Sockdolager

There is an oft repeated tale of Davy Crockett and his response to a vote about public charity in which he correctly states it is not constitutional. I see it repeatedly in discussions of welfare and while it is clear that charity is not the business of government, there is another component of the problem created by government that is not mentioned in that tale.

Back when charity was personal it was also used by society to help prevent and control behavior that was detrimental to that same society. Irresponsible people were not encouraged in their irresponsibility. Now we have a government operated system of charity that is behavior neutral. This system not only does not discourage poor behavior, it actively encourages it.

We see the result of this in a plethora of citizens that take no responsibility for themselves and have become an albatross around the neck of the productive citizen. A citizenry with no knowledge of duty, one that votes themselves bread and circuses without caring for the burden placed on the taxpayer. And it has allowed our representatives to create a safety zone for themselves, whereby no matter what they do to the Constitution, no matter what encumbrances they place on the constructive citizens, they will continue to hold their jobs as long as the bread and circuses endure.

Is there still a way to vote ourselves out of this mess?