What do you OWE me?

Posted by woodlema 9 years, 7 months ago to Government
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How has language been used to undermine our common sense of "Self", "Pride" and "Self Esteem?"

Consider a phrase used over the past several years as something good. This Phrase is used to indicate charity, goodness benevolence, yet nothing could be further from the truth.

This phrase implies that we are not deserving of what we earn. This phrase implies that others are entitles that which we have and own. This phrase insidiously instills in people a subconscious sense of self loathing while at the same time consciously making us think this is a good thing.

What is that phrase?

Give Back!!

When somebody looks at me and my life and sais I need to "Give Back" my only thought is why? What did I take. I did not TAKE anything from anyone!!! Why am I somehow required to GIVE to others out of my largess. Am I not deserving of what I earned?

This phrase "Give Back" implies that we do not deserve what we have regardless of how much effort we spent to acquire what we have, be it education, knowledge, money, real estate, happy family or anything else.

Why is there some need to imply that because you are miserable and poor that somehow it is my fault and I thereby OWE you something?

I would like to see people stop using this horrid phrase and replace it with something that implied if I do GIVE of what I earned, that I am doing it not out of some feeling of self loathing, or sense I do not deserve it but that I am being compassionate toward someone at MY expense, that THEY should be the grateful one, that I am willing to give of what I earned only for the sake of my own belief.

THIS is rational self-interest. Ayn Rand described Rational Self-Interest. Charity is a by-product of Rational Self-Interest. If I feel good giving of my wealth to others then I am benefitting myself for the sake of myself.

Remember I owe you NOTHING!!! You owe me NOTHING!!!. Until such point as you and I decide to enter into a bargain or agreement exchanging value for value, you have NO claim on me, my time or my wealth. For those who are Christian and believe in the Bible this is a principal and a promise God made as to how His people would live.. WE are the owner of our wealth, NOBODY is entitled to what we have. If you have doubt please look up . This promise God made clearly states that HIS purpose was for us to enjoy the fruits of our labor. NOT for someone else to enjoy the fruits of our labor while we toil to produce.

(Isaiah 65:17-24) "...21 And they will certainly build houses and have occupancy; and they will certainly plant vineyards and eat [their] fruitage. 22 They will not build and someone else have occupancy; they will not plant and someone else do the eating. For like the days of a tree will the days of my people..."


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  • Posted by Solver 9 years, 7 months ago
    Someone is going to have to pay for all the stuff (damage) Obama is doing.
    As people become even more dependent, and demand more, this phrase will be used a lot.
    Almost as if planned.
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  • Posted by CircuitGuy 9 years, 7 months ago
    I agree. I strongly believe in giving, if you like it, but "give back" implies you owe it. That despoils giving. It's not giving if you have some obligation. Giving is something you're free to do or not to do with no penalty regardless of your choice. It's a well-meaning phrase that has a hidden collectivist unstated premise.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 9 years, 7 months ago
    In what context are you asked to "give back?"
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    • Posted by 9 years, 7 months ago
      Robbie:

      What difference does it make? The implication is I took something that did not belong to me. But to answer your question directly, I have always lived within my budget. I have a bank account with at least 6 months reserve in case I lose my job. My wife and I enjoy a very comfortable life due to our HARD work. I was asked specifically to donate 100 hours of my time, and $2,000.00 to the homeless, and the phrase used was,"...I need to "GIVE BACK" and help those who are less fortunate...return to society some of what I have."

      This thinking is complete and utter nonsense.

      There are members of my extended family that are homeless. why? Because they choose to be. This is a fact. My wife's brother, is an exceptionally talented heavy equipment operator, but chooses to drink, show up drunk, get fired, until he gets too hungry then he cleans up gets a job for a month and repeats this. What do I owe him. NOTHING. What do I WOE the homeless NOTHING. What do I have to "GIVE BACK? NOTHING!!!" for I took NOTHING.

      I have experimented with the "homeless" who stand on the road with signs "Will work for food." 50 times over the years, I have offered 2x min. wage, food and shower if they would come to my house, pick up a shovel and move 3 tons of dirt, while I shovel right beside them. NOT ONE PERSON EVER accepted that offer. 50 PEOPLE over the years. I OWE PEOPLE and society NOTHING, and society and people OWE ME NOTHING. You want freedom, how about this. You keep what you earn and I keep what I earn to do with as we each see fit. THAT is freedom.
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      • Posted by Robbie53024 9 years, 7 months ago
        Context always matters. For example, I used to be very active with our local Boy Scout troop. We have a fairly unique situation where the Scout House is owned and maintained by the city and the various scout units in town schedule and use it (truth be told, any resident could schedule and use it, but none ever do). We "give back" to the city by doing various things like trash pick up for 4th of July in the park, providing hot chocolate during the winter festival, etc. In this case, we do "owe" them even though the city would probably maintain the building even if we didn't do those things. We call that "good citizenship."

        And before someone jumps down my throat about gov't doing things they shouldn't be required to do (an inclination of mine), the site was donated to the city about 40 years ago with a stipulation that it be maintained and available to the scouts in perpetuity. That could probably be nullified if necessary, but nobody wants to do that.
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        • Posted by khalling 9 years, 7 months ago
          The phrase has an annoying way of subtly manipulating people. I have an annoying neighbor who browbeats the neighborhood with drives for the local school. Her common phrase is we get to be here enjoying "their " (I assume she means the local children) beautiful beach. Give back for that. As if we are all squatters. Ah, the amorphous "community." It 's ridiculous. She 'd be better off appealing by listing the benefits. So maddening.
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        • Posted by 9 years, 7 months ago
          Robbie:

          So then in your case you "TOOK" something that did not belong to you, therefore you must "GIVE BACK." ?

          Seems to me though, that 40 years ago a private citizen who EARNED the property, and through their own personal passion and belief exercised their right to donate something to the city with a stipulation. The City did not nor was required to accept that donation yet they did, so there was value for value in a free exchange. The way I see this is that private citizen provided a service for something they perceived as a value, i.e. the Boy Scouts.

          So have you "TAKEN?" No. Do you have to "GIVE BACK" to the City No. If you want to provide a service to the City for personal reasons, that is fine, but the connotation of "Give Back" in any context implicitly implies you took something that was not yours in the first place.
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          • Posted by Robbie53024 9 years, 7 months ago
            I think we're lost in semantics. I understand your perspective on guilt being used as a tool to entice people to "give back" something that they didn't take immorally in the first place. 'nuff said.
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        • Posted by khalling 9 years, 7 months ago
          Why can 't it be looked at from the perspective of participation in a fair? Taking a turn cleaning up after an event everyone had fun at? The monies used for the upkeep of the building came from the citizens, not the city. The whole service part of scouting needs to be shaken out and cleaned up so guilt isn 't part of the concept. "Give back" is a term I only hear when people want my time,talent or money. It 's not a compelling reason to get involved. When 's the last time anyone heard the local government offering to give back some time to me -like when my tags have expired and I have to pay extra.
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          • Posted by 9 years, 7 months ago
            Ok let's look at this point by point using reason and logic.

            Why can 't it be looked at from the perspective of participation in a fair?

            Did you pay admission? Was the fair setup with the expectation that all participants would assist in cleanup or was the price of admission designed to pay the staff to do cleanup?

            Taking a turn cleaning up after an event everyone had fun at?
            If you CHOOSE to perform that act, that is great for you, but do you OWE it to the fair since you paid admission which cleaning was or should be part of that cost? What did you TAKE that you have an obligation to perform that act?
            No if YOU litter then YOU have the obligation to clean up your mess not mine. That is rational self-interest.

            The monies used for the upkeep of the building came from the citizens, not the city. The whole service part of scouting needs to be shaken out and cleaned up so guilt isn't part of the concept. "Give back" is a term I only hear when people want my time, talent or money.

            Yes, and that term is designed to make YOU feel guilty for having more than they feel you need because they want what you have be it time or money or talent.

            It 's not a compelling reason to get involved. When 's the last time anyone heard the local government offering to give back some time to me -like when my tags have expired and I have to pay extra.

            You make a very valid point, "Give Back" is certainly a term that should ONLY apply to government since they forcibly TAKE from you and me thereby they NEED to give back what they have taken. If the tax system was 100% consumption based then that interchange is completely voluntary. You don't want to pay taxes don't buy anything which is totally possible if you garden, have sheep and cows and are totally self sufficient.
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