On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 9:26 PM, Eric Walker <eric.wal...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 5:28 PM, MarkI-ZeroPoint <zeropo...@charter.net>
>> >> We also need to look at how the entitlement programs are structured… I’ve >> seen examples about how the rules are not structured to encourage one to >> become self-reliant, but promote dependency… dependency is just another way >> the control freaks (politicians) maintain control, and their power and >> elitist positions. I would have no problem if the programs ‘taught you how >> to fish’ in addition to giving you some fish for a limited period of time. >> Washington DC’s avg household income is now the highest in the country; >> surpassing the Silicon Valley of California… that should tell you all you >> need to know about politicians. We need to go back to one-term, citizen >> politicians; get rid of all lobbyists and corporate influence-peddlers in >> DC. > > > Yes, would not be surprised if dependency were a problem -- I have witnessed > some of it myself. But with that I have two reservations. First, let's > approach the problem empirically. Are there existing programs out there > that have a proven track record of helping people at the margins of society > without encouraging dependency? Let's copy what they're doing and see if we > can tweak it. Second, dependency is only a problem for those who can avoid > it. There are many people, incompetents among them, who are, by their > nature, dependent. There is no conceivable way that we will educate them > out of it; they will simply either sink into the existing social darwinism > or, if we can help them, they will lead out lives in dignity at a modest > cost to the public. I am persuaded that this will not only be satisfying in > some ethical sense, but that we will all be better off economically as well. > The truth is everyone depends on something and/or someone to maintain their way of being in the world. Nobody exists in a state of independence. Dependency is not an affliction or a sin. (For example, the self-employed, who often portray themselves as "independent" and therefore morally superior, depend heavily on a system that can process monetary transactions.) Everyone is entitled (can I say that?) to a degree of autonomy from which they can choose how they prefer to lean on the world and others and to give back to the world and others. Harry
