Homestead mailing list

[EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>]

Gene GeRue wrote:

> >  In that way, they become dependent on a Federal program.
> > The more money we hand out, the more dependent on that money people
> > become, whether it is a economic stimulus check, a farm subsidy, or  
> > even
> > a tax free holiday.
>
> Well, sure. In that sense, we are all dependent on the government.  

But why?  This is home, sure, but why rely on handouts?  Why not just
get up and do it yourself?  Where has our entrepreneurial spirit gone?
Where are the kids who wanted to buy the latest record so they sold
lemonade on the street corner?

> This is our home. We depend on the government to maintain a military  
> to protect us. Laws, roads, signs, the list is long; we are dependent  
> on many things that we take for granted and we get upset when they  
> disappear.

Ah, but that is a legitimate function of government, to provide safety
and security so that the individual can pursue happiness.  That is not
an entitlement program that gives money to people.  We do not depend on
government, we EXPECT government to provide these things to our society,
not the individual.

What I was
> > thinking
> > when I wrote that was more to the issue of foreign aid, however.   How
> > much money do we give to countries that hate us and vote against us in
> > the UN in a tight vote?
>
> Tell me.

Let me get my ducks in a row and I will.

> In years past I was seriously upset with our foreign aid, most  
> especially when I was having a tough time making it and paying taxes  
> to support same. I have come to understand that the percentages are  
> small and the reasons legion.


I guess I am not there yet.  I know we are giving a small percentage of 
what we are netting with taxes, but right or wrong, I liken this 
charitable act as any other individual charity.
1. Charity begins at home
2.  As a mother, I know all about caretaking...you can take care of 
everyone else to your own self demise.
3. It is all relative.  We give a lot of money away.  Let's say we give 
100 million to country X...maybe in country X that is half of their GNP!
Ever see rich people give their kids allowances?  I saw that last night 
on tv..some bazillionaire gives his 10 year old $1000 a week.  Why?  The 
kid only needs $10, if that.  He gets money from other 
relatives(countries) to boot.  Overgiving makes for complacency and 
unappreciativeness.  I am not saying it is wrong to give a lot of money, 
just that we, the USA, often give money to the extreme without much 
oversight, and perhaps we need to rethink that to keep all those moneys 
out of unintended hands.  Our charitable contributions often go not for 
the causes we think; much is funneled away into someone's pocket or for 
terrorism or wasted.

Bev

--
"The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from
the government and I'm here to help.'"  Ronald Reagan