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Who should pay for your compassion?

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Who should pay for your compassion?

from JoeUser Forums

I often have discussion with family and friends about how "we" should help the poor, the sick, and the incompetent.

Usually, I end up taking the role of the villain because my view is that society can decide what it values through the individual contributions of its citizens. That is, I don't think my government has the right to forcibly confiscate my property to hand to someone else. 

If people want to support giving health care to everyone, then they can start or support a foundation or charity that does that. Or if they want to make sure someone born with down syndrome is able to be supported, support a charity or foundation. But don't use the government as an inefficient goon squad to compel other people to pay for your compassion.

But I hear the response already "We express what we want our society to be like through our elected officials". Bullshit.

In a country where half the adult population pays zero net federal income taxes, we certainly are not expressing our society through a democratic movement.  We are, instead, expressing a shallow, narcissistic feel-good set of policies that someone else ultimately has to pay for.

What study after study has shown is that societies that transfer individual responsibility to the government ultimately surrenders any individual obligation to help others.  There's nothing compassionate about supporting a government policy.

Beliefs aren't compassionate. Deeds are. Supporting universal health care is not compassionate. Helping a friend, a family member or a total stranger with their medical bills is.

39,085 views 57 replies
Reply #51 from JoeUser Forums Top

Your "known facts" were anecdotes.
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No, they are demonstrable and proveable.  If you would like, I can show you the evidence.  I am not stating $600 hammers, I am stating a mind set that pervades government.  All you have to do is show me where the federal government has laid off people when a program has served its purpose to disprove it.  A simple enough task, if impossible.

Reply #52 from JoeUser Forums Top

If you would like, I can show you the evidence. 

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Go ahead.

Show me evidence that government is more inefficient than the worse half of companies.

 

I am not stating $600 hammers, I am stating a mind set that pervades government.  All you have to do is show me where the federal government has laid off people when a program has served its purpose to disprove it.  A simple enough task, if impossible.

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What exactly would I show by finding such an incident?

 

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Reply #53 from JoeUser Forums Top

Wow L, you are a font of information.  Thank you.

In Germany's case the official line is that Germany's army surrendered unconditionally, but the state did not (and never will)
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This part makes me laugh tho.  It makes me think of my German neighbor in Florida.  She was smart and articulate and added things like "and never will!"  at the end of political thoughts on her country.

Thanks for the info.  I didn't even know

After the revolution the American government made deals with colonial/state governments regarding debted owed to British subjects.
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I figured since we beat the buggers we took the "well if you want it come and take it" approach.  Good thing I wasn't in charge..heh.

 

Reply #54 from JoeUser Forums Top

Btw, that fresh perch you're eating...got a license for catching it?
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hahaha...this reminds me of when I was in Alaska,,, we were in the southeast part of the state, where the parks are beautiful, and bears are common place.

My family was fortunate enough to be on a guided hike by an Alaska Park Ranger.  She was so incredibly knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and animals.  It was amazing.

Well, as we walked we met up with a couple other hikers coming from the other direction.  We met in a field of riotous wild flowers couched between two huge mountains.  As we made our way across that field toward those other hikers I saw a guy with long red hair and a backpack that looked like it was everything he owned.

He was carrying a fistful of wildflowers.

I didn't know until she threw him on the ground and cuffed him, it's illegal to pick flowers in national parks.

Heh, she didn't really throw him on the ground and cuff him.  But her reaction certainly made me think it was a possibility.  She made him put them down, told him it was illegal, fine-able, yadda yadda. 

He looked sheepish because like me I don't think he knew that little rule.  I mean, who ever heard of not being able to pick a flower out in the woods?

Oh well.  She didn't fine him, but she did make them go belly to belly, toe to toe, with us on the narrow path so nothing off the path might be squished.

Ah, tree huggers.  I wish I was still optimistic enough about the world to be one.

Reply #55 from JoeUser Forums Top

knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and animals.
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I don't mean to be a smartass Tova (ok maybe I am) but isn't fauna and animals the same? :grin:

Reply #56 from JoeUser Forums Top

I don't mean to be a smartass Tova (ok maybe I am) but isn't fauna and animals the same?
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hahahaha.  Yup.  My bad.  :blush:

Reply #57 from JoeUser Forums Top

We went home, scoured the house for loose change, and bought us a chicken instead.
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^_^  That is hysterical LW...I laughed out loud!