American Dream/welfare (My 2 cents)

Interesting discussion on the American dream. My take is that there has to be a balance. On one hand you have the government that has programs for the homeless and poor. However some people don't like programs like H.U.D. and welfare because it means more taxes and more money out of our pockets. And bottom line government programs don't add spirtual help to people, so it is a seemly endless cycle. But there are genuine people that do benefit from government programs to get back on their feet. its not all homeless drug addicts and welfare abusers. On the other hand the church provides help practically and in some cases spiritual help. Unfortunatly the church does not get nearly the funding the government does because giving is VOLUNTARY. In taxes the money gets taken if you like it or not, where tithing is based on what people think they should give.(unfortuantly as a christian population whole this tithing is generally less than what they bible calls for) Thus the church is often limited to how much it can help. Ideally I would like to see faith based welfare where the government funnels more $$$ to faith communities. The F.O.T.V. is a great example of the church doing the stuff. yet it doent have all the funding it could have. The American Dream was a good thought which has been dilouted and perverted. It man message is look after your self, rely on yourself and forget your fellow man. As Kara said God hasn't given us what we derserve. He gave us Jesus..lets give others Jesus instead of what they deserve.-Dave