“Why be thrifty when your old age and health care are provided for, no matter how profligate you act in your youth? Why be prudent when the state insures your bank deposits, replaces your flooded-out house, buys all the wheat you can grow? ... Why be diligent when half of your earnings are taken from you and given to the idle?”

So we can have a balanced and fair society; where enough care and compassion are given to the least able among us to allow them to join and participate in its creation.

We have more "Government" and more taxation than we've ever had in history. As a result we are heading for a crash that will make the Dirty 30's look like a walk in the park. Government has no income and creates no wealth, it is a thief riding on the backs of the productive and innovative. It is a parasite and like all parasites, it eventually kills its host. Socialism is, at its heart, thievery and gangsterism.

Well said J Carlton. L. Hanson writes like one of the IDLE ones.

cal, Hanson's heart is in the right place, but like too many new age liberals, they just don't seem to work things out to their natural conclusion. Its wishful thinking, as opposed to logical thinking, based on natural law. It's our job to help them see that. :)

The man ought to get a grip and talk to some insurance people, they can answer his questions. Insurance gives all security and a happy life. I just wish governmnet could get as rich doing it as has Prudential, MetLife etcetera.

We have a "choice" in whether or not we buy Insurance Waffler. Scotch n Commie Flakes again this morning? :)

The thing that liberals, progressives, socialists, etc. always leave out of their dogmas is human nature, law, and reality. Their version of should be (even though contrary to the laws of nature and of nature's God) always fails. "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results" (Einstein) Spending more than one has (especially a secular government on religion's domain) always ends in ruin. Most people on the dole become comfortable there and quickly lower themselves to expect the hand out (social security, un-employment, medical, subsidies, etc.). Thrift is a noble principle of personal responsibility lost on the ilk of the above stated class of do-gooders.

And when inflation and unstable government leaders make it doubtful that savings or investments are going to be worth anything at retirement.

This quote displays a lot of childish idle thought processing, not much of a mature attitude in facing the realities of our world. The adult mission exists to inspire all, and that means all, with reassuring hopeful resolution capacities and mature attitude. This give up attitude is not too useful, the adult will, yes point to problems,  but just as appropriately offer solutions. Socialism is the challenge of social abilities to create maturity.