There are only two actions in this world: create or destroy.
There are only two types of individuals in this world: creators and destroyers. There is no in-between. One either creates, or one destroys.
A creator is not merely someone who provides items of value to the world, he is a man does so on his own merit, without taking that which is not willfully given. He funds his creations using his own talent, hard work, and thinking mind. Investment might be willingly provided, and accepted, if both parties agree to the terms and the value of the creation.
A destroyer, on the other hand, takes what is not rightfully his and attempts to destroy the creators. He provides nothing of value to the world, sees no joy in the work of the creators. He forces the creator to become an agent in his own destruction. Murder and theft are the final consequences of the destroyers.
An sculptor might be seen as a creator to most. He uses his talent, hard work and thinking mind to create an object of value. In doing so, he finds satisfaction, and happiness in his creation. If he can place a value on the object and sell it to someone who sees equal value in it, then he can rest assured that his values are in line and moral. If, however, that same sculptor accepts one penny of government subsidy, or steals even the smallest amount of clay for his work, he becomes, irrevocably, a destroyer. The smallest amount of clay represents a value to the person from whom it was taken. Robbing the provider limits his income and prevents him from achieving his goals by his own means. Accepting a government subsidy, even for food, represents the same destruction. Nothing is more destructive than taking money out of someone else's pocket for your own needs or wants. The toll paid in other people's misery and destruction might seem abject, but the destruction is real.
Imagine a single mother, struggling to make it on her own merits, with two children to feed. She rents an apartment in a low-income section of a city so she is close to her job and her children's school. She works 2 jobs to keep her children fed and in school. She is a creator. Working 2 jobs- contributing to businesses or services that people value- and living her life on her own merits. She earns only slightly more than enough to keep her off welfare, not that she would accept it, but she earns just enough to pay for those who do qualify for welfare. She sees her jobless neighbors receive those monthly checks, a percentage of which this woman has paid.
How much more could this woman do for herself and her children if she was not forced to hand over a percentage of her income to those who do not produce and would have a hand in her destruction. With her limited savings, she can't afford the service for her old used car, and is one broken muffler away from losing her job due to lack of transportation, and not being able to pay her rent. She is only one major expense away from destruction. Surely, the $7,000+ she unwillingly pays to the welfare of her neighbors and fellow countrymen (including college education for other people's children) would be useful to her.
A college student, living in an expensive condo in New York that is financed by her parents is not a destroyer. The money is not barbarically taken from others. It is willingly provided. The family living next door, on welfare and subsidies is the true destroyer. As are the millionaires who loot other people's money for their own gain. As are the environmentalists who sit in trees, producing nothing yet demanding that oil companies cease accepting the profits from their hard work and dedication- never understanding where this world would be without the oil companies. As are the politicians who willingly spend the money of their constituents with little regard for the human cost.
There is only one choice in life: create, or destroy.
The most inspiring consequence in life -- true proof that in this world, and in this country, anything is possible -- is that, no matter how much the destroyers loot and kill- the creators continue to create, and their creations continue to dominate our lives.
Assuming that your single mother doesn't have money for a private school my tax dollars are funding her kids' education. And their school lunches, too, seeing as she probably doesn't have time to make lunches for them between her two jobs. And seeing as she lives in a low-income neighborhood, she probably has a rent subsidy, which comes from our tax dollars too. Finally, if your case study's children take on their mother's work ethic, they'll probably do very well in school and will be eligible for govt-funded loans and scholarships.
And that's totally fine by me. I don't mind my tax dollars going to help people who need a hand, I do mind when it goes to support a $100 BILLION war that has not found WMDs, the world's most dangerous terrorist mastermind, or quelled the activities of an international terrorist group.
That's what you and your single mother should be pissed off about.
Posted by: GCL | 11 February 2007 at 12:12 PM
Assuming that your single mother doesn't have money for a private school my tax dollars are funding her kids' education. And their school lunches, too, seeing as she probably doesn't have time to make lunches for them between her two jobs. And seeing as she lives in a low-income neighborhood, she probably has a rent subsidy, which comes from our tax dollars too. Finally, if your case study's children take on their mother's work ethic, they'll probably do very well in school and will be eligible for govt-funded loans and scholarships.
And that's totally fine by me. I don't mind my tax dollars going to help people who need a hand, I do mind when it goes to support a $100 BILLION war that has not found WMDs, the world's most dangerous terrorist mastermind, or quelled the activities of an international terrorist group.
That's what you and your single mother should be pissed off about.
Posted by: GCL | 11 February 2007 at 12:12 PM