Garrett Hardin writes about saving the poor inhis essay”Lifeboat Ethics: The Case Against thePoor” found in The Blair Reader. Hardin writes abouthow the rich countries are in the lifeboat and thepoor countries are swimming in the ocean.
He alsowrites about how the United States helps othercountries. Hardin feels that if the government keepshelping other countries and letting people in thenAmerica will also drown. “We must convince them ifwe wish to save at least part of the world formenvironmental ruin”(page 765). Why should I help the poor countries? Whyshould I let the immigrants in? I see no reason forhelping someone that is not an American. These nonAmericans are taking my hard-working money thatthey did not earn.
I am tired of the United States of America givingmy money to the poor countries. The government isgiving these people my money for which I workedhard. The government does not ask for mypermission to give these people my money. Byletting these people on our lifeboat the government isdrowning us all. “If we do let an extra 10 people inour lifeboat, we will have lost our ‘safety factor,’ anengineering principle of critical importance” (page757). I cannot take a chance in helping people if it isgoing to put me in risk.
Instead of giving the money to non Americans itshould be used only in America. The money used tohelp the poorer countries can be very useful in theUnited States. The middle class people in Americaget no help. More of that money can go toward themiddle class families.
The middle class families workhad for their money. The government helps poorfamilies with food, housing, education and manymore things. The rich have more money than theyneed, but the middle class is left struggling. Themiddle class people cannot move up. The middleclass cannot get ant help from the government. Itmakes me mad that the poor Americans do not takeadvantages of some of the opportunities available forthem.
The middle class people sometimes work twoor three jobs to pay for their own or their children’scollege education. The government should use themoney they are sending to other countries to helpthe taxpayers. In my family we have just enough money to getby. I do not see the government knocking on mydoor handing me food or money.
Why should theygive my money to other countries? The governmentwill not help my family because our gross income istoo high to receive any help. Well true maybe ourgross income is high, but we do not take all thatmoney home. The government is taking money outof my paycheck, money that I struggle for, and givingit to other countries. I have my own dependents totake care of. I should not have to take care of otherpeople. It was my decision to have my children.
If Iwanted more dependents, I would have them. Thegovernment also tells me that if I had gotten a usedcar with cheap payments then I would have extramoney left over. Why should I have to get a usedcar? If I get a used car, I will only be spending moremoney getting it fixed. I am tired of the governmentgiving me excuses on why I do not need any help.
The only reason the government cannot help me isbecause they do not have the money. The onlyreason the government does not have the money isbecause they are giving it to other countries. I am tired of the immigrants coming into thiscountry. Hardin says “But aren’t we all immigrants, orthe descendants of immigrants?”(page 764). Wellyes, I am a descendant of immigrants and Iunderstand that. Nevertheless, what gives theimmigrants the right to come in my boat and take mymoney? I have no objections to those immigrantswho come here to work or bring work.
What I dohave a problem is with those that come here andtake advantage of our welfare system. These newimmigrants did not deposit money into the welfaresystem so why should they be allowed to withdrawal. If the immigrants were not taking our tax money thenthere would be more money for our people. Who is going to help me? No body is going tohelp me, not even my own country. The chances ofme getting social security when I am old are slim. Meanwhile, these immigrants are getting my money.
While my money is being spent on non Americans, Imight be living in a shack going through Dumpstersto get by, when I am old. Garrett Hardin in “Lifeboat Ethics: The CaseAgainst the Poor” writes that if America keeps tryingto save other people from different countries thenAmerica will also drown. I do not want these peoplein my lifeboat. America is already starting to drown.
Iwant my money to be used to help only Americanfamilies. Leave American money in America! ————————————————————–
