Monday, February 09, 2009

Another form of slavery?

For a couple of months now, my husband and I have been discussing the idea of government as a slave owner, with people, dependent upon the largess of the politicians in charge, as slaves.

We've not fully fleshed it out, but have skirted around the edges of the concept with questions like:

* If government gives you housing and food, tells you where you can send your kids for day care or school, and tells you where to go to a job or training, are you really 'free'?

* Is today's welfare 'society' (for lack of better term) the same as a slave plantation from the 1850's? The 'master'(government) takes care of all your needs and you, in return, do as they say. You may not be out in the fields working, but you're going through the programs they dictate and following their rules in order to maintain your handouts...

* How is today's welfare system any different from slavery? Is it the same concept with a nicer package and the 'illusion' of freedom?

We've been wondering about these things and talking about the differences and similarities. And then today I found Star Parker's column, "Back on Uncle Sam's Plantation," and I realized that others are considering the same things - but in a broader way.

Parker, whose personal story is inspiring, expanded the scope of the idea from the individual to industry and she hits the nail on the head with this observation:

"Instead of poor America on socialism becoming more like rich America on capitalism, rich America on capitalism is becoming like poor America on socialism."


I hope you will read her full column and that it will cause you to also consider the long-term implications of when government 'help' becomes 'control.'

6 comments:

Roman said...

For a long time, I have joked about sending all of your earnings to Washington and they will send you back credits for what you need. With the "stimulus" trying to pass the Congress, this seems more likely to happen. This is another theme of the Golden Rule: "He who has the gold, rules!"

Timothy W Higgins said...

Two seekers and purveyors of wisdom have enlightened the rest of us with their perspective.

Of course those of us who had not yet had our eyes completely opened were mostly happy, wearing their invisible chains with noticing. (So thanks for that...)

While dismayed by this enlightenment, it becomes necessary if there is any hope of changing it's eventual outcome.

Mad Jack said...

From Maggie: I hope you will read her full column and that it will cause you to also consider the long-term implications of when government 'help' becomes 'control.'

Government help is already control. The State of Ohio is dependent on Federal funds for infrastructure, which the Feds use to make Ohio residents obey Federally specified traffic laws and various other mindless edicts. Another example is public transportation, which works fairly well so long as you are content to travel where the government allows you to be in a manner suitably pleasing to the government.

While a few politicos may not be following their party's line, the vast majority are. The Stupid Party claims it wants less government, and it doesn't. The Moonbats claim they want lower taxes, and they don't.

Both parties claim they want what is best for the United States, and I believe they speak the truth here. The trouble is that their definition of the United States is the US government, not the people.

Maggie said...

MadJack said:

"Government help is already control."

I stand corrected.

:)

Hooda Thunkit (Dave Zawodny) said...

Maggie,

Funny you should mention it, because I too have in my "yet to be posted" files a topic called "Welfare = Modern Slavery.doc".

So, if you have ever doubted it, rest easy, for you are not alone...

skeeter1107 said...

Unfortunately, we have a large and increasing number of fellow Americans who are perfectly content living with and under this subtle but insidious form of slavery.

To a great degree, our politicians and government mirror the population and electorate. A population that forgoes the ideals of achievement and mobility, to settle for the comfortable numbness as a Ward of the State. So it's no surprise that we find politicians that are more than happy to deliver the chains of welfare slavery solely for the purpose of keeping their jobs.

So Maggie you are not alone. The real question is "what are we going to do about it?" There's the rub.

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