If you were poor, would you rather receive charity or opportunity?

Question

Every conservationist knows you never feed wild animals. Once wild animals recognize humans as a food source, they lose their ability to forrage on their own.
Regardless of humans higher thinking ability, they too can become domesticated by well meaning people who become their food source.
A decades long welfare program has filled our inner cities with domesticated humans, humans who depend on other humans as their food source. Their will to survive and their cunning is applied to preserving that source of food at all cost.
Charity, althought given with good intent, does nothing to eliminate poverty. It only sustains it. Only opportunity can lift people from poverty into prosperity.
Is it too late, tho, to return the domesticated humans into the wilds of civilization where they can once again forrage on their own and prosper? Are they even capable anymore of grasping onto opportunity, or has the dole destroy any hope?

Answer 1

This is a GREAT question. It really depends on the situation. But if I had to choose I would choose opportunity.

Answer 2

opportunity is the way. the right opportunity could be the difference between a bicycle and a Mercedes.

a while ago, even though i had a job, i was at a low point and nearly homeless, (due to bad decisions on my part and meanness on the part of an ex) a kind soul allowed me to live with them until i could get enough checks to get back on my feet. without this brand of charity i could never have made it back so quickly. sometimes charity is positive. i did not remain in their home, sucking the teat of the giver, but recognized the good in people and for that i am eternally grateful. i hope someday to be fortunate enough to return the favor to someone in need.

i do not know what would have happened if i ended up on the street. it is scary to think about, but imagine, the homeless who live every day on trash, leftovers and our cast-offs. are not these very people living in the wilds of the urban jungle? how many of us could survive by foraging through city streets?

Answer 3

I think deep inside everyone is a genuine desire to carry their own weight.
But as long as they are getting free hand outs they will never realize that they want to support themselves and be free of bondage created by living on a fixed income which leads to no where.
I do know that the members of 'Skull and Bones' consider people on Welfare as 'herd' bought and paid for.
And that's really sad.
I've always said instead of giving the people fish give them a fishing pole instead and teach them how to fish for themselves so they will never need to rely on another again to feed them.
I don't know if it's too late to turn people around and help them realize that there's more to life than waiting for the first of the month to come around when the Welfare check arrives in the mail.
But if it isn't too late and we can get most of them off of financial aide then that money can be used for something much more important.
Like maybe Government funded College Education.
Just think how much better it would be if people went to College instead of living off of Welfare and obtained a good education.
That way they could take that education and later on find a rewarding career and support themselves.

Answer 4

I understand what you are saying here. I do believe though that people on welfare (some of them) would LOVE an opportunity to be able to "fend" for themselves.
When I had just given birth to my son, my ex told me he no longer loved me and it was over.
I had to leave with a tiny baby and how was I to survive?
The welfare system helped me out. I could never afford to work and have day care for my newborn, so I was able to raise my son for his first year, and then I went to work

I do think opportunity is better then charity to some extent, but I think they must sometimes go hand in hand. There are many welfare agencies that help people get some education, new skills etc, and help them get a job.

Answer 5

I would rather receive the opportunity... however I wouldn't stop there... one person stated the opportunity in the form of a Walmart job was going to China... (last I checked... Walmart does not manufacture anything and their stores are located here in the states... easier for us to buy from them) However... I would say that rather than receive opportunity I would actively SEEK opportunity. It is all out there if you want to seize it bad enough... Unfortunately those who have taken advantage of the welfare system for extended periods of time have also lost their desire and will to do something great. Our welfare system needs to be revamped with time lines for those on welfare to make progress in self support. Nothing gives a person pride and willpower than hard work and accomplishment.

Answer 6

Well thought and well written question!

When we were a young married couple, my husband and I did have need to receive charity. "Pride goeth before the fall."

We always worked toward a better goal, and continue to do so everyday.

In turn we do what we can to help others when they are in need. Both in gifts and odd-job hiring (that teach a man to fish thing again).

I hope that welfare hasn't subjugated the country to the reliance of social programs for survival.

So offer me opportunity. That I may reach as high as I might. Don't put limits on my dreams or the pursuit of my happiness.

Answer 7

I was a single parent at the age of 16 and tried to get government help but was denied. So I got mad and got a job. I never get any help except from family in raising my daughter and we both survived without the government. It can be done but the "system" does not make people try to help themselves to improve their situation. You are right, it is too late to do anything about it but it is upsetting to see how the system works. I know of cases where people have had more children because they get more money from the govermant. So wrong!

Answer 8

those are all scams to get information from you, very own information. there is probably a "guy" on the different fringe of that digital mail someplace in Nigeria sitting at a working laptop or pc searching for out the thank you to get very own economic corporation information from human beings international extensive by employing giving them confusing success thoughts. they have specials each and every of the time on those scams.... do no longer chew!! this could be a warning. If something write decrease back and tell them "large attempt." :)

Answer 9

What's ironic is that most people claim to prefer receiving opportunity than charity anytime, yet, you start handing out dollar bills on the side of the street, with no strings attached and we'll see how many of these "principled" folks will resist.

There's nothing wrong with taking what is given to you; it's your gain and someone else's loss.

Answer 10

I'd rather earn money than be given money, but that's just me.

"Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

Give me a job, give me a way to earn my living, but never pay for me. I feel terrible when other people pay for what I do, I'd rather work for 10 hours and earn $100 than be given $150 dollars.

Answer 11

Opportunity. Because money/things earned are a lot better than money/things given.