Originally Posted by
Harley's Dad
Well Shenanigans, we can call it empathy, sympathy or guilt, but it comes down to the same thing. Where I disagree is your suggestion that those who can afford to eat are enjoying "privileges"; these are actually people who've worked and succeeded in getting their heads above water, paying taxes along the way and contributing to the Welfare State (and much else). So, on reflection, I don't think they should feel guilty at all. Perhaps the government should, for failing to make the Welfare State so all-embracing that no-one falls off the end - but where does it stop? How much more of a proportion of GNP must the country spend on Welfare? As The One Who says, this is the system which is designed to help the genuinely needy - but there surely has to be some limit ...
Guilt implies that one has done something wrong. Empathy implies allowing oneself to feel for someone other than oneself. Sympathy implies that someone deserves pity for their plight. These are all different words with different meanings.
Yet again you go on about how the rich shouldn't feel guilty for what they have, implying that those who support he welfare think the rich should pay for everything and that they should simply give away everything they have to the poor because they can. Also assuming that just because I support our welfare system and believe in its importance, I therefore think that we should be throwing money into it.
I understand that for you, you feel that those who have are portrayed as scrouges and you just want people to understand that when you have worked hard for something why should you be punished for that? I understand your point. I agree that those who have shouldn't feel guilty nor should they pay a 50% tax on their income or anything so stupid. I empathise with your views.
Just because you do not agree with my view, does not negate my view nor does it mean you can assume what I believe. I could equally assume, as you don't agree with me, that you must therefore be all for introducing back the poor work houses from the Victorian era. That's a silly assumption isn't it?
I said nothing about increasing welfare spending. I also said that the rich should NOT feel guilty. I believe in the importance of the welfare state, and hope that someday it can be implemented in a way that is fair to those claiming it and paying into it. I want out welfare syatem to WORK and I also want it to be AFFORDABLE. Right now, neither is the case. I want people to empathise with people, it is not as simple as one social class being "right" and another being "wrong". It's not about guilt, it's about having a little human feeling for others. It costs nothing but goes a long way.