It is often wondered if there’s something objectively wrong with a welfare state. Yesterday, we were privy to Prime Minister Trudeau’s Throne Speech delivered by the Governor-General. It was drenched with promises of consuming and omnipotent government. As the anthem “Build Back Better” pinged off the pages of the script, the Liberal Government telegraphed to Canadians that their strategy of evolving the size and scope of their sceptre. Mr. Trudeau is nurturing a society where Federal Bureaucracy possesses exceeding control over our lives as their power comprehends a vaster portion of our country than previously thought possible.
But perhaps this isn’t so bad? Doesn’t a welfare state introduce the production of food and an abundance of shelter? Aren’t our working hours reduced and vacation pay increased? Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch?
In fact, “Maybe there is such a thing as a free lunch?” is the wrong question to ask. “If there is such a thing as a free lunch, should we take it?” is what we want to know—I was taught never to take free things from strangers. Why should I take free things from government? The economics of a welfare state is explicitly foolish, but proving that isn’t the objective of this article. We are asking the question, apart from the economics, what’s wrong with a welfare state?
Lots.
1. The Nature Of Man
When the welfarist presents his vision of utopian society, it’s usually a landscape of dynamic cities full of futurism and modernist aesthetic like Gardens by the Bay in Singapore:
There is nothing wrong with this ideal, except that we are told we get there by letting a central planner govern every aspect of our lives.
The problem is that men aren’t naturally benevolent. Presented the opportunity to release themselves from the bonds of the constitution and law, they will not construct fantastic architecture and a perfect society. Man’s true nature is restricted by natural law and enforced law, but for men in government, those restrictions seem to dissipate and disappear as their hearts and desires are unleashed and run rampant (we’re enduing this with lockdowns and passports). The end goal of big bureaucracy is not utopia, but dystopia.
2. The Reality Of Evil
I mentioned that futurist renditions of society sometimes have a caption criticizing capitalism or the foundations of society. The joke is that “If only society had never discovered ‘x,’ then this is what our cities would look like now!” That’s a misunderstanding of the nature of man.
The new Marxist-welfare movement is predicated on the idea that our culture, economic values, western values, and societal ethics generate evil. We hear the term “corporate greed” or “systemic racism” all the time. The thesis is that if the system were not only reformed but torn down and rebuilt entirely, then people’s hearts would change.
That’s not true.
We’ve already endured a welfare state for a while. Thus, why aren’t our hearts are getting “better?” Actually, the radical claims the opposite is true. With each passing day, there is (apparently) more racism, sexism, discrimination, and any other slander one can think of. Shouldn’t the welfare state restrain at least some of that if their theories are valid? More than that, if we really are growing morally worse, even ruled in a welfare state, then why should we throw more money into it? Wouldn’t that make it a failure and should therefore be abolished?
3. The New Gods
Finally, it’s plain that the welfare state is a gamble, not only to destroy the family and replace it with the amoral “maid” of government, but to replace God entirely. For the vast majority of history, people recognized that God was the supreme provider of all mankind. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
And Matthew 6:31-33 says, “Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
But the government, as it continues its vain attempt to be God, wants to become the entity that provides for us. This is not a new phenomenon, either. In Romans 13, Paul commences his infamous chapter by telling his readers that “God institutes rulers.” Meaning, even Nero, who fashioned himself, Divine, was subject to the rules, regulations, and will, of Christ.
Government wants to replace the Trinity with themselves; they want to replace the law with science; they want to replace objective values with subjective feelings. But even as they try very hard to impress their wicked will upon us, we are resolute in our answer:
“No.”
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