Wouldn't it be nice if everyone's needs were met? Wouldn't it be nice if we could just have everything we needed? Yes indeed, but who is going to provide for those needs? How are the funds going to be collected? Will the collections be voluntary or compulsory?
It is through the struggle to become self-sufficient that we build character. When we realize that we are personally responsible for our own well being, we then do all we can to improve our situation. When we are free to succeed, we realize we are in control of our own lives. When we are free, we are happy.
When everyone is free to succeed or fail according to their own choice, most will choose a path that likely leads to success. When almost all people are responsible for their own well being, almost all people choose to be productive. When almost all people are productive, there is an abundance of goods and services. The people prosper.
If there is no freedom to be an entrepreneur, if success is punished by legalized plunder, if failure is rewarded by welfare, then feelings of entitlement begin to creep in. When one feels entitled, he lacks the motivation to be self sufficient. Combine entitlement and laziness and you have an unproductive person. When the majority of the people are in this situation, there are few providers. This results in mass poverty.
The beauty of capitalism is that anyone can work to provide for themselves, and while doing so, provides for others at the same time. A farmer, for example, produces food not only for himself and his family, but for many other people at the same time. A factory worker earns money for himself and produces goods for sale to the public.
What about the person who is severely disabled or mentally handicapped? In these cases, a little socialism is not only good, but necessary, right? I disagree.
Ok, so let's suppose we only have welfare for mentally handicapped people who can't provide for themselves. Some can work; some can't. But all will probably qualify for the welfare. Next, we have physically handicapped people that can't work. Some can find jobs where their handicap can be accomodated; some can't, but all will probably qualify. What about the elderly? What about single parents? What about the father that lost his job? What about special considerations for veterans? What about incentives for green technologies? What about student loan programs? What about assistance for parents in raising handicapped children? What about healthcare for the poor? What about reduced price or free school lunches for the poor? Where does it stop? In the world of moral relativism, there is always the next group demanding that they be considered eligible for welfare.
There will always be another group in line for welfare. When you hand out money for free, there will be someone waiting in line to receive it. More and more money will be taken from those that produce and given to those that don't produce. More programs will be introduced for special needs groups.
A little socialism leads to a little more socialism, maybe leading to fascism, and finally to communism. Remember East Germany? It started out with the National Socialist party (Nazi), which lead to fascism under Hitler, and finally to communism in East Germany after World War II. It doesn't have to lead to communism though, but as long as we have socialism, we are on the slippery slope.
If the government had zero welfare programs, no social security, no medicaid, no medicare, no CHIP, no foodstamps, then those who were in need would still have their needs met. How? If the government won't do it, then who will, you ask? People who are close to those in need, will help. Churches used to be the major providers of welfare before the government stepped in.
If it were left up to us to take care of the poor, there would be extremely little abuse of welfare. Another problem with socialism is that it allows people to just ignore the poor and leave it up to someone else to help them.
The government steals blessings from both the giver and the receiver when it redistributes wealth. When you give to the poor, you are blessed. When the poor receives from the giver, he is blessed. He is also grateful. When the government does it, the giver has no choice. When someone is robbed, it is not a blessing. When someone receives stolen property, it does not bless the person receiving it. When someone is dependent on the charity of others, they will do all they can to eventually be able to support themselves.
There will be unequal blessings inherent in the capitalist system. But capitalists are the most generous. The USA has a reputation for giving money and aid to countries all over the world. You can see a problem with the equal sharing of misery as happens under communism.
Most people are good. But since there are evil people, good people form governments to protect against the evil. The only reason we have government is to protect us from evil people. Government's purpose is to protect our God-given inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and private property. There is a difference between protecting from evil, and being a provider.
Let's look at social security. If an average income earner of $45,000 per year was free to invest 4% with a 10% rate of return, from age 23 to 65, he would retire more than a millionaire even if he never got a raise. When he retired, he could comfortably live off the interest alone and not touch the principal, leaving the principal to his family for an inheritance. Social security is a Ponzi scheme, and it's about to collapse.
When the government provides welfare, it is in a very inefficient manner. The money collected for welfare goes to building buildings for welfare offices, and pays wages to government workers who dole out welfare. Lastly, some of the money collected actually makes it to the intended parties. If you or I give money to the poor, it all goes to the person we give it to. This is much more efficient. A job as a government welfare employee handing out welfare is not a productive job and should be eliminated. In the free market, unproductive jobs disappear. The government welfare worker can find a different job as a productive member of society.
Originally posted August 14, 2009
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