8/6/2019 Public Provisions Pitfalls By Christina Martin

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May 2010 #10-14

ummary:Government entitlements

oo often work againstatural and healthy

ncentives that help

ndividuals to avoid long-erm poverty. In contrast,

rivate charity not only is

etter suited to meeting

ndividuals needs, but it

lso administersompassionate aid while

especting individual

ghts.

Word Count 764

In 1766 Benjamin

Franklin declared in a

etter to the London

Chronicle that

Englands poor werehe most miserable in

he world because

Englands welfare

rograms had

estroyed essential

ncentives, making

eople dependent on

he government.

Public Provisions Pitfalls

By Christina Martin

Nobody likes physical pain, but often it gives us a signal that we need to change ou

behavior before we incur serious injury. In the sphere of social policy, governmen

entitlements designed to avoid short-term pain too often work against natural anhealthy incentives that help individuals to avoid longer-term pain. Many people wi

endure smaller temporary pains, work harder, save more, eat healthier and build

social network in order to avoid larger future pains like hunger or homelessnes

This is not a new observation and has been commented on for thousands of years.

Our nations founders were well aware of the importance of incentives. In 176

Benjamin Franklin declared in a letter to the London Chronicle that Englands po

were the most miserable in the world because Englands welfare programs hadestroyed essential incentives, making people dependent on the government. H

concluded after his world travels that the more public provisions were made fthe poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer, b

the less [that] was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and becam

richer.

Franklin observed that there was no country in the world where so man

provisions are established for them as in England, including hospitals for the poo

almshouses for the elderly, and generous government support. Of England

government welfare he said:

The day you passed that act, you took away from before their eyes th

greatest of all inducements to industry, frugality, and sobriety, by givin

them a dependence on somewhat else than a careful accumulation durinyouth and health, for support in age or sickness.

In short, you offered a premium for the encouragement of idleness, and yoshould not now wonder, that it has had its effect in the increase of poverty

Repeal that law, and you will soon see a change in their manners.

While these words may seem harsh, Franklin was a well-known philanthropist whexhorted his peers to help the needy personally and voluntarily. He appreciated th

difference between supporting and enabling.

In early America, most poverty relief was delivered voluntarily throug

relationships. This not only encouraged gratitude, strong relationships and a stron

community; but it also allowed those who gave aid to require recipients to takgenuine steps toward employment and responsible behavior, when appropriat

Givers could tailor their aid to the needs and best interest of the individuals the

sought to help, giving more to the neediest, and less to others.

8/6/2019 Public Provisions Pitfalls By Christina Martin

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