The Hidden Cost of the Welfare State

I was just talking with a friend of mine over lunch about this topic. My argument is that when the government provides welfare to it's citizens there is a huge disincentive to people in giving to charity. This is for a couple of reasons one a potential donor has less money to give to charity, but this is the lesser effect. The stronger effect is that the donor now believes that it is not their duty to help the less fortunate because that job has been given to the government and this relieves their conscious. I understand the appeal to have a clear conscious because you have paid your taxes and the government takes care of it, but giving that responsibility to the government and removing the element of choice robs the person of the benefits of giving to charity in terms of warm fuzzy feelings that come from helping those in need. You can say that the person is still free to get those warm fuzzy feelings by paying your taxes and giving, but you have less money to give and the warm fuzzies are tainted by the feeling that the IRS is stealing your paycheck each week.

I don't know.. maybe people aren't going to step up and help others, but I think most people do when they see a need. So the hidden cost is the warm fuzzies you could get from choosing to help someone in need are replaced with this low level rage that the government is taking how much of my check WTF ?!

LOL UTOPIA