Welfare – Just Another Drug

All people want to feel good about themselves. Many are poor and many are rich, but all want that same feeling or sense of value, importance, independence, and well-being. These are the “highs” of life.

Hard work, even if not well paid, gives these senses. Achievement gives the same. They allow the natural down turns and down days everyone has. Achievement modulates depression. Achievement stimulates well-being.

Drugs give an artificial high without work, achievement, or anything else. It’s temporary and chemical. It ends quickly, but more drugs boost the spirits high again. A cycle.

Welfare is similar. It gives the illusion of value simply because you can pay for food or other needs. Like a drug, you can become addicted to this easy cash*. Your sense of value disappears, and you become dependent on your provider. As you need more, you are re-cycled.

*You may see this all around your world. My first experience was in grad school with Teaching Assistants, grad students teaching a couple of classes, taking a course or two, earning enough to live on. The work and classes were 2-4 hours a day; the rest of the day was spent in the lounge playing bridge – for years on end and no intention to graduate. Horrors! A job, publish, tenure, responsibility?

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