A significant contrast exists between individual acts of charity and what is often referred to as government-regulated charity. When individuals decide to give out of their goodwill, it reflects a conscious decision and an act of affection. Such contributions, hinged on an in-depth understanding of a specific individual or family’s needs, resonate deeply with the American ethos. Americans have consistently demonstrated their propensity for generosity. For those on the receiving end of such acts, the experience is intensely personal, fostering a deep sense of gratitude and a greater love for their benefactors who offered support during their time of need.
On the contrary, government charity is not voluntary; it is a mandatory tax. It lacks the warmth of personal involvement, the understanding of specific needs, and the bond it creates between the giver and receiver. To alleviate the discomfort associated with receiving these “charities,” the government labels them as entitlements. However, the beneficiaries of these “entitlements” have no one to thank and quickly develop a sense of entitlement to these benefits, simply because they are in America, citizenship notwithstanding.
Compulsory giving is not an act of love; it is an obligation. The lack of knowledge about the specific needs of the beneficiaries deprives the giver of the joy of providing personal support to a particular individual or family. The government, in effect, robs millions of Americans of the joy of giving and receiving charity as an act of love.
Free Government programs are often riddled with extensive fraud and abuse, which undermine the essence of charity. Although it is necessary to have government safety nets for the most vulnerable, a government supporting 50 million Americans is not merely providing a safety net. It is creating a dependency that threatens the very fabric of the nation. Instances of individuals demanding millions in cash based on skin color are not uncommon in places like San Francisco. Historically, governments that create endless free programs eventually run their nations into the ground.
The current problem with the government is the disbelief among those in power that Americans will willingly aid their fellow citizens without government mandates. They doubt the inherent goodness of individuals and American companies’ willingness to give. They underestimate Americans’ capacity to step up and instead rely on their power to enforce “good behavior,” robbing the nation and its people of their autonomy. These political elites aim to replace the collective heart and soul of the American people, thus depriving us of one of the greatest expressions of love – charity.
Contemporary politicians seem oblivious to our history, where Americans, without extensive government programs, supported each other in times of need.
Ironically, these power-hungry political elites expect our trust while they lack faith in the American people. Their policies and laws reflect their mistrust in our inherent goodness.
I trust the American people more now than ever. I am confident in their innate goodness. However, my trust in government leaders is minimal, given their rhetorics and failed policies that have ruined our economy, divided the nation, and burdened us with a $34.5 trillion debt. Since the inception of our Republic, no other group of leaders has done more damage to America than the current crop. They may sound intelligent and appear eloquent on camera, but the reality is that they are often wrong, and the outcomes bear testimony to this fact. Our political leadership has been spiraling downwards with each passing year.
The political elites are skilled actors but poor leaders, undesirable role models for our children, and ineffective deceivers. My travels abroad have shown me that while people from other countries love Americans, they despise the policies created by our elites. This resentment is growing globally.
Americans are aware that something is drastically wrong. They can sense it, and it reflects in the polls. The trust in Congress, the President, our foreign policies, and the government’s intrusive involvement in our economy has eroded. They even doubt the government’s ability to protect free speech.
I am grateful that our coins do not bear the inscription, “In Government We Trust.” The government should serve the masses, not a select few. The foundations of everything we hold dear are at risk.
We need genuine leaders who desire less power and wish to empower the American people to determine their destiny, not have it dictated by the government. Leaders who uphold the constitution, not those eager to change it to consolidate their power. Leaders who believe more in the American people than in themselves. We have deviated from the path of selfless service to our country.
We have transitioned from John F. Kennedy’s “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” to a state where people ask, “What can the country provide me for free?”
I love America and its people, but our government and its leaders have become increasingly corrupt and inept. They have violated our trust in ways we would never tolerate in our personal lives. We wouldn’t burden future generations with debt or promote division and hatred over differences of opinion in our homes. We would not support conflict with our neighbors or fund those who wish to harm us.
Our leaders have transmuted public service roles into lucrative careers with benefits that average Americans can only dream of. The fact that presidential campaigns require billions of dollars to run raises legitimate concerns about corruption.
We have become enamored by the charisma of political “rockstars” who excel at delivering speeches but lack substance. Rhetoric is not a substitute for leadership or a value system. I would prefer a stuttering but effective leader over an eloquent but ineffective one. Our political elites want us to idolize the state, but what we need are leaders who relinquish their power to empower the people. Until we find such leaders, we can expect continued political corruption across all parties.
Just stating the obvious again!
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