One paragraph sums up the failure of the welfare state:
Far from adding to people’s standard of living, government is the number one cause of poverty in this country. It forces those who depend on its largesse to live hand to mouth, with no time or money to plan for the future. They become unable to fend for themselves-—and increasingly resentful of those who can.
If the Civil War happens, I hope people realize just how bad it is going to be. This won’t be some regional conflict like the Union vs the Confederacy where there is a “home front” (at least until the war criminal Sherman arrived) to safely leave the women and children.
This will be Kosovo, with neighbor killing neighbor, and a trip to the store will be an expedition into a kill zone and back. This will make your typical frame home with drywall into a death trap until you line the inside with sandbags.
But, the imminent failure of the US credit-based economy and the 47% who live on that gummint teat can only take us down one road because that government has done everything it can to set the makers vs the takers at odds for the last 10 years. No one is willing to sacrifice a single luxury to fill another’s needs anymore. The battles lines have been drawn and we’re just waiting for the event that fires the first shot. (99 Luftballoons anyone??)
I am sure the author is using attention grabbing words with the hope of selling more books, but I am afraid of the power of self-fulfilling prophecy. However, we can only go so long ignoring the elephant in the room.
Thanks for the reminder! There are innocent people who died in Oakland, not from direct attack, but gangs shooting at each other with errant bullets hitting nearby homes. Totally innocent people in their homes, thinking they're protected by walls. Maybe time to stock up on more 3/4 inch plywood, at least it's some extra protection from smaller rounds.
Here’s a link to a great article on dependence:
http://glenmeakem.com/2012/03/29/are-you-free-or-caged/
Far from adding to people’s standard of living, government is the number one cause of poverty in this country. It forces those who depend on its largesse to live hand to mouth, with no time or money to plan for the future.
I see it a bit differently - the government gives them too much of our money and keeps their standard of living too high to be inducive to finding a way to improve their lot. If we made them literally subsist with no cars, no TV 9excpet maybe a 13" Black and White), no cable, no computer/on-line service, etc., they would be more worried about finding a job (or weeding themselves out by trying to take stuff from others). We don't keep them too low, we keep them too high and comfortable.
I doubt that if Texas secedes there will be mini kosovos in Austin and San Antonio. Just don't see it. I do see the potential mass migration of welfare types to places North and east.
THere will be secessions WITHOUT Civil War. That is my prediction.