Should people feel any shame when they use an EBT card or apply for disabled veteran license plates? The answer is easy: Yes and no.
A little bit of shame or embarrassment can go a long way to controlling abuse of programs that should be helping those in genuine need. Why do I refrain from taking the last slice of pizza? Because my friends will laugh at me and mock me. It works to make me a healthier person even if I am not really a better person. If I were close to starving and someone offered me the left over pizza I wouldn’t even hesitate.
Do you really need the government to take care of you? Some may be there. I have been close a few times but either the church or my family have been there for me. Why were they there for me? Because they knew me and my need. Even more because they knew I deserved a bit of help, and because they knew all those things they could tailor there “welfare programs” to make sure that I was strengthened and not destroyed.
If you are paying attention you will recognize that most government programs tend to destroy the people they are supposed to help. People get used to getting something for nothing. Their motivation is sapped. Their good pride is ground up. They become expectant instead of energized.
When I was teaching I had to face the annual end of my welfare season. It came when school started. I had to go back to work. Believe me that is hard after kicking back for three months. If it was hard for me with my well developed sense of responsibility and a record of a solid work ethic, how hard must it be for someone who has had the government hand out checks with no accountability all their lives?
Did I feel a bit of shame when I had to move into my parents home with a pregnant wife? You bet I did. I also knew that if I didn’t get my act together I would be out on the street after a time. It was a great motivator. Maybe our dependent classes need a dose of that motivation.
It can be done humanely but it can’t be done painlessly. It must be done.
homo unius libri
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.