Theos-Talk Archives (January 1998 Message tt00283)

>it is amazing that so many people would
>justify letting people starve and die
>since giving them food/shelter and medicine
>would harm them (make them dependent).
>
>the issue is *never* whether or not to help them.
>The real issue is why do you not give them *more*?  like
>an education, training, and a job they can support
>themselves on??
>
>john e. mead

Exactly.  That's seeing the whole picture.  You need to stop the bleeding
while enroute to the hospital to be healed.  The problem is doing one
without the other.  It's true that you should feed and clothe people.
However, I've observed welfare recipients not bothering to find a job,
staying home having more babies, and yet still have the money to have an
elaborate wedding.  Some wait for the social services to come by to solve
all their problems, transportation,etc., instead of trying to figure out
how to be self-sufficient.  You definitely need to do both sides of the
same coin.  As an individual, we can only do the donating and giving part.
As a collective, we can push the static government to devise a better
welfare plan.  As far as war-torn countries, I like what countries have
done in the past for defeated countries.  Instead of punishing the enemy,
the countries have helped to rebuild the defeated country's economy.  Look
at what happened to post WWI Germany when the act was punishment.  The rise
of Hitler via support of desperate people.  Look at what happened to post
WWII Germany when the act was to rebuild the economy, W. Germany became an
affluent country.

Thoa :o)