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Welfarism and excessive spending and deficits and socialism divide us, because everybody has to go to Washington. Those who have the biggest clout, whose who are the best lobbyists, those who go and they grab. And whether it's the medical industrial complex, or the banking industry, or the military industrial complex, that's who ends up controlling our government... For so long, conservatives and constitutionalists have lost the argument, they lost the moral highground. Because those who want to give things away, not talking about where they steal it from, but they want to give things and take care of people, they get the moral highground and they come by as being compassionate. And we who believe in liberty, we lack compassion. But the truth is, there's only one compassionate system known to man, and that is freedom and personal responsibility, then there's enough wealth, and then we will all have personal responsibility to use this compassion that we have, first to take care of our families and friends and neighbors, and there would be so much wealth that we could spread this wealth around the world.

Ron Paul#63

PoliticsEconomicsEthicsFreedomWelfarePersonal responsibility

About this quote

What does it mean?
The speaker claims that welfare and big government give the illusion of compassion, while true compassion comes from liberty and personal responsibility.
In plain terms
He believes freedom, not welfare, is the real compassionate system.
What can you take from it?
Promote liberty and personal responsibility over government handouts.

Where it applies

  • policy debates
  • social safety nets
  • tax reform

Putting it to work

  • reduce welfare programs
  • encourage private charity

Questions to consider

  • Is compassion compatible with limited government?
  • How can personal responsibility be fostered?

Another view

Overlooks the immediate needs of vulnerable populations.

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