Real charity comes without government interference

Real charity comes without government interference

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Letter to the Editor

The editorial “ ‘This thing is working’ ” (April 21) impugns the sincerity of Sen. John Lampings's religious beliefs. It revives the tired old canard that Christians are hypocrites if they don't support government programs that allege to help the poor.

The great commandment to Christians is to love your neighbor as the Good Samaritan. The commandment is not to send money to governments so some faceless bureaucrat can decide who qualifies for largess. This is not charity. It is forced taking from one person and giving to another.

The Missouri Catholic Conference undermines its charitable mission by supporting the expansion of Medicaid. This is a strange position because objective research clearly demonstrates that Catholic charities are much more effective than governments in helping the poor. Churches, fraternal organizations, families and private charities used to take care of the needy. Even supporters of the Great Society admit it suffers from corruption, abuse and inefficiency.

Every year, millions more become dependents. Over 82 million receive Medicaid. At least 50 million receive food stamps. More than 23 million receive support from the Women, Infants and Children program.

This is not demonstration of a great society. In the wonderland of Nancy Pelosi's hollow mind, unemployment is good because people can do what they really want, presumably to vote for more Great Society.

The Great Society has had over 50 years to demonstrate it isn't so great. It is time for real charity, without government interference, to be given a chance. We all as individuals, regardless of religious beliefs, have this responsibility.

David B. Smart  •  Chesterfield

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/real-charity-comes-without-government-interference/article_584a18a1-e746-5138-a067-4c24ef165e06.html