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"Handling of the needs of the elderly should be strictly a FAMILY issue, not an issue for all of society. If you refuse to help out grandma, don't ask me to."

Yes, it should be. However, many old people have no families, or their families are far away. The woman stuck in her bathtub cannot install a grab rail for herself, now can she?

Here's a good job for the local churches, I'd say. I know that if a neighbor of mine needed a grab rail in the bathroom, I'd be happy to buy one and install it for her.

And, since everyone's really my neighbor, I don't begrudge these folks their grab rail.

It's easy to say that family should do it, but each situation is different. Many old people have nobody to help them at all.

Why don't you volunteer? Ask the old people around you if there's any way you can help them.

On a personal note, my wife and I are moving from CA to Minnesota to be near her parents, who are 75 and 83. I feel the family connection very strongly. My own parents are both 79, but they have another son and daughter who live near them. My in-laws don't. So we're packing up and moving our lives to help them in their old age.

I think Jesus had something to say about helping those around us.

MineralMan wrote:

Yes, it should be. However, many old people have no families, or their families are far away. The woman stuck in her bathtub cannot install a grab rail for herself, now can she?

Here's a good job for the local churches, I'd say. I know that if a neighbor of mine needed a grab rail in the bathroom, I'd be happy to buy one and install it for her.

And, since everyone's really my neighbor, I don't begrudge these folks their grab rail.

You know what, "godless atheist"?

You put shame to many Christians I know....You actually "walk the walk".

Nice to see you!

I think Jesus had something to say about helping those around us.

Irrelevant, in the discussion of the state confiscating private money for public use. You, yourself, are living Jesus' instructions in exemplary fashion. Whether people follow that example set by Jesus or you or whomever, his teachings on this issue cannot be used to legitimize welfare statism.

"I think Jesus has something to say about helping those around us"

And you know this as a godless atheist? Why would you say this if you don't believe? What a hypocrite. Why don't you use another godless atheist for your words of wisdom?

Here's a good job for the local churches

Exactly. Churches, civic groups . . . anyone but government.

When government "helps," it mandates what citizens must do in order to avoid criminal charges. A friend of mine has a horse barn. He was recently informed that he now needs a "special use" permit. In order to obtain this permit, he has to install a handicapped parking space, fully paved and marked, with proper "signage." At a horse barn!

If my friend doesn't comply, he leaves himself open to fines and eventual property seizure by (guess who?) the ever-helpful government.

I love my relatives, but there's no way I could vote for or endorse government programs to "help" them.

It is pretty ironic for an atheist like yourself to invoke the name of Jesus in an argument. Note to MineralMan when forming an argument it is better to shut your mouth and let others think your an idiot than to open it and let all doubts be confirmeed.