Matt,
You have to look at the context of the argument
I’m making. Having money isn’t the problem, nor is earning
it. The problem is that if you’re simply given money you won’t
have an appreciation for the value of it. Overly simplified, it’s
the old “teach a man to fish vs giving a man a fish” philosophy.
There’s a lot of truth to that analogy, but rarely do otherwise
rationale people think in those terms. John Edwards still thinks if you
give enough poverty stricken people money they won’t be impoverished,
but then we’ve just raised the bar on what is now to be considered
impoverished. Someone long ago, having returned from Haiti where
there is REAL poverty, once told me, “only in America do the poor drive
cars.”
Sadly, it’s far easier elected officials to simply take money
from someone that earns it, give it to someone who didn’t and then take
credit for improving their life in some way. Sadly, that’s
becoming the American way. Self-reliance, making educated
decisions in life, giving value to hard work, overcoming obstacles, all
of these are what makes individuals and families stronger. But it
is far easier to be lulled into thinking that someone or something is
responsible for your monetary success and failure in life.
