The War on Poverty is a war we lost, or rather are losing. In spite of the long string of defeats we continue to press on. It is a war that cannot be won because the people fighting it don’t want to win and have the wrong strategy if they did.
I was going over my notes from The Tragedy of American Compassion and came across the following,
“Punishment for refusal to work and continued alcoholism could include whipping. But enforcing work among the able-bodied was not seen as oppressive. The objective was to treat all as human beings, as members of the community with responsibilities, rather than as animals.” p. 11I had been visiting my grandchildren and their parents. I was struck by the difference in responding to a child and a dog. At least I respond differently. One of the reasons I don’t get excited about pets is that they will always remain pets. I can never expect them to pick up after themselves. My grandchildren will learn. The cat will always lick its rectum and we won’t bat an eye but imagine how you would respond if your son did it at his wedding reception.
The point Olasky is trying to make is that modern methods of welfare are not designed to get people to grow up and become independent. They are specifically structured to keep them dependent and have their “betters” direct their lives.
Maybe we should rename the EBT cards, or whatever they are called this week, with something referring to the bearer being a pet. Maybe Leash Card would do it.
It would do you good to read the book. There are no solutions for people willingness to be taken care of and let someone else do the work. If you don’t want to read Olasky then might I recommend The Little Red Hen. People can grow up. For some it is a natural step. For others it only happens when they are forced.
We need to force them for the same reason the Proregressives want to tell then how high to jump: It is good for them.
Olasky, Marvin. The Tragedy of American Compassion. Washington, D.C.: Regnery
Publishing, Inc., 1992.
homo unius libri
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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.