So, recognizing that true needs do exist in America, and that the federal government is typically a poor manager of money, what is the answer to the welfare situation? Here are a few principles to consider – each principle is explained in greater detail in our book (at www.just2simpleguys.com).

            PRINCIPLE #1: Typically, less government is best.

            PRINCIPLE #2: Healthy pride rejects dependence

            PRINCIPLE #3: Something for nothing is, in general, a bad idea

            PRINCIPLE #4: If anything is done, keep it short-term

I think all of these principles are undergirded by one important truth: The goal in America is not to provide welfare; the goal is to have a society well enough off to not need welfare. With that truth as a basis, here is a summary of what a different Great Society could look like.

In this new version, I see a system in which governmental involvement is kept to a severe minimum. Government gets out of the people’s way and out of our pockets. Society trusts that generous individuals will help the needy around them from the pockets of their own goodness, not out of tax-laden coercion. In this new society, another all-important principle is lived out: Government does not exist to fill in the gaps where individuals seem to fail—it exists to carry out functions that cannot be fully handled by individuals. 

Meeting the needs of the needy can be handled by individuals and private organizations. It may take some time to get to where we want to be, but as the government backs out of the giving business, people with needs will have to get help more and more from private institutions such as churches, relief organizations, and civic groups. To be ready to meet these needs, many of these groups will have to take a serious look at the role they play in our society and a great deal of restructuring and redefining of purpose will need to occur in many places. Hopefully, two hand-in-hand things will happen:

¨      Organizations will begin to recognize more and more the need for their help in providing for the needs around us.

¨      These organizations will be better funded for this purpose because individuals will have more to give as the burden from governmental taxes to inefficiently fund welfare will be greatly lessened. This is the Big Picture solution in a nutshell.

This plan has to start with concerned individuals like those of you reading this. I encourage every American to think carefully before simply voting for any tax increase or government referendum that is going to help the needy. I think too many simply vote ‘Yes’ to any initiative on a ballot that involves a program that will help somebody out, without considering how efficiently the money for that program may be spent or who exactly will receive the help. Ask yourself this question often: Who could more effectively spend this money to help the needy—me or the government? I’m convinced that if more of us voted ‘No’ to tax increases and let some government-run programs go by the wayside, the help for the needy would increase, not decrease.

If governmental assistance is needed for a time, it should be done at the local or state level where it can be carefully monitored. In this new system, any help given should, at some early point in the process, require something in return (a job, community service, etc.). Finally, the help needs to have a stopping point, requiring those with needs to eventually walk on their own (exempting, of course, the disabled who truly cannot work).

As the tax burden for “entitlements” is lessened, the economy will grow and more jobs will be created—jobs that, in many instances, will be worked by former welfare recipients. This is another form of “trickle down economics” at its best, and I believe it will work because it oozes with common sense.

My sincere hope is that America will try this new great society on for size—the old one of the 60’s has simply not lived up to its promises.