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Originally Posted by wildernesse
Conservatives are not a fan of the welfare state (broad brush painting, I know). Most conservatives harp on and on about "personal responsibility" and what not, and the idea that they used to be poor and pulled themselves up by hard work and a good constitution (or whatever). I've heard the argument before that if the gov got out of welfare providing, then charity would take up the slack--almost a free market argument.
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Very true. I've heard those arguments many times: that it's unfair to use tax money to support the indigent/unemployed/mentally ill/poor or needy of any stripe, that the private sector is more "efficient", etc.
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This is coming from what RA and I call the business conservatives. I have no problem with the concept that conservative churches are becoming an alternative welfare state in some cases--and conservatives in general are working to demolish the current one with two hammers--business conservatives voting against big gov, more regulations and higher taxes and religious conservatives voting against gays, abortions, and for special rights for themselves.
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Indeed, and faith-based initiatives tie in well to this syndrome as taxes are funnelled to private charities and laws are modified to allow for those monies to be disbursed without government oversight.
They work very well together, no question about it, but I'm not sure how much the two hammers are actually in collusion, though.
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The call for Democrats to wake up and take a stand for the poor and hopeless in our nation and the greater world is one that I wish someone would hear. I think Ehreinreich has some good points in there, but the stupid liberals = non-religious and religious = alien weirdos is annoying to say the least.
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