When humans first started to domesticate wild animals, they did by providing them with an easy supply of food. They developed a symbiotic relation with the humans because they no longer needed to go about the difficult daily job of finding food to keep them alive. Eventually as the animals became more trusting of the humans they were provided with shelter to protect themselves. Eventually they became domesticated. They lost their ability to survive on their own and became dependent on the humans for survival. And in turn the humans were able to exploit the animals for their own ends. Some animals were used for work. Some for food and clothing, and others for protection.

In a Socialist society the ordinary citizens are like the animals. The government tempts you in with food and shelter. Some citizens will resist while others will be drawn to the easy handouts so they no longer have to go to work each day to earn a living. Like domestic animals, some citizens provide work. These are the bureaucrats that help to keep the government machine running. Others provide protection. These are the government employees, especially well regarded employees such as the police or teachers. They offer the government protection in several ways. First of all they are our neighbors and our friends. They buy homes and their kids participate in local sports. They provide the government protection through their friendship and sympathy. Whenever the people turn against the excesses of the government, they have to face these members of the community knowing that if you cut back on the government you will have to cut back on their jobs and their salaries. It is easy to do when you don't know any who works for the government. But it is hard to do when you know them. Another way government employees protect the government is through their union dues. The money is collected and funneled back into the campaigns of politician that will vote to increase the government. More government means more government employees, which means more power for union bosses, and a successful campaign for the politician.

Then there are the welfare recipients. They are the food and clothing for the government. The product they produce are votes. Votes that keep the welfare state in power. Just like a domestic animal learns not to bite the hand the feeds it. The welfare recipient learns to vote for the party that promises to keep feeding them. The more welfare recipients there are the more power the welfare party will have. And just like the domestic animal many of the welfare recipients will become so dependent on the easy handouts of the state that they lose the ability to take care of themselves. They lose their individual freedom.

As the fourth of July approaches, we should wonder if the security of the welfare state is worth giving up our individual freedom.

-- Thomas Paine 2

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