I think the trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution — at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody’s got a shot. — 1998
My Take – In this country, if you don’t think you have a shot, you’re kidding yourself. Maybe you don’t have a great family background. Maybe your education was less than optimal, or heck, it even sucked. Maybe you had a rough time growing up, and maybe even got in trouble with the law. But so long as you work hard and smart, there’s no reason you can’t at least keep your head above water. It might be hard and dirty, but at least it’s honest.
Redistribution, or rather institutionalized theft, is the biggest disincentive to getting ahead I’ve ever seen, and it works on both sides of the equation equally. Why work hard when a paternalistic government will just take from someone else to make sure you don’t end up face down in a gutter? Why bust your hump day after day just so Uncle Sam can take what they think is fair and give it to someone else?
Now, I’m not saying that those who need a temporary hand up, or legitimately cannot work for their daily bread shouldn’t receive help. Americans have a long tradition of helping out our family, friends, and neighbors who need a hand. But if someone looks at the productive part of our society and says “You need to give it up so that others can have a fair share”, then that’s a problem. Ask me for help, and I will give you the shirt off my back. Put a gun to my head and rob me in the name of ‘fairness’, and I will fight back.
DaddyBear’s Den 
Mad Jack
/ October 19, 2012There are exceptions. A certain segment of the population is hard core unemployable due to physical or mental disabilities. I remember old Billy Centerfire from out West. The local community helped him out along the way, and Billy would live off the land during the warmer seasons, eating whatever he could shoot or catch. Game wardens tended to look the other way when Billy was involved, and the local merchants would let him use their rest room to clean up during the winter months. Billy finally had to accept State charity and passed away in a State run home. Others have mental problems and require one to three months of care every year in order to live in society. These people are fine the rest of the year, it’s just that they can’t deal with all the crap that goes on in our daily lives year in and year out without a ‘tune up’, so to speak.
I agree with what you’ve written here. The biggest problem with taxation is that those who contribute the most use the benefits the least. I use (or would use) Fire, EMS, Police and transportation infrastructure. I don’t care about any stupid war in the Middle East, nor do I see any reason to deploy the world’s largest military all over the place at an astronomical cost, especially when the Federal government can’t deal effectively with natural disasters (fire, flood, etc) or secure our border with Mexico.
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daddybear71
/ October 19, 2012I agree, Jack. There is a small percentage of our citizenry that, for physical or mental reasons beyond their control, can’t provide for themselves. I have no problem with giving them support. It’s the ones that see no reason, either external or internal, to get out and earn their own living that I have a problem with.
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