Why does the main concern on this thread seem to be about how to punish those who "abuse" the system? This attitude of greed and vindictiveness is what angers me so much about conservatives who call themselves Christians. Our concern, as Christians, should be helping the poor. Period.
The difference is between helping and enabling: one is Christian, the other is abusive, harmful and probably sinful.
I think PART of the problem is that it can be difficult to tell the difference, difficult to know whether the person NEEDS help and if so WHAT help? Back when help came from family, friend and immediate community perhaps it was easier. Now, the State has taken this over and while it has nearly limitless FINANCIAL resources (the government tends to just TAKE whatever it can get away with - and that's a lot), it perhaps is less able to know if this person is really in NEED and if so how best to help them? I think part of the problem, too, is that the State tends to focus on dealing with the immediate "problem" (as it itself as determined) which often just perpetuates it. "Give a man a fish and you've fed him for an day, teach a man to fish and you've fed him for life." I think MANY are VERY much in favor of job training, education, etc. - efforts to help up. It's the often years of hand outs that change nothing that some find frustrating because it's not really help. IMO, the State assumes some folks are just loosers in some sense and NEED the Government to keep them at a survivor level until they die. I wish the State assumed that people are capable and need opportunities to not only become self-supporting but solid contributors to society and the economy.
We've all witnessed this "enabling" and not just by the government. I recall years ago a man (I'd say in his mid 40's) who was STILL a full time student at a community college (getting free tuition).... he was quite proud to say he had been a full time student for (hold on to your hat....) TWENTY YEARS. Living at home, going to college! I forget how many units he had but he could have had a couple of doctorates by now. Obviously, the State, the college, his parents were enabling this man.... and HURTING him, not helping him. I know a guy my age (late 20's) with whom I once was on the swim team. I think he finally graduated from high school, but he's still living at home, not working, spending most of his time on the social media but with an odd 'under the table' handiman job now and then. There's NOTHING wrong with him.... IMO he is being greatly harmed by his parents because they are enabling him; this may be too harsh but I think this is a kind of child abuse although I'm SURE the parents THINK they are helping their son who doesn't seem ABLE to get a job and who doesn't WANT to get any further education or training. He gets support from welfare, too - the State also contributing to this harmful abuse. Sorry, but I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the people I know like Ted, people who COULD be fully self-supporting (and then some) but choose not to because parents and welfare are enabling them to do nothing (their self-esteem, their social lives in freefall as a result). Sorry, I know too many. And then I think of a girl I went to grad school with. She was deaf and her speech was very hard to understand. She was getting her Ph.D. in biochemistry; I'm sure her opportunities in science will be hindered by her disability but I'm also pretty sure she'll have an important position probably paying pretty well.
- Josiah
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If the capable can work, then they're stealing from those in need.
