Pro-choice on CharityAlexander S. Peak 29 March 2010 The difference between private charity and government welfare is precisely the same difference as exists between voluntary, peaceful interaction and war. Unfortunately, popular debate over welfare often ignores this essential point. When liberals and conservatives debate welfare, the question oft debated is whether we should increase allocations by $X or The libertarian calls for a separation of charity and state precisely because she recognises that government welfare is predicated on the institutionalisation of violence. The state is not a magical money tree, but rather acquires “its” resources by threatening to initiate force against innocent people. If you, for example, refuse to surrender any portion of your earnings to the state, it will send gunmen in blue uniforms who will threaten to throw you in a cage if you do not submit. The guns are present to make this tacit threat: “If you do not go peacefully into your cage, we will murder you.” This is the so-called morality of the state. The libertarian is not opposed to private, voluntary charity—what we could call “voluntary socialism”—but she is against state socialism, and precisely for the same reason she opposes the ongoing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. Alex Peak served as President of the College Libertarians of Towson, 2004–2006; Membership Chair, 2006–2007; and Vice President, 2007–2008. This article was published in The Towerlight (29 March 2010), p. 5. |
by $Y. Rarely is the nature of government welfare discussed.