 Voices For Freedom Read Columns
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© 2006 Daniel J. McLaughlin Not Yours To Give A story compiled by Edward S. Elli, “Not Yours To Give”, is purported to be the words of Colonel David Crockett, while he was a member of the House Of Representatives. I don’t know how much has been verified, but the meat of the story is an obvious truth, just as valid today as in the time of Davy Crockett. Colonel Crocket was giving an explanation of why he spoke out and voted against the payment of a significant sum of money to the widow of a deceased naval officer as a debt of gratitude. While he had respect for the memory of the deceased and had sympathy for the suffering of people, his point was that the money was not theirs to give. The constitution gives no authority to the government to pay charity, and intentionally restricts the scope of government. Charity was, however, important to him, and he challenged each member of the House to pay one week of their salary to the cause. If they did that, they would have more than was asked for. While they voted the measure down, nobody took him up on the challenge to give up part of their salary. They were only willing to be generous if it was with other people’s money. The same is true today. While we have long since caved in to abuse of the constitution, and routinely use an incredible amount of public money for charity, the millionaires occupying seats in congress are not generous with their own money. They are only generous if they can steal it from the citizens and get the credit for being the benefactors. Charity is very important in any civilized society. It is right to take care of those less able to care for themselves. The people of America can be proud that, in spite of the trillions in taxes extracted from them each year, they still show an amazing charity in donating time and money to worthy causes. It has been said that the measure of a society is how it cares for the poor and the elderly. However true that may be, government is not society. Society is a name for a collection of individuals. Government is a separate collection of individuals, making decisions based on what they think is good for their careers. Unfortunately, what is good for their careers is often not what is good or right for the people that make up society, the citizens. The fallacy that predominates in circles promoting socialist programs is that, without public doles, the poor would starve, the aged would die, children would be neglected. It is asserted that government is needed to make all of the good things happen. It is not difficult, however, to imagine a world where private charities and religious organizations feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and give shelter to the homeless. It is not hard to imagine because it happens a great deal today, every day, even in spite of the trillions of dollars spent on the massively failed War On Poverty. The failure of government programs is the reason that private programs need to pick up the pieces. The inefficiency and lack of effectiveness and responsiveness of government programs, bureaus and agencies is legendary. Few people can claim ignorance of the waste, misdirected efforts and self-serving objectives of government officials. The nature of government guarantees that that will always be the case. The benevolent despot is an unrealizable fantasy. The only way to reduce waste and abuse in government is to reduce government. That was recognized by America’s founders when they built the limitations into the constitution. People, in general, care for other people. That has always been the case. Where there is need, there is probably someone willing and able to help. For every dollar taken from the pockets of the people in the form of taxes, there is one less dollar available to help, or for the people to invest in growth, provide jobs, develop better, cheaper foods, give to the charity of their choice, or any number of other things that free people do to improve society. It is a sure bet that those tax dollars are not used as effectively as the original owners would have used them. It is another sure bet that they are not used for the things that the original owners would have used them for. Colonel Crockett had it right when he challenged his colleagues. Quit giving what is not yours to give. |
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Daniel Mclaughlin
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