A couple of points. First the progressive tax system is now so skewed that most voters pay little or no tax. So when they get vote for a tax increase on someone else. And who wouldn’t like that. There is no negative feedback in a progressive income tax system. So the voter does not reap the consequences of a vote for a tax increase. Tocqueville among others pointed this out. A flat tax would largely fix this. And it would seem to be required by the equal protection clause. Other point. Liberals love to point out that the Bible calls for charity and a cheerful giver. Most any page in the Bible will hold a verse admonishing the faithful to give and provide for the less fortunate. Well I absolutely agree. But I have read most of the Bible multiple times, both old and new, have read the Dead Scrolls, Nag Hamadi texts and most of the books not included in the Christian canon. And in not a single one of these was the believer commanded to filter the charity through the kidneys of a government. Nowhere did government figure in the collection or distribution of charity. Charity was collected and/or distributed by members of the faith community. And this is of vital importance. The giver and receiver made eye contact. The receiver saw a person voluntarily give up something he had earned to share with him. The giver in that moment his humanity and vulnerability in a hostile world. The receiver realized that there were good people in the world and that they should be encouraged and one should give thanks for these kind people. Likewise the receiver was given to reflect if there was more he could do for himself because the charity had a face on it. A person was behind the gifts received. He knew this person now. And the person knew him. There was a kind of a bond created between them that would last throughout their lives. This very thing has happened to me. I have been both parties in this transaction at multiple times in my life. I remember. They remember. It is a humbling bond, a bond that touches the raw core of my humanity. Charity as practiced in the Bible heals divides in society, pulls people together, makes them realize just how they have in common, their shared vulnerability. Now let us consider what happens when the government is in the loop. First there is no contact between the giver and receiver. Possibly no human contact at all. Just a prepaid credit card or check in the mail. The humanity of the exchange is removed. It is a sterile functional transaction. And the government can insert a subtle or not so subtle message. They can infer that they have to do this because the greedy, selfish wealthy will only give up their wealth by coercion. And maybe that wealth was ill-gotten in the first place . Probably just a matter of luck. And of course the giver has no opportunity to rebut this. In fact the giver is generally not aware of this. This interaction feeds resentments. It strokes animosity. It creates divisions in society and balkanizes society. It polarizes. Government provided benefits do not meet the Biblical standard of charity. They are evil. They are inhumane to all parties involved. Both the giver and receiver are diminished in their humanity. Only the government benefits.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 02:53:19 +0000
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