Help the Poor.....How are YOU doing It? Essay by Esteban Erik Stipnieks
I pointed out in the last installment that man’s depravity is why government is structurally unable to effectively solve problems in fact instead of offering even a partial solution government involvement makes things worse. The fall remains a real event in human history and has had real economic effects. It is not to say there are partial solutions. Government solutions offer for lack of the better word the sex appeal of “Solving a problem” when reality they make the problem worse. They are great talking points. Real remedies to aid the poor on the other hand remain far less glamourus far less stunning and occur with far less fanfare.
Government aid to the poor in the end dehumanizes because it has the perverse effect of loading the economy making it harder for the poor to work and it denies the able bodied the dignity of work. By creating the conditions where government does not penalize the rich for achievement government creates the possibility for real aid to the poor. The best aid to an able bodied man or able bodied single woman without child is a three letter word job! Having witnessed a lecture by an executive of Southwest airlines I was struck by the core truths she spoke about to the human condition. Herb Kelleher embodied many biblical principals. He did not put himself on a pedestal his secretary now running the company did not put herself on a pedestal the two embodied servant leadership. The pay structure of Southwest offers a paradox it has the best paid employees in the industry and it has an industry record for dividend payments. While not everybody employed in the airline industry can not work for Southwest……Southwest shows what principals look like it also shows their profitability. Sysco food service likewise followed biblical advice in treating its employees with wages. While markets by definition the number of employees can get paid well whether it be HEB, Southwest Airlines, or SYY it makes a difference to those who receive those wages.
If a doctor donates his services or a drug company offers a drug at reduced to no cost and tells no one did it happen? If a rich man spends $4,000.00 on a vacation digging a well and installing a water system to a village in Guatemala and tells but a few did it happen? No these are not the grand massive plans of a politician they are acts of those who see their fellow members of the human race as valuable and precious. The tiny acts of charity by individuals generally make the biggest differences. Once again they are not sexy. The bible says much about truth and individual giving. The first amendment says “
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". Instead of looking for a political solution it becomes a matter of obligation among others to help their fellow human being directly. This not nearly as sexy as government aid program it involves human to human contact. Instead a big swooping plan we are talking individual institutions and smaller groups of people taking a more active role. It happens on some level. The level of this local action decreased as a result of the great society. It will also not solve but it will do more to help the poor then massive government action. This involves life on life person on person contact. This demands more out of the local churches and other community organizations then is being practiced now.No moral obligation to fellow man can be enforced by gun point. The bible speaks about obligation of believers to help those in need. The bible defines obligations of bosses to subordinates. You can not force a person to handle their money in a biblical way. The bible must be preached. We know Biden’s personal giving is the antithesis to what is right. Personal giving, personal employment a bunch of actions that make a greater difference by making it a government issue we can deny our own obligations to our fellow man.