Government Is Not The Answer

Government is not the answer to our problems, government is the problem. — Ronald Reagan.

Immigration, stem cell research, health care, and the listings go on and on. These are the proposals put forth by the Democratic front runners and Congressional Democratic leaders. Inevitably, Democrats are calling on government to solve the problems of the American people. Have they forgotten the words of one of the most famous Democrats?

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. — John F. Kennedy

People have asked me, “Why are you so opposed to government run social programs?” Would not I, as a minority, be more sympathetic to such schemes? To understand the reason behind my opposition, you have to understand my background.

I grew up on welfare. I was your typical at-risk child—broken home, parents with no education, minority, living in subsidized housing, gang infested schools, and plenty of government handouts. You would think I would be a cheerleader for the Democratic Party. Far from it. I lived in poverty and I came to realize that those handouts were not hand-ups. I saw those around me “gaming the system”—figuring out every possible angle to milk the local, state, or federal government out of more benefits. But for what? For nothing! I never saw one government program (and I was part of dozens) ever lead any friend, neighbor, or acquaintance out of poverty. It had the opposite effect…it kept them there…dependent…a welfare drug.

What changed in my life? One day I heard Ronald Reagan. He said:

We should measure welfare’s success by how many people leave welfare, not by how many are added.

and…

There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect.

It was then that I realized that the only thing keeping me destitute was ME. Government programs do not instill hope and promise, they instill rules and regulations. Ronald Reagan was and still is right, “Government in not the answer.”