Liberals Care… So What?

It’s fair to say that most liberals take pride in knowing that their policies supporting the expansion of government show that they care about people, unlike callous conservatives.

Yet most also fail to acknowledge – or understand -- that such displays of “caring” often don’t help – in fact hurt – the objects of their attention.

Consider the State of Hawaii.  Its government promotes welfare policies that put it alongside California and Massachusetts as places which loudly proclaim they “care” for less fortunate inhabitants.

In fact, for a state with remarkably low employment (5.3% vs 7.8% nationally), a surprisingly high percentage of its population is on food stamps (11% vs 13% nationally) and has more than double the U.S. homeless rate. 

What’s going on?  Is it possible that the very generous welfare policies are encouraging many to become dependent on government aid?  Is that the result of liberals’ “caring”?  A cynic might suggest that that is the plan – expanding the populace’s dependence upon governmental aid adds to the liberals’ base of support. 

But for me, that seems too neat an answer. 

From my own experience with liberals, their motivations are generally good.  The calculating and Machiavellian among them are few.  Simply put, perceiving that one is doing good by offering money or benefits to those in need shows that one cares.  And that makes liberals feel good.  [It may be a factor that the self-righteousness comes not from one’s pocket but from the taxpaying benefactors.  The cost of feeling good, therefore, can be free.]

But what if, as statistics from Hawaii and elsewhere strongly suggest, such liberal policies are counterproductive in promoting self-sufficiency and self- respect (certainly good outcomes).

The typical response is denial.  It’s as if wanting to do good should be sufficient.  So the well intentioned liberal tells himself that since he is good, wants to do good, he can only do good.

Recently, liberal Democratic Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii appeared on Bill O’Reilly’s popular Fox News show and was confronted on the apparent anomaly of the state’s prosperity and its high welfare rolls.  Her response – “it shows we care.”

Like good intentions, “caring” can pave the way to hell.