Thursday, October 1, 2015

Bumper sticker philosophy

This is a great example of bumper sticker philosophy. It is easy to say, "Yep, ain't that the truth." And, me as a middle class white male, I would say it mostly applies to me. The doors of opportunity were easy for me to open. I had a lot of help and support as a youth which gave me the skills, confidence and background to 'succeed'. There is no reason for me not to do for myself.
Now go to "the other side of the tracks" where all "those people" are getting welfare. Just picture one child. Picture him going to school and coming home to an empty house because there is only a mom and she is somewhere else. Who knows where. Who helps him with his homework? Who says, "I believe in you and doing this work will open doors for you."? Who watches him make mistakes and helps him learn from them? No one. He comes home and watches TV, plays video games or hangs out with kids in the same situation. These kids aren't going to get together and help each other with homework. He becomes an adult with no opportunities, no hope and no sense of duty to the greater good. He has a few kids with different women and takes no role in their life and the cycle goes on.
Personal responsibility is a learned behavior. Self preservation is an instinctive behavior but is not the same as responsibility. We have a system that is broken and throwing these people to the wolves to fend for themselves is insane. These are the communities we should be throwing money into and breaking the cycle. 
Imagine a school system with a 10 student to 1 teacher ratio. Imagine a teacher that is not worried about his/her own bills because they are paid so well they can do what they love, teach. They help teach the personal responsibility, they help create the hope. Imaging a police force that says I am here for you. I'm not here to punish you at every misstep but to serve and protect you." Imagine churches opening doors right in that community and saying, "We are all in this together. Let us help you build a strong, caring community. Child, we know your mom is not home but we have an outstanding after-school program. Your education is important. We believe in you. We will love and protect you."

Imagine that child growing up. He will have learned personal responsibility and when he has a kid he will more likely be involved than not. His child will have more opportunities than his father and the cycle continues but in a better direction. This seems like a better way of ending welfare than saying, "Pick yourself up by your bootstraps" to someone who never was taught how.

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