Why do Americans rely on the government so much?

Question

A natural disaster happens, people go crying for the government to help them. Why aren't Americans able to pull themselves up by the bootstraps and move on? Why do they expect the government to coddle and fend for them? Why aren't they fending for themselves?

Sasha: From what I understand, the water has receded, right? I'm not talking about when the hurricane happened.

Answer 1

Personal insurance will not cover certain things. Take some of the homes throughout the Hurricane Katrina path and other hurricanes. People had insurance that covered wind, hail, and fire damage, however, the giant corporation that is collecting their payment every month, will not protect them against a flood or water damage. Who dictates what happens then? Your community? When everyone has lost something, it is hard to help others. The spirit is there, the will is there, however, the resources are not. Thus, the government is looked to for support.

Our, the American, government is looked to for support by nearly every nation in the world. There are BILLIONS of dollars that go to countries that "need" help. I suppose we could stop handing our aid and other forms of support and just keep all that funding and keep the volunteers at home. But, that would be wrong.

You are correct though, there is a section of people who live here in the US that have become dependent on the government for their support. That is where the government should see what is happening, however, when corruption abounds in the persons who are in high places, it is hard to see the forest for the trees.

Answer 2

We pay high taxes (and not just personal income taxes). We pay

1. Oil tax
2. Excise tax
3 Property tax
4. Sales tax
5. Inheritance taxes

I can go on and on. The government does not hand out anything. That is a falsehood. The government merely redistributes what it takes in. If it didn't help rebuild from natural disasters, then the job base in that given area would die out. It is pretty much that simple.

If you have ever worked with the chimps from FEMA, you would understand that there are few real handouts (but more rhetoric than most humans could stand!)

Answer 3

The goverment, incluning mayors and town officials should stick to the task of seeing what all is needed as far as repair for houses, dams, and surely for the injured and elderly as soon as possible.The President should immedietely order
as many national guard and other support groups
as possible.There is need for Security. There is always a lot stealing going on during these times.
During Katrina we should have plenty of citizens
right hear within a two hundred mile radius of where the storm hit to clean up this mess. With that l say, We should not wait on the goverment,
but we should be willing to help our brother when
disaster stiikes.

Eddie Bryant
[e-mail]

Answer 4

Why we HAVE TO is pretty simple; insurance doesn't cover all rebuilding efforts (if you have any at all.) Homes destroyed by a mudslide in Wisconsin(?) were not covered by insurance. And most of us live at poverty or just above poverty levels. We do not have the money to put away 'for a rainy day'. Existence is pretty much paycheck to paycheck. Then you take out all the taxes from our paycheck and tax almost every single thing we purchase, there's not much left.
I'd have to say that after all the taxes we pay, if a disaster struck my home, I'd expect some help from the govt. Especially, as many say, when our govt. can spend billions helping other countries. Of course, we would also rebuild ourselves if necessary; not stand by and await someone to do everything for us, nor expect to. Just a little boost in funds from the govt. to get us going.

Answer 5

Imagine this

i) Your house is almost completely underwater
ii) You don't have any money, or possesions left, everythings gone except for the clothes you have on.
iii) You are stuck on top of the house,and you can't go anywhere without drowning.

How are you going to 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' ?

Answer 6

Mr. PhD...in PA every year we have a tax to work. (not sure how many other states do this, but when i told family in Maryland they laughed at it) Basically it's a tax taken out of our first paycheck that allows us to work. It's minimal, but still the point so you can add that one to your list!

Americans like to blame others; i can understand asking for help at first, but after a while, we need to be self-sufficient. It's been 2 years since hurricane katrina and they are still asking for government aid. Much more has happened in the country since, they need to learn to provide and fix things for themselves. Like i said, we like to blame others and point fingers rather than have an honest day of hard work.

Answer 7

It's the mentality people have these days. So many people are so dependent on the government for everything. When the crap hits the fan, they have no idea on how to do anything or how to handle everything. And then everyone is blaming everyone else.

gw

Answer 8

Americans have become spoiled and lazy. They have lost the ability to think for themselves and to help themselves and their neighbors.

Answer 9

That is what my question asked...well basically...I feel new orleans was way too dependent on the government! Where I live we know that we can depend on ourselves to get back on our feet....

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AumX7dlH1ZIrm5KecZCjpV3sy6IX?qid=20070829063726AA0Fhjl

Answer 10

Because our money goes to foreign aid!!!