Good Samaritans

Earlier this week I posted about the debate that took place on the floor of the House on the Omnibus Education bill. Well today, the answer to Rep. Greiling's challenge came into my inbox. It was written in the context of the immigration debate, but I think it is more than applicable in just about any discussion that involves government taxation for the purpose of giving to the "less fortunate". It starts with the parable of the Good Samaritan.

"Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’ “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”
And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:25-37)"

Now this verse is used (by a lot of well meaning people) as justification for confiscatory taxes. After all - the reasoning goes - Jesus teaches that we should take care of others! However, let's take a closer look at the passage. Did the Samaritan ask for government to take care of the injured man? No - the Samaritan bound the injured man's wounds. He put the injured man on his mule and paid the innkeeper out of his money. He didn't demand that everyone else chip in...HE did it of himself. THAT is the lesson of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

The column then breaks it down further.

"First, I cannot be generous, compassionate or loving by giving your property away. I cannot fulfill the commandment to “love my neighbor as my self” by using your land, your property, your house or your money to do so. "

There can be no clearer example of the difference between Conservatives and Liberals. Liberals think that it is government that can best take care of the disadvantaged by taking money from "the rich". Conservatives, on the other hand, give of themselves. Whether is it in their church or synagog, or mentoring young people, or being a den mother in the scouts or writing the "big check" to the charity of their choice, Conservatives try to walk the walk. We don't ask others to walk it for us.