Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Does Advocating Limited Government Mean Abandoning the Poor?
Does Advocating Limited Government Mean Abandoning the Poor?
Mar 16, 2025 6:39 PM

Does promoting limited government require abandoning mitment to the poor? Ryan Messmore,whose answer is a firm “no”, argues that non-government institutions can provide personalized assistance to help individuals fix relational problems, e poverty and lead healthy lives:

Calls for limited government are often mistakenly equated with a disregard for people in need. This flawed line of reasoning assumes that poverty is primarily a material problem and that government bears the primary responsibility for solving it by increasing welfare and entitlement spending.

Yet at its root, poverty is usually plex than a simple lack of material resources. In America, poverty is often the result of a relational problem, such as fatherlessness munity breakdown. Such relational breakdowns are addressed most effectively through various civil society institutions.

People have many needs that extend beyond simple material possessions—needs that cannot be met by any single institution. Families, churches, businesses, and other forms of association play crucial roles in sustaining liberty and meeting people’s needs. Public policy in general and welfare policy in particular should respect and protect these institutions of civil society.

Thus, limited government is an important piece of a framework that benefits people in need. When government is limited to the tasks it is best-equipped and authorized to perform, it allows more effective poverty-fighting institutions to thrive. Far from being patible with a concern for poverty, an appropriately limited government is crucial to maintaining a social order that enables people to escape poverty.

Read more . . .

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Luke 2:8-20   (Read Luke 2:8-20)   Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest...
  An unexpected error has occurred. We are in the process of fixing the problem. Sorry. ...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Ephesians 6:1-4   (Read Ephesians 6:1-4)   The great duty of children is, to obey their parents. That obedience includes inward reverence, as well as outward acts, and in every age prosperity has attended those distinguished for obedience to parents. The duty of parents. Be not impatient; use no unreasonable severities. Deal prudently and wisely with...
Verse of the Day
  Joshua 22:5 In-Context   3 For a long time now-to this very day-you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you.   4 Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Complete Concise   Chapter Contents   Believers are to dedicate themselves to God. (1,2) To be humble, and faithfully to use their spiritual gifts, in their respective stations. (3-8) Exhortations to various duties. (9-16) And to peaceable conduct towards all men, with forbearance and benevolence. (17-21)   Commentary on Romans 12:1-2   (Read Romans 12:1-2)   The apostle having closed the...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on 1 Peter 4:7-11   (Read 1 Peter 4:7-11)   The destruction of the Jewish church and nation, foretold by our Saviour, was very near. And the speedy approach of death and judgment concerns all, to which these words naturally lead our minds. Our approaching end, is a powerful argument to make us sober in all worldly...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Habakkuk 3:1-2   (Read Habakkuk 3:1-2)   The word prayer seems used here for an act of devotion. The Lord would revive his work among the people in the midst of the years of adversity. This may be applied to every season when the church, or believers, suffer under afflictions and trials. Mercy is what we...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Ephesians 5:1-2   (Read Ephesians 5:1-2)   Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully.   Ephesians 5:2...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on Matthew 6:25-34   (Read Matthew 6:25-34)   There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which...
Verse of the Day
  Commentary on Today's Verse   Commentary on 1 Peter 3:8-13   (Read 1 Peter 3:8-13)   Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved