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GIVE AND TAKE: THE RATIO OF BALANCE

"If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?" -Rabbi Hillel

The word "charity" does not now, nor has it ever been associated with "force". Charity is an action one takes when one wants to or is supernaturally moved to. A government which taxes its people for distribution to its poor, is in fact, not practicing charity. It is practicing decent government and it was the Great Depression which compelled the United States to do a little for it's poor.

Had the United States government not intervened financially for it's citizens, the outcome would have been something attrocious.

I don't believe that charity, as in community involvements to enhance the poor and foriegn missions, should ever be compelled. It removes the charity. It is rather sickening to be forced into charity. It does not foster goodwill and it does not take individual freedom in to account. How? Because if a man or woman is told that based on compulsory law, they are to go downtown to a homeless shelter and serve food at 6:00 p.m., and it causes their babysitting bill to increase or causes them to miss an important business cocktail, has the one playing God thereby become liable? I think so. And I think that once you begin to force people into charity, you will force them to do-good at the appointed time. You know, what with all the anal time management folks philosophizing.

I think compulsory charity would cause terrible social problems. Ultimately, it would cause a greater polarization socially and cause even more social strain.

I think that if you want to increase empathy, you might actually want to compel welfare recipients to do a certain amount of hours of community service each month. That way, they can feel like they are doing something. That way they won't feel as though they have dropped into a hole to hades. It would be good for them socially, as well as increase their skills.

You know, You help us, We help you.

Just because people are on welfare does not mean that they have no worth or are not needed within their state or country. I think it would foster a sense of community and aid in self worth. For those who really need or want to get off of welfare, it would be a good lesson in politicking and socializing and most importantly, working. Gaining experience.

There's nothing wrong with giving back or asking for help. Sometimes, some people have grown up so needy that they never learned how to give back. They think that they have nothing worth giving. When a couple of hours a week might keep a city thriving.

Learn more about this author, G E Barr.
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