(Sister Wives: Christine's Fabulous Food Pantry - TLC)
Why do people get upset about polygamists (The Browns and others) being on government assistance (welfare, food stamps, etc.)?
Some commenters on this and other blogs do not understand why many people are upset that the Brown family, and other polygamists, have received/ may now be receiving / may receive in the future government assistance in the form of welfare, food stamps, etc.
Here are some reasons why this is distasteful to some people.
· They may have been / may have to be untruthful to receive government assistance (also known as lying). Lying can include obscuring, omitting and “interpreting” facts. I know of no religious or moral code that condones lying and most people consider lying to be particularly squicky when practiced by folks who purport to have a religious or moral code. This is what we are talking and commenting about when we discuss Christine being on food stamps as a single mom when (a) she doesn't consider herself single, and (b) her family was receiving income from TLC (documented via her bankruptcy papers). It is also why commenters consider it "squicky to shuffle assets around among non-legally related adults, but among adults who consider themselves spiritually related, so that bankruptcies can be filed and legally acquired debts avoided (documented through an analysis of the Brown bankruptcy filings over time). Most of us were raised to believe that we pay our own way if we can and we don't look around for ways to shuffle that responsibility off on others.
· Most people believe that we would be embarrassed to require government assistance and would do all we could to limit the amount we would require and the duration we would require it, i.e. we get a job, or even 2, to pay our bills. It upsets us to see such assistance treated as a source of long-term income, or worse, as a “right” when we could work, and work hard, to support ourselves, especially if we had the live-in babysitters and housekeepers that the Browns say are so great about the plural marriage lifestyle.
· Western society places great value in self-reliance, industriousness, perseverance, and self discipline. It is believed that doing one’s best to earn a living, either as a sole provider, or as a “team” illustrates these values. There is an association in most people’s minds between long-term use of government assistance and a lack of work ethic, unless there are special circumstances which people believe to be rare and deserving of a “break”. It does not seem likely that the Browns would have special circumstances requiring assistance in the form of food stamps AND repeated debt relief through bankruptcy over the long term. Ditto the majority of polygamist families, especially when there are so many hands to go out and earn a living and help the family.
· People do believe in taking care of others when they fall on hard times and that is why government assistance and private charities exist. They can also do math. Government budgets have a limit. If “Tom” and “Dick” receive assistance that they do not need or truly qualify for, there may be insufficient funds left for “Harriet”. This upsets people’s sense of fairness. This is why many people get upset to hear phrases such as "Bleeding the Beast". They know that it means some folks who are in genuine need will go without and they feel exploited and used as taxpayers and caretakers of their fellow man.
· Many people believe that it is immoral to not use one’s talents, skills, and/or education in the pursuit of gaining funds to sustain a family because these things are seen as God-given and, therefore, required to be used to help one's self and others.
· Finally, it is a commonly-held belief that one must make responsible decisions. To make irresponsible decisions that lead to consequences requiring government assistance are considered childish and immature.
Written by a new editor, TERRASOLA!
I'm sure you've seen some of her fantastic posts. Give her a big welcome and thank you!! Now, let's discuss! Comments, Feelings, Thoughts?
I'm sure you've seen some of her fantastic posts. Give her a big welcome and thank you!! Now, let's discuss! Comments, Feelings, Thoughts?
