. I believe a country should take care of its weakest members. A country cannot call itself civilized when its children, disabled, sick, and elderly are neglected. Period.
The churches used to do this. Was it done perfectly? No. Government has made it increasingly difficult for people to help. They've shut down soup kitchens, stopped many stores and restaurants from giving away leftovers, and banned people and churches from bringing food to the homeless.
Pretending the government will accomplish this task is living in fantasy land. It's failed spectacularly so far. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
The government costs exponentially more. If all the money given to the government for the war on poverty ($22 trillion) were equally distributed to every person in America (329 million), cutting out the government, each and every person would be given $67,000. The government wastes billions of dollars, losing it, without a trace.
If you could keep more of your money, what would you do with it?
Using shaming language "should" "call itself civilized" is manipulating emotions. The only ones who are going to feel guilty are those who are already doing what they're able and then some.
Sorry, but you can't legislate morality, and yes, taking care of others is a moral issue. It is a Judeo-Christian concept, the whole "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Some other cultures also aspire to this idea but many do not. Many believe that you are clever and superior if you can steal from and/or trick others. Mix those two cultures together, and it gets really messy.
Jesus charged us, as individuals, to take care of the poor, the orphans, the widows.
Why wait for the government to do a slipshod job? Be the change you want to see! Encourage others to follow your example. Be a shining light on a hill.
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