what I learned from Scrooge today

So beginith the Rant:

If you know me you know I have a distaste for hippies, dislike for liberal minds, and absolutely loathe "progressive" anything (I am referring to the modern use of progressive, verbs need not feel my ire). I have, until recently left my opinions and views to only be shared in the company of a select people. I understand that I can easily overrun a conversation, like a road grater, which can leave weaker conversationalist pushed to the side, or the feelings of folks who don't know me as a kindhearted person bruised by my blunt speaking and matter of fact delivery. Alas, recently I have decided to share my views outside the cabal of like minded people in hopes to educate them on the evils of progressive,liberal thinking.

My beef today is with welfare or entitlement programs in general (low income housing, food stamps, universal health care) These ideas are often pitched as a way to help those who are "in need" by giving them the means to survive when they are without a way to obtain these means on their own. A noble cause. One I can buy into. And possibly understand, if it were ran properly.
The old adage, "Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish he'll eat for the rest of his life." Tells us that if we just give someone something without equipping them to provide for themselves we are in fact dooming them.
A few more examples.
"Never letting your child read, instead only reading to them." you will have an illiterate child.
"Never letting a person make a decision on their own, and that person will never be able to make a decision without help." you will have a person who cannot lead a life because they are ill equipped.
One more.
"Give free money away with no strings attached, with no cut off date, or expectation of repayment" and you will have people who will never learn to work.
Where am I going with this? People are in need, and have been since the dawn of time, and will continue until God stops the record from spinning.
But handouts, with no limit or requirements or ends) will just make needy people. A class of needy people who are not needy from a disability, mental problems, age, or job loss; rather a group of people who are needy because they have become dependent on a system to feed, house, clothe, and take care of them. A system they both blame for their ills yet completely rely on for sustenance. Crazy huh. What kind of dumb people would ever put into place a program that would handicap an entire demographic of people? Oh... yeah... Our government. Let me boil it down so I'm not misunderstood I hate welfare, I hate entitlement programs, and I think they cause more harm than good.

Having said... er. typed that people will compare me with a hateful, close minded curmudgeon, like the pre-enlightened Mr. Scrooge. Where you would think I would be offended I am completely flattered.
Let me set the scene from the story we all know:
"Mr. Scrooge is at the local trading house, where he shows he is a ruthless business man, who knows how to make a profit. He is approached by two gentlemen who are attempting to raise money from the wealthy to help the poor in the area. Mr. Scrooge then remarks are the workhouses, poorhouses, and jails still open?
The men remark with a yes, unfortunately.
Good then let the poor go there, says Scrooge.
The men remark, but most would rather die than go to one of those places.
Scrooge replies, Well I am taxed, largely, to keep them open. Why are they not used?
The men then ask if scrooge has ever set foot into one of those establishments to which he replies never. The men tell him on how dreadful they are. Scrooge then walks away show disinterest in putting more of his hard earned money into helping the poor.
People see this and hate Scrooge. But why? Because he has the audacity to want to keep his money? Because he does not want to help feed hungry people? Because he feels that his taxes, which are raised with promises to help the poor, are not used properly by the government, and he is expected to pick up the slack? Really?
We should hate the government who fails to help the poor. They take money, large quantities of it, and the best they can do is hell holes that split families up and spread disease and sorrow (see also the conversation had by the homeless in the tunnel during the visit of the third spirit).
The same applies today. Look at your paycheck. Look at how much comes out. Are there fewer poor people because of it? Are there being taken off the streets to live a life of milk an honey? Have you ever heard a person who said I once was on welfare, but thanks to the government I am now on top of the world? Nope.
But, are there people abusing the system? Living a life of imprisonment of class because of lack of education? A people who cannot survive on their own unless someone feeds, houses, and takes care of them? Generation upon generations of people completely dependent on a system with no motivation to remove themselves? Yup.

Am I, as a minister, in a church still providing help to those who fall through the cracks and cannot work the system? Yes.
I wonder what would happen if it were completely left up to not for profits to deal with the problem of benevolence? What if the money wasted by the government was still in our pockets and we were allowed to chose where and who to spend our moneys on? Would we help? Would more people, even the evil rich, feel more apt to lend a hand by choice rather than by force? I know that's a crazy idea. Evil rich people will never give to the needy unless they are forced by law. Right?

Well according to every frigg'n article I have ever read on the subject (just google it) rich conservatives give at least twice that of their liberal counterparts to not for profits. Yup. the evil rich are responsible for funding more humanitarian outreach than the screaming liberal masses (put that in you pipe and smoke it hippie).
To wrap this up. I learned from Scrooge today that people are generous by nature. And when the whole Spirit of God (Christmas Spirit) gets a hold of us we can be down right benevolent. Nothing gives our souls better nourishment than giving to those in need, feeding His sheep. Why? Because we are choosing to, we are answering a calling, we are acting out of faith, and that feels good.
Do you feel happy when you donate to a worthy cause? Do you get that same feeling when you pay your taxes?

So Endith the Rant: