A response to a friend's message to me on facebook
who is a Libertarian. This message also apply's to
Republicans and Conservatives regarding why
the government should help people out and
not just individuals and religious institutions
such as Church's.
"In regards to your statements and my own
opinions on the matter regarding government:
1. Government in the U.S. was founded on religious freedom
but that does not mean we should abandon religious teachings
and morals.
First let's define government:
"government
Definition
A body of people that sets and administers public policy, and exercises executive, political, and sovereign power through customs, institutions, and laws within a state."
Source: http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/government.html
So as you can see the government consists
of actual people and not mindless robots!
Most of the people in the U.S. Government
consider themselves Christian btw.
It is an extension of us in a way.
2. Often times I hear people saying or making
claims that taxing is a form of stealing esp.
when it is done to rich people. I fail to
see how this is considered stealing.
People pay taxes to the government on
their own accord and have free will to
choose not to pay taxes to them as well.
See here:
Taxing the Rich More Is Stealing?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110425185318AA5nMWI
3. Since this nation is mainly Christian we should
follow what Jesus taught us to do in regards to helping
people. While Churches and religious people do help
a lot of people out there are some restrictions that
apply even to organizations such as Catholic Charities
and the Salvation Army.
I have volunteered for these organizations as well as Church food pantry's and
here is what help poor people tend to get in my area which is near Chicago which is the Southwest Suburbs:
1. A few bags of food every 4 months enough
to do 2 people a week at the most. Some
people with big families tend to get a little
more. Most of the food is canned food
that is outdated although some fresh
food, meat and even $5 food gift
cards to grocery stores are sometimes
given out but not always.
Larger charities such as Catholic Charities
may help people out on a monthly basis
but only to residents that live in a certain
area and again only one or two bags of food
and a $5-$10 gift card.
A Church in my area has 2,000 members in it
The Lighthouse Church and only one member
out of all of them helps out with her family
anyone that needs help. The Pastor won't
even help out.
This places a need for then not just Church's and
individuals helping out. I've come across many
people who depend on link or snap cards aka
food stamps to feed their family's from the
public aid government office.
These people are hard workers who make
between $35,000-$25,000 year and work
full time and even though some of them have
family members that help them out is it not
enough for them to get by or live on.
I also know middle class people whom have
had to depend on the government for help
in regards to food and medical care.
Without county hospitals many people
who are uninsured would not have
the proper medication to live such as
insulin, blood pressure pills, heart meds,
pain medication, etc. or the proper
healthcare.
Taxes are to thank for this.
Simply put there are many individuals
who help people out but they can only
do so much as the need to help people
out is constant almost and never ending.
This is where the government comes in handy.
They can do a more effective job then individuals can and religious institutions by enacting programs to help people out by educating them, giving jobs to those who are able to work, and providing housing, food, medical care and other programs to help people live and get by.
They can also put a large amount of money into these
programs as well to fund them and put less of a burden
on Church's and individuals except in regards to paying
higher taxes (hey if we can spend billions a month on
going to war and space programs like NASA we can
spend a little to help out our fellow man, right?)
In regards to forcing people I don't see how
anyone can be forced to do anything that
was mentioned in your quote and at
gunpoint? I don't see how anyone
is using guns to force anyone into
giving money.
Also see the facebook page The Christian Left their
info section. Thanks.
Whew! That was a long message.
Regards
Robert
p.s. See this link here:
Government exists to help the poor
"Government (at least in the United States) has a number of jobs
1. Defense of the country
2. Welfare programs and programs for those who cant afford health care
3. Enforcing minimum wage
4. Homeless shelters
5. School Systems
6. Other Public services
7. Carrying out justice.
So really when you do consider it, government (at least the US government) exists to help the poor, whether it be those who are poor in money, poor in education, poor in defense, poor in health, poor in justice."
Also on a side note Happy Halloween everybody!
