The other evening I heard a younger guy on his own local talk radio program say that he would rather eat out of a garbage can than accept government assistance.
Although I have had sentiments that bordered this reasoning, I have never articulated that exact phrase. I thought to myself, “would I rather take others refuse than steal from them?” Hoping there is enough disease free refuse for sustenance – I would rather keep what is harder to obtain and keep than food - integrity. Morally, there is no question here. You shouldn't steal.
If your moral grounding is in a Deity that has corporeal, material ability to interact and change existence with directive change connected in some way to behavior on the part of the actor, then standing as firm as you can on that moral grounding should put you where God wants you. I digress a bit. The question I pose to myself is whether I would literally let my children eat out of a garbage can before I accepted food stamps and other forms government theft. Is my moral high-ground, if more difficult and perhaps dangerous, something I should make my children suffer for? Unequivocally, yes.
Examples of immorality for gain may lead my children to suffer more intolerable cruelty from the immoral low-ground. Why should I show my children immoral desperation that ignores the reality of God and embraces the states filthy lucre of theft and debt money? I am proud to use my body and life for the benefit of those I love. I want to be free and I believe it is an honor to struggle my life away for my family rather than ride on the back of the behemoth.
I would rather eat out of a garbage can than accept government assistance.
