The welfare state

Once upon a time people in need turned to charity. Charity was found in friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. There was a community. The community took care of people in need. In return people supported the community.

Government came and replaced community. Welfare came from the government. Government took taxes from citizens. Welfare recipients owed nothing to the community. The community withered. The fabric of society was destroyed.

Like crops that need nutrients and food and sunlight, community needs people. It needs people who give willing to the community. It is a living thing. It is people giving and receiving in a feedback loop. Receiving when in need. Giving when others are in need.

Government takes. It takes from productive people and gives to unproductive people. It creates a sense of entitlement among the takers.

Now that community has withered. It isn't strong enough to support people in need. The change must be made gradually so that community can regain its strength. Friends, family, co-workers and neighbors need time to take up the burden and learn to be community again.

There is no way to simply stop the entitlements. People will cry out. People will sue. There will be anger. There will be riots. The welfare system has also destroyed the welfare recipients making them weak. Imagine someone who has been forced into a wheelchair for years. You cannot simply make him walk. He must learn to walk again in stages. In the same way, we must reduce the welfare state. Gradually. And teach men to walk like men again.