Compassion is our compulsion

Article

The False Compassion of Liberalism

Summary

Stephen Moore argues in Townhall that expecting government to fund compassionate policies and services constricts individual charity.

Quote

"The liberal creed seems to be: "We care so much about poor people, climate change, income inequality and protecting the environment (or whatever the cause of the day) that there is no limit to how much money should be taken out of other people's wallets to solve these problems."

Understanding

The money that goes in and out of our bank accounts is personal. We claim it as ours. Our work generates the paycheck. We get to decide how to spend it. Of course taxation, especially when we oppose government policies, can feel frustrating and unfair. It usurps our sense of individual liberty and personal property rights.

OK, I get it. But let's not judge, label and denigrate, all right?

Certain acute, specific issues come to our attention, and we might respond to the particular matter with a donation earmarked for that cause. Most of us can't give enough individually to fix the problem but we get to do some small part to help.

What about the problems we don't see? What about unjust systems that are too big and complex for an individual to fathom let alone affect? For those challenges, our government magnifies our individual tax payments for the greater good of society. Taxes allocated to social services are an investment in order and opportunity. The dividends pay down the public burden of welfare and incarceration costs.

We're all in this together and both answers are correct.