Social Services vs. Personal Responsibility
 

We are taxed to death and yet there are people with disabilities etc., who are not helped. Where do we draw the lines as to helping people vs. expecting them to carry their own weight? This is a vast subject going from money for schools (some say homeschool) to helping the hungry (some say 'get a job!') to mental health (some say 'give it to God!') to universal health care (some say 'trust God and I don't want to support someone who smoked and drank all their life!). A huge social system could culiminate in a world system of some type and yet obviously, some social services are needed. Where do we draw the line?

I'm in the process of writing and essay about this sort of thing on my blog. This has been something that is on my mind lately.

Being a Social WOrker for 10+ years as well as a counselor...I can tell you there is multiple services for anyone in need. In decades past the responsibility was taken on by churches but today this is not so. I think churches need to do more to contribute to community resources.

Blessings, Rhoni

The Dept. of Education should be dismantled for starters. Let the states decide what is best for their constituents that wish to opt into a public system..

Public schools have many programs in place for the learning disabled, mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally challenged. They do an awesome job for the most part.:highfive

Guess I killed this thread;)!

I find myself leaning toward being a social liberal. Not that I actually am. I am a libertarian almost exclusively.

I lean toward social liberality because someone needs to take care of the downtrodden and those who are in very bad situations. To be frank, church has fallen down on the job, IMO. We, as Christians, are often worried about the soul of the sinner more than the physical.

That said, since the church, local churches I might add, doesn't do well with this area, I find myself leaning toward social liberal tendencies. I find that often it is more about the size of the church, all the niceties, and all the amenities than pushing for moderate living across the board from the saint to the pastor.

But that's just me... :D

How about sharing???

But where should the lines be drawn? And if churches are supposed to do more, how is this going to be implemented?

Do you think funding for social services is more or less than in the past?

How do you think abundant social services has effected America as a whole? For good and/or for bad.