Liberty Vs. Security

US Rep Tom Coburn is a staunch conservative who (gasp!) has drawn attention for refusing to vilify his opponents and telling constituents not to believe television news. I tell my friends that with me, "you get all of the right-wing, none of the snark."

So the words "socialism" and "socialist" inspire harsh feelings within political debate. So Dick Armey puts it this way: the next election is about liberty vs cradle-to-grave entitlement.

And John Stossel, in his defense of libertarianism, explores the end of entitlement:

"The number of people who will suffer is likely to be very small. Private charity ... will provide support for the vast majority who would be poor in the absence of some kind of support. When government does it, it creates an air of entitlement that leads to more demand for redistribution, till everyone becomes a ward of the state."

I support organizations that work with the poor. But even government employees who work compassionately in the realm of assisting the poor will tell you that this sense of entitlement exists. Just ask the person working in housing assistance who gets a call from a family living in government-providing housing complaining about the color the carpet.