I grew up in a middle class neighborhood. My parents did not have a lot of money, they never gave me a lot of money, but growing up, I never did without the basics. Sure, I would have liked to have been given additional spending money to purchase more clothes, Beatles albums, ballgame tickets, swimming club memberships, junk food, you get the picture.
My parents and grandparents grew a lot of our food in vegetable gardens. We ate them fresh from the garden in the summer, and out of jars and freezer bags in the winter. My grandparents kept the neighborhood supplied with plenty of fresh vegetables. If there was a need that my family was aware of, they tried to take care of it. My parents and grandparents have given money, taken food in, and helped anyway they could where there was a need.
Except for an occasional “to go” order at Krystal Hamburger, and later KFC, I never remember a single time our family went into a restaurant to eat a meal. It was considered too expensive and we ate home cooked meals instead. The first time I actually remember eating at a restaurant was after church on Sunday night at Shoney’s, I was probably 14 years old. I ordered their onion rings and I still recall they cost $.50. It seemed very expensive to me because that’s all the money I had that night. (they were delicious)
A few members of our extended family received government food either free or at reduced costs. We didn’t have food stamps then but they were referred to as “commodities.” My immediate family never turned to the government for assistance.
Instead, my mother took on babysitting jobs for the neighbor down the street (she also held other part-time jobs from time to time) and my father worked 2 jobs. Instead of working normal hours (8 am till 5 pm) he worked the 4-11 shift at Ford Glass plant (because it paid a little more money), got up the next morning and painted houses until time to head back to the plant. Didn’t need government assistance.
I was taught to value savings and hard work. My grandparents took me to Home Federal Savings and Loan bank to start an account when I was too short to stand at the counter without a step stool. I never saw a credit card until I went to college. I wasn’t even sure how they worked. I never had a credit card until after I graduated. If my parents couldn’t pay for it by the end of the month, they didn’t buy it. It’s that simple. Get it? No credit debt.
My grandmother knew the head cook at the local “burger” shop and got me a job washing dishes when I was actually under age, I was 15. During that time period I caddied on weekends at the Old Hickory Golf Club. I walked from my grandparent’s house to the golf course on Saturday and Sunday mornings at 5 am to get in line with the other guys looking for work. I’d walk home late that evening with about $20 in my pocket. Felt like a millionaire. Didn’t need government assistance.
I won’t bore you with the details, but subsequent years were similar. I had a job during most of my high school years, and I worked during College. My parents and grandparents paid for my college tuition. There was no government assistance.
So this is a small snapshot into my early years that shaped how I view the world today. The idea of turning to the government for anything is completely foreign to me. The idea of depending on the government for financial assistance is completely foreign to my way of thinking. If you need something, then work for it. If you can’t obtain it that way, then pray for it and God will provide it. I often think, if I can do this, if my mother and father could do it, then others can do it as well.
I recognize a role for limited government to help provide social assistance. But government is currently too big, too inefficient, mismanaged, abused and out of control.
If my government can keep the roads paved (which they often don’t) and our country safe from attack, maintain a strong infrastructure, keep our water, food, and pharmaceuticals safe, then I’ll be content for now.
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