Saturday, December 26, 2009

The escalating immorality of the welfare state

I was speed-reading through F A Harper's essay on the immorality of the welfare state. There are too many theological concepts in it for my taste. However this quote is right on the money. It it preceded by a discussion about the moral justification of theft when it is undertaken to 'do good';

Under the welfare state, this process of theft has spread from its use in alleviating catastrophe, to anticipating catastrophe, to conjuring up catastrophe, to the “need” for luxuries for those who have them not.

Tyres on a late model car springs immediately to mind. There is no arguing with this observation.

5 comments:

Chuck Bird said...

Lindsay, I believe most taxpayers support a welfare state. The real debate is what is the deification of a welfare state? I quote for the ACT Constitution, “maintain social and economic support for those unable to help themselves and who are in genuine need of assistance”

Have you seen the case of the Mum with cancer?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch/3188418/Harris-aid-angers-mum-denied-help

It can be difficult to sort out those in genuine need from those ripping off the system. However, the government should do better than allow addicts to claim a benefit. If the law needs to be changed then change it.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

"Lindsay, I believe most taxpayers support a welfare state."

So do I.

And I would support a functioning welfare state. But it isn't, is it. It is entirely dysfunctional and not serving bona fide beneficiary or taxpayer particularly well.

Shane Pleasance said...

While speaking recently to a local Rotary group, I suggested, not entirely tongue in cheek, that they would be well placed to run a local voluntary welfare service.

JC said...

It always amazes me that we have to go back.. sometimes hundreds and even thousands of years to get real wisdom on various issues that modern Man should imbibe with his mothers milk..

Here's Davy Crockett on welfare

http://tinyurl.com/loldpm

JC

James said...

"Lindsay, I believe most taxpayers support a welfare state."

So do I.

And I would support a functioning welfare state. But it isn't, is it. It is entirely dysfunctional and not serving bona fide beneficiary or taxpayer particularly well."

You have answered your own question.The main word in welfare state is "State"....a body set up with the soul purpose of using force.You will never get a functioning welfare state due to the fact that it isn't and can't be the States role to provide welfare to its citizens.For it to do so it must use its force against the very people its supposed to protect from that very sort of aggression against their rights.

If you support a welfare state as we currently know it you are an aidder and abetter of tryanny,therf and moral genocide....shame on you.