'Because I Can'

Okay ... This is coming from something I heard on the radio today on the Neal Boortz show (http://boortz.com). Neal was talking with a successful young girl in regards to personal responsibility and the term 'less fortunate' (see my 12/20/04 rant) when she spoke of an instance of being out with her boyfriend when he gave a dollar to a beggar. When she asked him why he gave him a dollar when he would just stay there and beg for more and probably spend it all on wine. He boyfriend replied, 'because I can ... because I have extra and it doesn't hurt me to give him a little.'

Now ... I applaud his helping of people that have less than he does, it is a very noble thing. But was it the right thing?

Realistically, though I know he didn't realize it, his answer was 'Because I can ... hold him down.'

Why do I say such a terrible thing? Because whether he realizes it or not, that is the effect that he is having. By giving the money to the person he supported what the person was doing ... even if we take drugs/alcohol out of the picture, why is this beggar going to go get a job if he can sit on a street corner and live off the compassion of others.

I'm sure you've all heard the old saying 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a night, teach a man to fish and he'll never go hungry' (okay maybe that's not the exact quote ... deal with it) ... This is what we need to remember ... what we need to get back to ... we need to stop giving people stuff ... we need to teach them to get the stuff themselves.

I heard a joke once ... A liberal and a conservative were walking down the street when they came on an 'urban outdoorsman' (homeless person) ... the conservative pulled out his wallet and took 5 of his 10 dollars and a business card and told the fellow 'go have a good dinner and come by my office in the morning, I think we have an opening in shipping.' the liberal was shocked by this so he too grabbed the conservatives's wallet and gave the beggar the remaining 5 dollars and said 'and here's something for breakfast in the morning as well.' ... walking away he handed the wallet back to the conservative and said, 'you know ... it really does feel good to give to those less fortunate than ourselves doesn't it?'

(if you don't get the joke then I have to assume that you agree with and support the government taking your money to give it to others via the welfare system.)

When are we going to learn/remember that people will continue to do what gets them what they want. If you hand them what they want for nothing ... nothing is what you'll continue to get from them, and they'll continue to expect the hand out. Giving money to beggars on the street, while it is a kind and charitable thing to do, doesn't help them in the long run but rather encourages them to keep begging.

I don't want welfare abolished ... I know that there are people that use the system as it was intended ... as short term support to help them get back on their feet and back to contributing to society. These people should not be punished by the removal of the system because of the more numerous abuses of the system. Rather I want to see the system reformed ... I want to see the paychecks for nothing (which is what the welfare system currently is) stopped ... put those people to work doing things for that welfare check ... have 'em put in 20-30 hours a week of 'community service' for it.

I'll bet you could cut the number of people collecting welfare in this country in half just requiring that they work for their welfare check. (I mean if they have to WORK anyway they'll get off their arses and get a real job.) ... heck ... make welfare an hourly wage at, say, a dollar under minimum wage (the object here is to encourage people to stop screwing around and get a REAL job) and let people stay on it as long as they want to work for it. Late to work, dock their pay, don't show up .. don't get paid. Put the same requirements for employment on it (have to show ID, have to be a citizen, drug testing (with required de-tox and rehab if test shows use of illegal substances)). Basically make welfare a job that you can't loose ... you just don't get paid if you don't work ... and since you're working at the crap jobs below minimum wage you'd be a lot better off pulling yourself together and getting a real job.

The problem is ... a few people abused the system ... and little to nothing happened ... so more people abused the system, and more people, and more people ... until you now have families that are career welfare recipients. No abuse should be tolerated ... if it is then it will grow in frequency and number until it becomes the majority ... and the system will drain more and more resources from the growth of the economy .....

Just because you can ... doesn't mean that you should, or that it's the right thing to do. I can climb on top of my office building and do a swan dive onto the parking lot ... However, I don't think it would be a good idea. With anything you do in terms of your interaction with other people think about what behavior you are encouraging in them ... is it something that you agree with and respect? If not it may not be the right thing to do ... whether you CAN do it or not.