Can there ever be too much self reliance and personal responsibility?

[Remodeling Maidiac]

Is there ever a time when you should stop relying on your own abilities and turn to the govt to level the playing field for you? Aren't you responsible for your own ability to market yourself and thus make your own money.

 

[ladyliberal]

Are there times when you should rely on the government rather than solely on yourself? Yes, of course. There are obvious times, for example, when one wants to involve the police. If you're speaking of making money, then the government dispenses resources through

-- salaries (government employees)

-- entitlement programs (social security etc.)

-- tax refunds

-- awarding contracts and grants

-- providing any number of public resources for free

-- providing resources for a fee (as does the post office)

-- remedying injuries through lawsuits or settlements


and no doubt plenty of other ways that don't immediately come to mind. There are plenty of situations where it is appropriate to depend on the government for money or other resources. Of course, self reliance and personal responsibility are good things and I don't think anyone would suggest we need less of them.