“Poor people need help, and I like the government, because it helps the poor.” That is the phrase, with variations, which liberals and Democrats, plus far too many Republicans, use to justify the multi-trillion dollar welfare system, which has literally bankrupted America over the last 75 years. Welfare, is simply REWARDING FAILURE. Before FDR, there was no welfare system in America, and of course, no inflation. Prices had been stable for 150 years, and America could feel safe in depositing their surplus assets in banks. What could possibly be wrong with helping the poor? Lots, if it is done in an incorrect way. The dictionary says welfare is, “The organized efforts of government agencies that grant aid to the poor.” All the poor? Some of the poor? It’s up to government to decide, and that’s the problem. Taxation is theft, whereas voluntary giving is marvelous. You want to reward failure, bad decisions, bad habits or mistakes? I do it constantly, but it is my decision who I reward, since it is my money.
Millions of people are poor because they’re lazy, alcoholics, or druggies. Yet, they receive welfare. Do I want them to get my tax money, be responsible for government printing trillions of dollars, therefore not only taking my money through heavy taxation, but also cutting the value of my cash? A double whammy! Do I appreciate bums taking me for a compulsive ride? Not on the skin of your chinny-chin-chin.
Not only do millions of recipients get handouts, who I would NEVER give even the time of day to, but I pay for the handouts, plus probably an extra 50% to the bureaucracy, who in their own inefficient way, always manage to screw up things so much, that it would be hilarious if it weren’t so outrageous. Failed banks who made bad decisions, have been rewarded with showers of cash as a reward. The bank I use, has never taken a dime of fed dough, and has always made good loans. All the bailouts and rewards for incompetence could probably have paid off all the U.S. mortgages
Churches and charitable groups, have a minimum cost of disbursing aid, and they give it to those who they consider need it. A charitable group, such as the Salvation Army, collects funds on a voluntary basis, and no one is forced to give, as in taxation. I’ve spent hundreds of hours ringing a bell for the Salvation Army, and it costs them virtually nothing. They don’t give to the lazy, alcoholics, or druggies, other than by accident. Charitable groups usually do it on a one time basis, and no one can sign up for permanent handouts, as is true with food stamps, rent subsidies, and all sorts of government rewards for failure. Government welfare, paid with depreciating dollars, grossly inefficient bureaucracy, and huge taxes, is never enough, because there are always more takers and applicants to get rewarded for their failures. More takers and applicants, because the very welfare system has made them lose their jobs, destroy their savings, and send jobs overseas, because of depreciated dollars…caused by the welfare system, which rewards failure.
The Armed forces are welfare of sorts. We no more need to have fought in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, or Afghanistan, than we needed to try to, or attempt to fly to the moon. Millions of men and women volunteered for the services because of rewards of free education and job security, not ’protecting America.’ Most government agencies and bureaucracies, are huge welfare systems in themselves, hiring the inept for things that shouldn’t be done, which harass and ruin the private sector, which pays the taxes which support them, and the taxpayer has no vote or choice about it. “Taxation without representation, is slavery.”
The federal rewards for failure cost hundreds of billions, because federal employees make almost twice what a private sector job pays for the same type of work, but of course the federal employees can’t get fired, and are usually totally inept.
P.S. Do they still make Pepsodent toothpaste? My wife loves its taste (yuk) and we can’t find any locally. Every time I see that tube, I remember the old advertising jingle on radio, “You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” Or my variation, “You wonder why your gums decline, when you brush your teeth with turpentine.”