Thread: Free Lunches, Free Rides, Free Handouts. Is Euro Welfare State Our Future in the USA?

In the past many men were proud that they could earn their own keep in this great country of ours, but today we seen an ever increasing amount of the entitlement mentality. Is this our future, is this what we want in a country?

I believe so, more people are depending on government than ever before, Obamacare has set such a precedent for universal health care as seen in the welfare states of Europe.

The amount of food stamps recepients has increased, those accepting welfare from social security disability as well. Government has expanded, under homeland security and various other new agencies created. We are moving toward a new generation of dependency as seen in Europe, and hopefully this becomes progress.

The old ways have ended, everyone has to pay for everyone else, no more of this personal responsibility mantra by the right. In conclusion, in November we will see this shift clearly; that more people want something for free than they are willing to pay for it and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. IMO.

I see you finally put a end to the satire. lol.

Originally Posted by Friendly

I see you finally put a end to the satire. lol.

Are you kidding?

Originally Posted by Hoosier8

Are you kidding?

He edited that (*)(*)(*)(*)..lol. He is trolling everyone .

Free Lunches, Free Rides, Free Handouts. Is Euro Welfare State Our Future in the USA? I certainly hope it isn't but our children are being indoctrinated into collectivism at a very young age.

This is a true story:

My children got a list of school supplies that they were supposed to bring to school. They included about three times the amount of supplies that seemed reasonable, for example they were asked to bring 15 glue sticks. We thought this was a lot of crap, so we bought the number of school supplies which seemed reasonable. After a month of going to school, we found out that the teachers took all the school supplies and dumped them into collective bins. Only about a third of the parents actually bought any school supplies, so the school asked the responsible parents to provide three times the amount of school supplies so that the irresponsible ones could go without buying any. When the collectivist program was started five years ago, about 85% of all parents would bring school supplies and the number of fools willing to support a socialistic program dwindled down to 30% five years later.

I suggested that this program was destined to fail. I offered to help start a new program that avoided collectivism, and the responsible parents would do fundraisers with the kids to ensure every kid gets school supplies. I was told I was completely missing the point of the educational value of the collectivism. I told the school that they missed the lesson provided by collectivism in that I would talk to all the parents and next year they wouldn't have any kids bringing any supplies in next year.

Originally Posted by Lee S

Free Lunches, Free Rides, Free Handouts. Is Euro Welfare State Our Future in the USA? I certainly hope it isn't but our children are being indoctrinated into collectivism at a very young age.

This is a true story:

My children got a list of school supplies that they were supposed to bring to school. They included about three times the amount of supplies that seemed reasonable, for example they were asked to bring 15 glue sticks. We thought this was a lot of crap, so we bought the number of school supplies which seemed reasonable. After a month of going to school, we found out that the teachers took all the school supplies and dumped them into collective bins. Only about a third of the parents actually bought any school supplies, so the school asked the responsible parents to provide three times the amount of school supplies so that the irresponsible ones could go without buying any. When the collectivist program was started five years ago, about 85% of all parents would bring school supplies and the number of fools willing to support a socialistic program dwindled down to 30% five years later.

I suggested that this program was destined to fail. I offered to help start a new program that avoided collectivism, and the responsible parents would do fundraisers with the kids to ensure every kid gets school supplies. I was told I was completely missing the point of the educational value of the collectivism. I told the school that they missed the lesson provided by collectivism in that I would talk to all the parents and next year they wouldn't have any kids bringing any supplies in next year.

Thanks for the well thought out post, I see where you're going with this, that eventually people will get tired of paying for others and it will end.

But there is a saying that goes , there is a fool born every minute, so as long as they continue this program there will always be someone there to bring extra supplies to the school.

And the way the program is run, where the authority demands generous redistribution of wealth, it can still run even if only 3 in 10 people participate.

Originally Posted by liberalminority

In the past many men were proud that they could earn their own keep in this great country of ours, but today we seen an ever increasing amount of the entitlement mentality. Is this our future, is this what we want in a country?

This is what happens in times of high unemployment, when the poor get poorer and the rug of opportunity is pulled from under those who are struggling.

A civilised society if often judged on how those in need are cared for.

Originally Posted by lizarddust

This is what happens in times of high unemployment, when the poor get poorer and the rug of opportunity is pulled from under those who are struggling.

Yes and sadly, it is the very people that purport to aid that are pulling that rug.

Originally Posted by lizarddust

A civilised society if often judged on how those in need are cared for.

And too often societies mistake is assuming governments are benevolent.

Originally Posted by liberalminority

Thanks for the well thought out post, I see where you're going with this, that eventually people will get tired of paying for others and it will end.

But there is a saying that goes , there is a fool born every minute, so as long as they continue this program there will always be someone there to bring extra supplies to the school.

And the way the program is run, where the authority demands generous redistribution of wealth, it can still run even if only 3 in 10 people participate.

Well there is more to the story. Two years later the collectivist program ended because only a couple of parents were willing to be sucked dry. I helped organize a program where I got business leaders to provide a complete set of school supplies for every child who needed them. The child had to go to the business and pick up the supplies in person. The business leader helped put the child's name on every item and most donors told the child that they needed to take care of their supplies. The businesses also sponsored that child for things like field trips, fees, and any thing else they may need. The amount of parents who began paying for their child's school supplies is now up to 91%, higher than it ever was and this is in a bad economy. The teachers tell us that the kids have been taking better care of their school supplies so each child needs fewer supplies.

I had a student come by my office last month who I sponsored six years ago. She wanted to repay me by doing some weed pulling around my office. I asked her to sponsor a child in the future, instead. That would be the best thing I could get from her.

I think it is important to look after the most vulnerable members of society, and I did more or less wreck the collectivist system. I had to do something.

Collectivism is stupid, so is socialism. What is a proven method is regulation of the economy rather than simple Laissez Faire economics. The reason why so many European states are doing so bad is that they went too deep into the collectivist state. Socialism is a joke, economic liberalism in the form of regulation is usually the way to go in times like this.