tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3610430154861217625.post776562833978573440..comments2024-02-29T10:14:57.263-06:00Comments on Diaristic Notations: Food is a necessity.Kim Mosleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17658600791743162004noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3610430154861217625.post-79578787390948759572012-06-15T19:18:31.152-05:002012-06-15T19:18:31.152-05:00Kim: The libertarian asks whether this is a role o...Kim: The libertarian asks whether this is a role of government or whether private citizens (most charity comes from individuals, not businesses) could take care of the hungry.<br /><br />Me: The government is (in theory) private citizens organizing together in order to more effectively conduct business. I would very much like my government to take care of the hungry. I would be more than happy if my tax dollars went to this. Or to education. Or to healthcare. Or to certain other services.<br /><br />I remember when Katrina happened and somebody said to me (not Mr. Kim) that it was not the role of the government to have to save people or get them water. If that’s true, then I’m ok with eliminating all government. In my mind, the government should exist to take care of people and for no other reason. I am ok with coercive taxing if those tax dollars are used to get people water when they are trapped at a stadium during a flood, or paying fire fighters to try to curtail flames ravaging whole neighborhoods, or getting people shelter after the tornado or earthquake destroys the town. This should be the role of government.<br /><br />So the question shouldn’t simply be if it is a matter of if government or charity should feed people. It’s a matter of getting the government to do what we want with the coercively tax income. <br /><br />Someone (not Mr. Kim) recently complained to me about how much of our tax dollars when to school lunch programs and what a waste that was. What percentage of tax dollars goes to funding war or the preparation for war? What percentage goes to school lunch programs? Why this person was focusing on school lunch programs as the tax drain is completely beyond me. And this to me is why one ought not depend on charity as a sole solution to feeding the hunger or helping the poor. Humans are not always kind or charitable. Often the poor are blamed for their condition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3610430154861217625.post-88505439686476325782012-06-15T15:25:22.224-05:002012-06-15T15:25:22.224-05:00The difficulty with dependance on individual givin...The difficulty with dependance on individual giving is that doesn't seem to cover the need. It is better if people can feed themselves, but often doesn't work and that is when government needs to step in. H.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com