Another well-intentioned, liberal Bush idea that Obama has continued and enhanced is the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Michael Tanner of Cato calls it Obama’s Faith-Based Boondoggle. Michael, who has video-conferneced with our Reno Hayek Symposium meeting, correctly states that, “the damage done by government co-option of private charity goes far beyond money.” His point is that the addiction of federal dollars soon distorts the purposes of the charity–by dependency, sloth and ultimate control.

The Bush/Obama program of leveraging government dollars by using low cost (sometimes free) charity workers, is better than creating another government department to accomplish some social (not religious) goal. But the point is that the charity would ultimately accomplish the same or near same goal with private dollars. In short, there is no need to spend government dollars. Excuse me, your tax dollars.

“Government funding is antithetical to the nature of charity. After all, the essence of private charity is that it is voluntary. Tax money is based on coercion. There is neither compassion nor love behind a grant of money forcibly taken from taxpayers who may have no desire to support the charity in question.”

“There is no reason for government to be in bed with private charity. Charity is thriving in America. We are the most generous nation on earth. Every year, Americans contribute more than $300 billion to charity. In addition, more than half of all American adults perform volunteer work. That time and effort is worth more than another $300 billion. And that does not include the countless dollars and time given to family members, neighbors and others outside the formal charity system. A few extra dollars from Washington add little to this amazing success story.”

The proper role of government is the crux of all political difference. Big and all-intrusive or small and limited, that is the question. Our founding fathers set up a limited federal government with checks and balances and specifically delegated powers. Roles and powers not delegated to the federal government by the people were specifically reserved to the states or to the people. The founding fathers would be shocked to see how far the federal government has evolved from their vision.

The principle of subsidiarity is an organizing principle that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority. This concept is applicable to government, management, and society. The parent, the family, the school, the church, the social group, the village, the city, the state and only then should the central authority, the federal government be competent to handle any given issue or concern. Let’s see… that would leave defense, postal service, national currency, and… what else to the federal domain? Read the constitution! You will be surprised.

Point is…if we continue to cede our obligations and our rights to the central authority, we will become dependent serfs….without moral fiber, character, or courage. That we can gather, speak, give to charity, volunteer, teach our children, defend ourselves and our families is our strength, our essence. Once ceded, never retrieved. Let charities do charitable work….yes even in healthcare!

A friend and member of our group on reading about Catholic Charities providing syringes to addicts in Albany wagged, “what’s next, condoms?” Makes me, a practicing Catholic, question– as have others–whether Catholic Charities is indeed Catholic, or for that matter, a charity!

Tom Motherway