Immigration and the Welfare Myths

This post is in response to Matt Bramanti‘s comments on twitter. First off I want to say that he has always seemed like a good guy and I do not want this post to seem like an argument or a feud.  I may disagree with some of his perspectives, but still I agree with him in many areas also.  You can follow his blog here, or follow him on twitter here.   I would venture to say I tend to be more liberal where he tends to be more conservative.  I made a remark that I am now seeing as rude or condescending so I do want to acknowledge that and apologize, and that is the “egocentric” claim. I will explain what I meant, and I apologize.  I could have found a better way to express what I was saying.  Now to the discussion:

Me: If you support Arizona migrant control then you are pro big gov pro-tax #teaparty #glennbeck Deporting costs tax dollars

Matt: Encouraging self-deportation by refusing social services is cheap.

Me: That is an egocentric statement that I doubt would impact the majority of migrants. http://trunc.it/7fk5o

Matt: Egocentric? How so?

Matt: I’m surprised you’re resisting a chance to contract the welfare state. Seems out of character.

I think I should note that if I believed that the initiation of force was acceptable and I embraced the concept of government I would most likely be a democrat rather than a republican.  However Good Government is a contradiction and a myth.  If I bought the myths and rubbish politicians preach I would associate with the concept of a government that is caring and takes care of people over the concept of the government that goes to war, shoots and imprisons people.  The fact of the matter is that I am not an idealist who thinks this group of people posses the ability to alter reality with what they write on paper, but this realization is often the topic of posts around here and if you would like to know more about my beliefs then start with reading A Case Against Government and A Case For Self Governance.

The concept of the migrant being here for the welfare state is one I completely reject. “Undocumented immigrants” are not eligible to receive any “welfare” benefits and even legal immigrants are severely restricted in the benefits they can receive.  I see this as something that is influenced by a culturally limited perspective that tends to see migrants in a condescending manner.  “This is where I derived my initial claim of egocentric”.

If a migrant or anyone for that matter was to “exploit the system” I have little problem with that.  This is the system that exploits all citizens.  To drain the system is wonderful, it can be taxing on the state and help to bankrupt the system.  Unfortunately, I believe the state will fall and I do think it will most likely happen this way. I find this sad because people depend on social security and food stamps etc. They will find they have no security or stability.  I hope we increase alternatives to the failing state before they have to face this.

I have stated that I am for the elimination of all welfare.  I have also stated that I am for welfare. Yes I see how the system that is called welfare in the U.S. is not much more than a way to make the elite richer while never actually solving a problem that exists. If the problem of poverty were to be solved it would eliminate the need for the bureaucrats and politicians thus eliminating their cash cow.  So the state will do just enough to justify the programs they are profiting from and never take it to the point that the problem is truly fixed.   They wish to maintain their power and wealth. Why is it the people who are appointed to control these programs are often making well over 100 thousand a year and they are all living in upper income neighborhoods while the people they claim to help are still suffering and still living in the ghetto? We create farm bills to give large corporate welfare checks to men making up to 500 thousand a year in the name of feeding poor children.

I believe in welfare. Welfare in the sense of doing well in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity.  I believe in aiding and providing necessities for those in need, for the welfare of others.  I do not believe in the concept of initiating  force to fund anything.  I believe in new solutions that provide more effectively for all under voluntary not coercive means. I believe in solutions that will fix problems and help more than a state does.  I also embrace communal and socialist concepts for such things which would function voluntarily within a freed market.  Mandating such things can only be done though threat of force.  I also blame each one of us for the welfare state to an extent in my article: You Are The Problem.

Now all this being said the reasons I tend to criticize the “Welfare State” less than the “Warfare State” is because the “Warfare State” is the foundation of all that is the state. Without the structure to control and enforce the want and desire of law makers with the violence of the “Warfare State” we would essentially have no state, thus no issues with the state.  The other systems and problems the state created would not be able to exist because they would have nothing left to assert their imagined authority.  At that point all “Welfare” would be voluntary.