An op-ed submittal to the Virginian Pilot- Government Assistance Discourages Personal Compassion

In the readers opinion "Move Thomas", she states that Cal Thomas and his view that it is not the government's responsibility, but instead the people's, in assisting those in need is beyond belief. It is beyond belief in that it is based in faith. Everything the government provides is done by taking from it's people. Whether it be a program to assist the needy, a jobs training program, or a facility that "helps people get help", it is all financed by the working populace and it's taxes. These programs require staffers and qualified individuals who are paid by the "people" even before the first individual is helped. This is overlooked however, and more and more programs sprout from the politicians who throw more and more of our money at the problem. This does not solve the problem at all but only serves to make it a bureaucratic monstrosity where the needy are merely numbers.

The proliferation of government assistance has caused an apathy among society towards helping others. We go about life thinking someone else will help them or "why should I when there is a program for that?". Churches and other community programs not assisted by the government such as the food bank take a hit from such apathy. It breeds a feeling of dependence upon a faceless government structure of money sucking programs intended to assist but instead killing the desire of society to have any compassion. Within Norfolk there is Ghent Area Ministries, the Salvation Army, and the Union Mission that are faith based programs needing donations from congregations and the faithful to help. They have helped people I am familiar with and close to on many occasions without the huge bureaucracy necessary to run a government program. For those with addiction issues, many churches provide meeting places for Alcoholics Anonymous as well as Narcotics Anonymous without the assistance and direction of government staffers.

I agree with Thomas and his assertion that it is Society as a whole, the family, the church, the friend, the caring neighbor, who should reach out to help our citizens in need. We have lost that motivation and moral obligation because government has taken it from us as well as our money while saying they can do it better. I say, give that ability back to society and the hand out will become a hand up as well and not some perpetual crutch to rely on in order to parlay votes upon dependence with feigned compassion.