Don’t refuse programs to help people in need

Self-righteous Republicans love to point out politically convenient mythical outcomes of programs designed to help those in need of assistance in our state. Mostly they vilify them by calling them socialist or even communist, at times. They just know by some idea they consider fact, not supported by data, that the programs cause people to become lazy and comfortable in poverty.

However, it appears the reverse is becoming more commonplace. When there are programs tested or instituted by charitable organizations to help those in need, the Republicans do not see the underlying fact that people are always going to be in dire need. They step away from programs, laws or concern that solutions need to be developed for these people and that government should and can play a critical role that individual NGO charities cannot. The government becomes reliant on the charities to the extent that they are blinded to or feel they can ignore dealing with core issues of poverty.

For that reason, poverty, homelessness, and hunger unnecessarily continue to plague a segment of our society. And in that regard, the government institutionalizes poverty. Continuing to search for programs that get people out of poverty is in all our best interests. To make a law that detracts from that search is counterproductive and hurtful.

Phillip Thien

Des Moines