Excessive Entitlements

“I am for doing good to the poor, but I differ in opinion of the means. I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it.” -Ben Franklin

We have harmed the very people we seek to help by providing more help than is needed; excessive entitlements. Encouraging the very behaviors we wish to diminish by subsidizing them, while robbing the poor of their selfworth.

You get more of what you glamorize, subsidize or reward.

You get less of what you tax, embargo, tariff, or attempt to prohibit.

We pay them for not working when we want them to work. We subsidize unwanted childbirth and unwed fatherhood while taxing marriage and responsible parenting.

We want more jobs for people, but punish companies that try to grow.

We want people to be responsible citizens, but we exempt them from punishment for irresponsible behavior.

There is no reward for meritorious achievements, if we reward non-achievers the same as the accomplished.

If hard workers and non-workers all get the same, why should anyone work hard?

We want people to save and invest in their futures, but reward those who do not.

We want law abiding citizen, but glamorize those who do not.

My suggestions;

Cut entitlements to a little less than capable citizens need, not more lavish than they deserve,

Allow consequences for those who do not try,

Provide incentives for behaviors we want,

Treat all people exactly alike, regardless of their differences,

Allow businesses and people to fail, they will learn,

Punish those who do not maintain the minimum standards of Citizenship,

Be kind and generous to the disabled, infirmed and incapable,

Stop progressive taxation, it’s not fair and equal treatment,

Stop taxing businesses; it just loots workers, widows, orphans and consumers,

Stop giving non-profit privileges to enterprises that are not,

Minimize government intrusions in our personal lives.

We currently do none of these things well, but these actions would solve many of my most serious grievances.