stupidest quote ... ever.

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

~~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers , 1931 to 2005 ~~~

Okay, and now for the commentary: so, why the heck do people have this up everywhere? And why do I hate this quote? Let me count the ways:

1. First of all, it equates having money with freedom, which is a fallacy.

2. It assumes that people receiving government assistance are NOT WORKING. Which is a lie.

3. It assumes that people receiving government assistance will decide that "they do not have to work", which is complete bull****. People who receive government assistance hardly get anything, and they have to prove that they are working, in school, or applying for work.

4. It alludes to the idea that the government cannot make people more free. This is based again on the idea that money makes us free, that somehow holding on to more of our paychecks will make us free ... by going to the mall more often? The whole point of having a government is to do together what we cannot accomplish alone ... it is things that the government brings ALL of us, equally, such as the public library, public schools, etc. that creates opportunity and intellectual freedom. And if ALL people had health care, affordable housing, etc., then perhaps all people would have "freedom." For what good is freedom for some while others toil away in poverty?

This is the most self-righteous, elitist bull crap out there, and is only held dear by the wealthy who would have us all believe that if only we all "worked hard," we would all have wealth. Seriously, people. That is not real life. Do some research.