What you are speaking to is social capital. The power we have to address human suffering issues lies in our social capital, and when government forces us to provide for support beyond what is reasonable and productive. Albert Jay Nock wrote about this in the 1930's
Nock looks through the fantasy of the state as the great protector and summarizes the essentials of politics, and finds it is no friend of the individual.
Laurie, thanks for your message. I am unable to avail myself of the podcast because I have a hearing loss. Nor would I be able to find the information you are discussing readily. I ordered a used copy of the print book.
Putting a label on it may be useful. It doesn't change the basic problem, which is that you don't make anyone less poor by robbing his neighbor. In terms of Judeo-Christianity, that is a violation of two commandments: covetousness, and theft. Getting the government to do it doesn't change its basic nature. Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you."
God gave the duty to help the poor to the family and the church. Why not the government? When government does it, government gets the glory. When the church does it, God gets the glory. Having government do it robs God of glory that rightly belongs to Him alone. I am speaking of the glory of God working through human beings to relieve suffering. Good works done by the power of the Holy Spirit living in the believer. Personally, I would rather go to the source. It is good Nock wrote about it, but the fundamental problem is sin. I will be surprised if Nock identifies this. We'll see.
What you are speaking to is social capital. The power we have to address human suffering issues lies in our social capital, and when government forces us to provide for support beyond what is reasonable and productive. Albert Jay Nock wrote about this in the 1930's
Nock looks through the fantasy of the state as the great protector and summarizes the essentials of politics, and finds it is no friend of the individual.
https://mises.org/podcasts/our-enemy-state
Laurie, thanks for your message. I am unable to avail myself of the podcast because I have a hearing loss. Nor would I be able to find the information you are discussing readily. I ordered a used copy of the print book.
Putting a label on it may be useful. It doesn't change the basic problem, which is that you don't make anyone less poor by robbing his neighbor. In terms of Judeo-Christianity, that is a violation of two commandments: covetousness, and theft. Getting the government to do it doesn't change its basic nature. Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you."
God gave the duty to help the poor to the family and the church. Why not the government? When government does it, government gets the glory. When the church does it, God gets the glory. Having government do it robs God of glory that rightly belongs to Him alone. I am speaking of the glory of God working through human beings to relieve suffering. Good works done by the power of the Holy Spirit living in the believer. Personally, I would rather go to the source. It is good Nock wrote about it, but the fundamental problem is sin. I will be surprised if Nock identifies this. We'll see.