Most
are not. The preeminent bad guys are government and its nefarious partners,
unions.
Government
raises tax revenue by force and pays it out to some groups but not to others,
arousing envy and resentment. The natural response is to try to beat the system,
with everyone out for themselves. Big government promotes selfishness.
If
government were much reduced, people would take responsibility for their own
actions. Self-guided people tend to be altruistic. Numerous private
organizations and corporations would raise money from the prosperous and pay it
to the needy. In New York City in the 1890s, there were dozens of such agencies.
With tax rates low and government backing way off, you can bet that prosperous people
would give.
The
media would assist, promulgating messages such as, “Mr. Big Bucks, of this
community, has displayed his wealth with a huge home and stupendous yacht. But
in the past few years he has given little to alleviate poverty.” This would
enliven the gentleman’s charitable impulses.
Many
government policies unintentionally hurt the poor. If these policies were
reversed, the poor would need less help from others.
If
government stopped all welfare, the feeling that we’re all in this together
would take hold, even for a nation as large as ours, and the underclass would
flourish.
