A Responsibility to Say Something An article from Fragmented Families and Splintered Classes

Center of the American Experiment ^ | 10-10-12 | Paul D. Allick

[TurboZamboni]

One approach to address the increase in out-of-wedlock births and divorce is for those of us who are civic and religious leaders to start speaking up. We must start talking about values. We must teach about dignity, generosity, honor, and discipline. I am not convinced that this approach will totally reverse these disturbing trends, but it is worth trying.

As I look at our cultural landscape, it seems that values are no longer taught or even discussed. When we do discuss poverty, it is only in the context of materialism. We are no longer comfortable looking at the spiritual and social issues involved in a life of poverty.

Recently, I attended a church meeting where one of our social agencies was showing a video about a family it had recently helped get settled in a new home. The family consisted of a very young mother and two children. There was never any mention of a father. There was nothing said about the mother’s employment status. We were told that these families end up this way because the poverty rate is increasing. They were in this situation because others are greedy and uncaring. This did not make sense to me.

I found myself keeping silent out of fear of sounding mean or being accused of blaming the victim. I wanted to ask about the father. I wanted to ask if this family was part of a faith community. I wanted to ask how their extended family might have helped in this situation. I wanted to ask if the mother had been able to find employment.

On a more general level, I wanted to ask if the rise in the poverty rate had anything to do with the rise in out-of-wedlock births.

[SMARTY]

“The first priority of any serious program against poverty is to strengthen the male role in poor families.” George Gilder

[PieterCasparzen]

Government welfare programs need to be completely ended and the Constitution amended to make it absolutely clear that they will never come back.

Charity is NOT the role of the civil government.

Unemployement, disability, welfare - government has no legitimate right or authority to provide any of them.

Working-age people who are able to work should not receive money for not working.

If one finds oneself poor and in need of charity to get through a tough time until one can find work or get "back in business", the legitimate places to look for help are family, church, friends, other charities.

They will efficiently administer the funds - if you're laying around refusing to find work, or making money under the table and really in no need of money - they will see that and stop giving you money and helping you.

They are not as easily fooled or lied to as the government is.

Especially when the government dole person wants to dole out more money and make the programs bigger, get more people addicted to the government dole - and thereby have greater job security for themselves as the "doler".