05-05-2007, 02:40 PM
Quote:...I am happy that your friends were helped. I don't agree with the "Charity by Force" approach of socialism. The assumption by government is that people are to calloused to help the needy, while history has shown the opposite. It is rare that someone looking for help does not find it. People in the US are donating over $300 billion a year to worthy causes. I wouldn't be against the government helping guide the needy people to the resources they need. Hopefully your friends feel compelled to return the graciousness shown to them.
Welfare for those who are in need is not something I am willing to give up. Two of my friends were saved by welfare when unforeseen circumstances brought them low. But it should not be and is not enough for high living. In both those cases, it was enough to help them get back on track, get re-educated and back to work. As with any other right, there can be and will be those who abuse it. So be it.
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What I see with socialism is a slippery slope that we ARE sliding down. If we can enforce the elimination of poverty, next we can raise the bar on how we define poverty. After that we can tell you how to raise your children, and what they should be learning. Then we can outlaw what you are thinking. The key point is that not all people deserve success, because they've done nothing to earn it. The government takes your money to give to the needy, but also the undeserving. They owe the government nothing in return. No ones wants poor people starving, or homeless, so there does need to be a safety net. I don't feel it needs to be supplied by the government, but rather the government can coordinate and fill in the gaps.