Sense of Community vs. Sense of Government

A conversation I had today brought to mind the things that we do for relief. At one time, churches and religious organizations were allowed to provide well for their constituents, by allowing the pastor or leader to have a home provided to them, as well as food and other care by the community. Doctors, Nurses, Teachers, and Pastors were all welcome in the community that needed them. Communities hurting for public servants will provide for them, and today, even, you see "community policing" where police officers are offered a home at no interest if they will locate in certain neighborhoods.

Many of our public servants are expected to provide extra to the community in terms of taxes (their barter is taxed), and extra insurance, along with the inevitable extra time that social service requires.

How can we do this? Expect the Doctor or Nurse, Police officer, Pastor (you fill in the blank) to put in 120 hours a week, and pay the community for the effort they put in?

Something is wrong with this picture.

At one time, we took care of our public servants, and they took care of the poorest in our communities. They spent the hours, and we spent the effort to make sure they were comfortable.

Now we put our public servants through the wringer, and coddle the poorest of our community with the money we once paid our public servants to care.

Is it any wonder our emergency rooms, missions, mental hospitals and prisons are full to the brim?

Is it any wonder we have lost our way?

It is time to redirect our energies. It is time to realize that taking care of relief means giving those who can the means to do. Those who can listen, give and care - need the means of action.

To some extent, this is a clarification of my feeling that the social worker would rather say "yes, I can help" than push a thousand pieces of paper across a desk all day, and say "No, you don't qualify until you reach a certain level of bottom of the barrel."

Our public servants need to be thanked. Not just personally, but collectively. A community needs to say "Here is your home."

"Here is your meal."

Saying "Here is our money, and you can pay taxes, too," opens up a whole new world. It becomes easy to say,

"I hired you. You have to do what I say. You have to work for the money I pay. If you don't do the job right, I'll take you to court and take your money away. I'll fire you. I'll..."

Tell me that's not true. Tell me parents don't go to their child's teacher and demand their precious little one pass to the next grade, even though it might be better for the child to learn. Tell me that pastors and doctors and social workers aren't overburdened with the demand to prove their worth.

You can't.

You know I'm telling the truth.

Demand that we start doing things right. Get the insurance companies out of the people business, and let them insure things. Let people be people. Let those who make human error be held harmless, and let those who would harm a community be held responsible.

Expect the best, and respect the best.