| Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese poet who lived | | | | wages to the benefit of this poor widow. Not |
| around the turn of the last century, once | | | | one man responded to his proposition and the |
| wrote, "You give but little when you give of | | | | bill was soundly defeated. The principle he |
| your possessions. It is when you give of | | | | fought for was learned many years earlier |
| yourself that you truly give." This has been | | | | from a constituent who, in response to a |
| on my mind much over the past year with | | | | similar bill passed for the benefit of |
| natural disasters and human suffering on an | | | | refugees from a large fire in Washington, |
| unprecedented scale around the globe. | | | | called attention to the fact that nowhere in |
| | | | the Constitution does it give Congress the |
| I read not long ago a call for all good | | | | authority to give away public money for |
| Christians to support higher taxes so | | | | charity. It was a lesson well learned by Davy |
| government could do more to help the poor and | | | | Crockett, and hopefully by us as well. For a |
| needy. It disturbed me that someone would | | | | full text of the story click here. |
| appeal to my religious beliefs to support | | | | |
| increased government "charity." Is that | | | | The problem with government assistance is |
| really what charity is? While most religions | | | | that the only thing they really have to offer |
| teach that we have an obligation to care for | | | | is money. By contrast, charities like the Red |
| one another, government bureaucracy should | | | | Cross, Salvation Army and religious |
| not be what first comes to mind when | | | | organizations, for which I have gained a new |
| considering that responsibility. | | | | appreciation, provide hands-on, |
| | | | person-to-person, basic services. All |
| Taxes are not charity. They are coerced and | | | | charitable organizations have overhead costs, |
| not freely given. I am not saying that there | | | | but reputable charities keep them to a |
| is no place for government in helping to | | | | minimum and encourage volunteerism to |
| relieve human suffering. We rightfully expect | | | | minimize labor costs. The Red Cross alone in |
| our public officials to warn us of impending | | | | just the past month has raised over a billion |
| danger whenever possible and give us | | | | dollars which will be used not only to meet |
| life-saving advice. We must be able to count | | | | immediate needs, but also to train volunteers |
| on our police and fire departments and, on | | | | and purchase equipment to handle future |
| occasion, our national guard troops, to | | | | emergencies. |
| protect us from danger and keep the peace. | | | | |
| Our transportation departments, weather | | | | In television coverage of the aftermath of |
| centers, and other similar agencies, both | | | | Hurricane Rita, a reporter commented on the |
| local and state, provide valuable services. | | | | citizens of rural Louisiana and Texas saying |
| | | | something to the effect, "They were mostly |
| However, when we speak of true charity - | | | | farmers, shrimpers, ranchers, outdoors |
| feeding and clothing the needy, providing | | | | people. They know how to make do with very |
| shelter, encouragement, and a hundred other | | | | little. They're not waiting for FEMA, they're |
| necessities - that is not the business of | | | | just getting on with their lives". I drove |
| government. That role is best filled by | | | | past Thistle the other day and thought of |
| private entities and individuals. Government, | | | | those days, over 20 years ago, when neighbor |
| by its very nature, is unsuited to the work | | | | helped neighbor to move personal belongings |
| of charity. It is intentionally burdensome, | | | | and save what could be saved before the flood |
| slow to change and react. As inconvenient as | | | | waters took it all. Exactly the same thing |
| this may be in today's world of instant | | | | happened this past January with the flooding |
| messaging, instant gratification, instant | | | | in St. George and Cedar Hills. Probably, many |
| everything, it is a safeguard which makes | | | | of us remember the Teton Dam flood which |
| government less susceptible to the whims of | | | | obliterated a large swath of south-eastern |
| society. Government's role, then, in the work | | | | Idaho. Many from all over our area were |
| of charity should be that of providing an | | | | called on to travel to Rexburg and |
| environment which allows, even encourages and | | | | surrounding areas to help in the cleanup |
| rewards, the charitable efforts of private | | | | efforts. |
| entities and individuals. | | | | |
| | | | There is much we can do, for ourselves and |
| Davy Crockett - frontiersman, soldier, | | | | for others, without relying on government. |
| politician, American hero - struggled to | | | | Some erroneously believe their individual |
| define the role of government in charitable | | | | donation, whether of money or time, could not |
| acts. As a member of Congress, a bill came | | | | possibly make a difference. But, it is there, |
| before the body appropriating money for the | | | | in the giving and receiving, that we find our |
| benefit of the widow of a distinguished naval | | | | humanity. I believe that it strengthens us as |
| officer. Many eloquent speeches were given in | | | | individuals and strengthens our community. |
| favor of this bill and, until Davy Crockett | | | | |
| rose to speak, the passage of this bill was | | | | It is my hope and prayer is that we as |
| assured. He said, in part, "I will not go | | | | citizens of this beautiful community and this |
| into an argument to prove that Congress has | | | | great state and nation will continue to be |
| no power to appropriate this money as an act | | | | actively involved in charitable donations of |
| of charity. Every member upon this floor | | | | time and means and not passively stand by |
| knows it. We have the right, as individuals, | | | | waiting for government to fill that role. |
| to give away as much of our own money as we | | | | Surely, the consequences of such selflessness |
| please in charity; but as members of Congress | | | | will be the blessings of heaven for ourselves |
| we have no right so to appropriate a dollar | | | | and those we touch, and also allowing and |
| of the public money." He then issued a | | | | encouraging government to once again assume |
| challenge to each member of Congress to | | | | their proper role. |
| follow his example and donate one week's | | | | |