Friedrich Nietzsche, the German philosopher, famously said: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” Typical of Nietzsche to say something exotic but not sensible. But contrary to Nietzsche, our current political ultracrepidarians (know-it-all politicians) suggest the opposite and are intent on providing unearned benefits to all, including forgiveness of student loans, free college, and all kinds of other “free” stuff . Of course it’s not free—it’s paid by those who work, produce, earn, and create wealth.
Ben Franklin cogently addressed this issue:
“I observed in different countries, that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer. There is no country in the world where so many provisions are established for them; so many hospitals to receive them when they are sick or lame, founded and maintained by voluntary charities; so many alms-houses for the aged of both sexes, together with a solemn general law made by the rich to subject their estates to a heavy tax for the support of the poor. Under all these obligations, are our poor modest, humble, and thankful; and do they use their best endeavors to maintain themselves, and lighten our shoulders of this burthen? On the contrary, I affirm that there is no country in the world in which the poor are more idle, dissolute, drunken, and insolent.”
I fully agree. Today on the 13th July 2021 South Africa is going up in flames! South Africa is a prime example of how NOT to run an economy. It is a prime example why a government should be a tiny entity and why an economy should be based on capitalism, not socialism such as the case here. South Africa is perhaps the country with the smallest number of tax payers versus the number of people that need handouts in the world. It is not working. A culture of entitlement to handouts is now the de facto culture of the poor, that is why we have looting and destruction on a scale of biblical proportions. Providing for the poor – look at South Africa. It is not working.