What does government owe you?

[ZenGum]

Recently, I asked a group of college students if they believed poor people in this country were owed anything from our government.

Initially, they said the government should provide for those who are less fortunate. However, when I stressed that the question wasn't whether the government should provide for them, but rather if the government owed poor people anything, the students' opinions changed.

Well, what this bit tells me is that people give different answers to different questions.

Should we provide for the less fortunate? Should we prevent starvation, homelessness, the poverty trap, and the Dickensian misery and petty crime that comes from having no other option? Most people will say, yes.

Should somebody who has the ability and opportunity to support themselves by selling their labour, instead be given a steady supply of obligation-free taxpayers' money so they can lead a life of laziness? Most people will say, no.

Asking, does the government "owe" poor people anything has connotations of unrequited obligation, which conjures up images like the second example. So people generally say, no.

It's an old and easy trick, to couch the question in terms that will support the answer you want, then interpret the answer as an impartial general response. Plenty of people do it, but there's no need to take the results seriously.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Ask not, what your country can do for you, ask what your country can do for me.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by ZenGum

Well, what this bit tells me is that people give different answers to different questions.

No doubt about that.

Should we provide for the less fortunate? Should we prevent starvation, homelessness, the poverty trap, and the Dickensian misery and petty crime that comes from having no other option? Most people will say, yes.

Well there are certainly lots to think about by your response. And of course most likely no right answer. Who decides whom is less fortunate? So if I make 50k a year I think the person who makes 100k is rich. If I make 100k I think the person who makes 200k is rich. If I make $50 a week the guy down the street who make $200 a week is rich. Regardless of how each individual worked hard to get to that next level and achieve more or how much education one person got and how much they sacrificed to move up a little bit to do better for their own family. Starvation, homelessness, the poverty trap, situations which people convice you they have gone to because they are among the "have nots". None of these things are caused by single issues and none of them have simple solutions. So I say, it really depends.

Should somebody who has the ability and opportunity to support themselves by selling their labour, instead be given a steady supply of obligation-free taxpayers' money so they can lead a life of laziness? Most people will say, no.

I agree, but we have created generations of people who would disagree with you. They have been conditioned to think just the opposit.

Asking, does the government "owe" poor people anything has connotations of unrequited obligation, which conjures up images like the second example. So people generally say, no.

Maybe.

It's an old and easy trick, to couch the question in terms that will support the answer you want, then interpret the answer as an impartial general response. Plenty of people do it, but there's no need to take the results seriously.

None of this was intended as a trick.