A gift that never stops thieving

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By David Hurtado

Let’s be honest with ourselves, America, the welfare system has become a shadow of its former self and either needs to kick the bucket or be completely reformed. Its original purpose of helping the needy has been perverted by countless lazy and inconsiderate individuals who have no concept of self-responsibility.

According to the Heritage Foundation, welfare spending could cost the taxpayer at least $10.3 trillion over the next 10 years. In 2008, a total of $714 billion was spent on welfare, but by 2014 that number is projected to rise to $1.032 trillion. Taxpayers cannot afford to care for themselves and millions of other Americans any longer. Helping those who are in need is good and all, but far too many people out there abuse the welfare system.

Do you ever wonder why they have those ‘Do Not Feed the Bears’ signs at national parks? It’s because when humans begin feeding them, the bears become completely dependent on people for sustenance. They lose the ability to fend for themselves and will most likely die when that artificial food source disappears.

When people get dependent on the government to clothe, feed and house them, what happens when the government no longer has the capability to do that? The answer is complete and utter anarchy, fueled by tens of millions of irate Americans who feel the world owes them something special. The closest examples are the Occupy Wall Street protestors who looted stores and set cars on fire when they were told no more handouts on a silver platter.

As Mark Twain once said, “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

You are entitled to nothing in this life except the rights stated in the Constitution and the right to improve your standing in life. The world is a harsh, cold and merciless place that takes hard work and determination to have a decent life. There are billions of humans out there who suffer hardships that you cannot possibly fathom, you are no more special than they.

Not only does welfare remove the ability to provide for yourself, it puts you at the mercy of big brother. Think about it: if your day-to-day survival is in their hands, the federal government could easily start enacting laws turning America into a totalitarian state. If you have a family and children to care for, you probably won’t speak out. After all, you need that federal aid to ensure you all live to see another agonizing day under the glorious Democratic People’s Republic of America.

Our nation is on the brink of ruin; there is no denying that. The thing is though, only one solution can prevent the key from turning, and that is taking personal responsibility instead of relying on others to fix our problem. Many decades ago, Henry Ford, one of America’s greatest industrialists understood that one man cannot provide for the needs of many.

“You will find men who want to be carried on the shoulders of others, who think that the world owes them a living,” Ford said. “They don’t seem to see that we must all lift together and pull together.”

Contact David Hurtado, reporting correspondent, at dhurtado@jccc.edu.

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