-Caveat Lector- More Thug intrusion into our Lives! (Don't forget Folks: Area is very affluent; it's not an impoverished ghetto!) http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_btl/19990428_xcbtl_federal_ai.shtml Federal aid for funerals? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- At moments of great tragedy and disaster, the federal government has, in recent years, stepped in to provide direct assistance to people affected by floods, hurricanes, even acts of great violence such as the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado. It's tough to do what I am about to do without seeming like a person lacking any "compassion." I'm about to make the case that no matter how compelling the tragedy, no matter how devastating the disaster, this kind of assistance is an inappropriate and illegitimate use of federal tax dollars. The very day of the mass murders in Littleton, President Clinton was already devising ways to spend other people's tax dollars on relief. He went so far as to say the federal government would provide any assistance needed in the aftermath of the crime. He didn't even bother to consult Congress -- the only branch of government authorized under the Constitution to allocate resources. No matter, in this case. It's a mere technicality. There aren't 10 souls in both houses of Congress who would have denied anything to the people of Littleton for fear of being labeled cold-hearted. That's really the heart of the problem. The American people and the leaders of both major parties have completely lost sight of the constitutionally limited powers and scope of the federal government. We may go beyond the point of no return. And the response to Littleton is a perfect example of how this insidious process works. After saying that Littleton could, in effect, have a blank check from Washington to aid in recovering from the massacre, Clinton went on to offer some specifics. He dispatched a "crisis response team" to Colorado to make sure there were enough counselors to handle the grief. Enough counselors? In the greater Denver area? I should think there would be enough -- several thousand, I would guess, for every person directly touched by this crime. What Clinton really meant, though, was he wanted to make sure that no one would have to pay for counseling. Later, he expanded his offer to include $1.5 million to pay for funerals, uninsured medical expenses, lost wages and counseling. The question America should be asking is "Why?" Why should Americans in all 50 states -- some without medical insurance themselves, some facing funeral expenses of their own and others in need of counseling over the loss of loved ones -- be forced to pay for the needs of those in Littleton? I know. It sounds heartless of me to ask these questions. That shows you how conditioned you have become in America to socialism -- to big-government nannyism, to the idea of cradle-to-grave care from Washington. The reality is that it is a bad idea for Washington pay for these expenses. Politicians do it only to empower themselves, to make themselves look better, to feel compassionate -- all at the expense of others. If it's the right thing to do for the federal government to pay for the funerals in Littleton, Colo., this week, why isn't it right for Washington to pay for the funerals of all murder victims? I don't see anyone in Washington proposing that. That would be an unpopular measure. People could discern that would be a bad idea. Yet, because of the symbolism, paying for the funerals in Littleton is considered a good idea. Now, if the executive branch of the federal government really wants to demonstrate how compassionate its leadership is, an appropriate response would be to take up a collection among the thousands of government employees -- beginning with Bill and Hillary Clinton -- and raise the $1.5 million that way. That would be meaningful. That would be true compassion. Maybe Congress would like to get involved in the act, too. Perhaps members and their staffs would like to chip in. But it is not compassionate to spend other people's money -- and that's all the Clinton administration ever does with its bogus programs designed to buy votes. There's an old notion that "charity begins at home." That means that the most effective way to help people is, first, within the family structure; second, within the structure of a church community; and, lastly and leastly, within the structure of a town or city. Those are the only effective ways to help people. Nothing else works. Centralized planning is counterproductive -- no matter how well-intentioned. Washington should stay the hell away from local tragedies -- for the good of all of us, but particularly, for the sake of the victims. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- A daily radio broadcast adaptation of Joseph Farah's commentaries can be heard at http://www.ktkz.com/ Bard Visit me at: The Center for Exposing Corruption in the Federal Government http://www.xld.com/public/center/center.htm Federal Government defined: ....a benefit/subsidy protection racket! DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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