Kicking the Habit

by Paul Schmidt

I am an addict.

It's hard to stop being dependant -- to be free of addiction. I did it for a year but have gotten hooked again.

Fortunately, the addiction isn't alcohol or drugs. But it is damaging, I believe, to the spirit. I am on welfare and find it difficult getting off. The worst part is, I can afford to get off with some sacrifices, but haven't.

Welfare was easy to get on. My parents were on it, it seemed a normal way of life. Most people accept it and even encourage it. This is not surprising since 88 percent of the families in this country take this form of welfare.

The type of welfare that I am on is 'education welfare.' Yes, I send my kids to government-run/government financed schools. I could make sacrifices and pay for my kid's education rather than use the taxpayer's money. But that is too easy -- even socially acceptable -- to take education welfare.

What I find so amazing is the encouragement of people to be on this form of welfare. The year that I sent my son to a Christian school, some of the administrators looked forward to the day when they could accept vouchers. Vouchers are just like food stamps, except everyone with children will get them. I expect more from my fellow Christians than to encourage dependence. The use of vouchers will likely hook most of the twelve percent that have stayed off education welfare.

Many other welfare programs have been shown to be failures. People who use these programs are harmed -- not helped. I know that taking education welfare is harmful to myself, my kids and society, just as other welfare programs have hurt many people.

I have a vision of society where children can get the education they need without the dependence on the damaging welfare state. I pray for the strength to help this come about -- in a personal way -- by getting off the welfare addiction myself.