The Church has taught me all my life that when one is in temporal, i.e. physical, financial, emotional, straights one should first seek to elevate themselves. We were taught to be self sufficient as much as possible. We were taught, in my family, that family sticks together to assist its members. Should family be unable to help, then assistance should be sought from church or community. Government should be the last gasp, not the first stop.
This morning I came across an article describing a plea from the Department of Human Services. It issued a plea for individuals and families to get more help from the government because "only 15% of our citizens are asking for help from the Government, and over 25% seek help from family."
I can't believe my eyes. I had to read it twice to understand just what they were trying to say. In essence the article indicates that these bureaucrats want to supplant family support with government intrusion. The family unit is already under attack and now the government wants to destroy it completely.
My opinion is that government needs to step back and let families take care of their members. Church congregations should take care of their members. After all said and done, clergy is better equipped than bureaucrats to understand individuals' needs and they can better mete out what is needed instead of what glories the government is wont to distribute. Families and clergy approach their deity where bureaucrats are not able to do so. Families and clergy understand individual circumstances. Families and clergy can help circumvent the spiritual trap that the dole offers.
In short....government needs to butt out.
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