These Poor Saps

When I was in the active duty Air Force there were many annual events and activities that rolled around year after year that just became another part of military life. One of them was the "charity drive". It had another name, but that's what it was, a charity drive. At McConnell AFB each of the squadrons would put homemade plywood billboards along the main street of the base showing how much money each had raised during the month or so the drive was going on. I remember that each of us would receive a giant list of charities to which we could donate. There was everything from Susan G. Komen fighting breast cancer to the American Indian College Fund.

Now, recently I've been having some fun debates with some friends on Facebook, and more than once we have taken sides concerning the subject of government's role in, well, just about everything. Being the staunch conservative (not Republican, by the way) I am I have been vocally in favor of a very limited government that stays out of things like health care and education. My, what lovely discussions that stance has sparked, too. There is one recurring theme that seems to exist in the arguments of those who oppose my conservative views, and that is this; my not wanting the government to redistribute my money to all the poor saps who need help means I must not want to help these poor saps. It's a fallacious conclusion with only emotional and no logical basis...and it's a bit offensive.

The reason I have told you about the Air Force charity drive is because I recently recalled that long list of charities and something occurred to me. There is an organization trying to raise money for just about every need in existence. These people work tirelessly to spread awareness about their causes. They hold fundraisers and hit folks up for money all the time. Many people give to these organizations to help their fellow man. Any of the many people I have been debating with along with many others I have seen post comments in online newsrooms, other blogs and on social networks like Facebook could easily give to these charities if they wish to help those in need. They could even help in the effort of spreading the word about the needs and where to go to lend a hand.

However, in lieu of these things they wish instead to have the government oversee such "charity" and accomplish the actual work by taking everyone's money to redistribute to the poor saps. So, on the one hand we have charity provided freely by those who wish to help others and on the other hand we have those who advocate forcing everyone to donate money whether they wish to or not.

Or, to put it more simply, on the one hand we have altruism, and on the other hand we have legalized theft.

So, an exercise in honesty; for those who think the government should be using tax dollars for social reform, if you were standing on the sidewalk with four friends and a man aproached you asking for $25 to buy gas so he could get his family to the next city where he has a job waiting would you give him the money or demand that each of your friends give him $5 to help him on his way? Just curious.