The ancient proverb, “Give a man a fish… etc.” – appropriate throughout history – still stands today. Many discuss it… few understand it. In times of economic upheaval such as our pandemic, handouts can mean survival. When responsible people are the beneficiaries of such assistance, they are grateful, of course, and are encouraged and motivated to get back ‘on their feet’ as quickly as possible. Their sense of self-worth and dignity demands it.

However, the problem lies in too much assistance. Anyone who repeatedly receives assistance of any kind can be ‘programmed’ into accepting help – thereby becoming a lifestyle. The danger of such programs? Politicians use disadvantaged people for their own purposes – as with ancient Rome’s ‘bread and circuses.’

There is a greater, hidden problem arising from handout policies: Continued reliance on handouts erodes a person’s self-respect and sense of value. It happens on a subconscious level and it affects one’s whole family.

A self-respecting person will persist until he resolves a problem. But handouts are insidious; the recipient gives a sigh of relief, realizing that he has ‘dodged another bullet.’ To distract himself from the anxiety of facing tomorrow, he will turn to entertainment TV and sports, ‘hanging out,’ or medication in its various forms. As the mental habit becomes more deeply entrenched, depression, anxiety and anger set in.

The concept of ‘living off the land’ (the generosity of others) ended when God shut down the Garden of Eden. From that moment on, humans were required to work in order to survive. But along with that, humans were also given the gift of pride – a deep sense of self-worth. They go hand-in-hand; take away work (effort, challenge, discipline) and a man loses self-worth. Remove self-worth, a man has no desire or energy to work; he will follow anyone who promises a better life. Alexander Hamilton – one of America’s Founding Fathers – stated that “If a man doesn’t stand for something, he will fall for anything!”

Another aspect of human nature is: to go beyond survival and strive for a better life.

Mayor Lightfoot’s Assistance Program – as with numerous welfare programs – is praiseworthy in its intent. It is not only Christian (a foundation of America) it meets the instinctual, human need for compassion and empathy. Loving and helping one’s ‘neighbor’ is part of both Christian and American philosophy. It is ‘American’ to solve problems; it is ‘American’ to help.

The practical reason for assistance programs lies in the fact that desperate people do desperate things in order to survive. History has shown, time after time, that depression, anxiety, frustration, boredom and resentment lead to unrest. A loss of purpose (work) and a hopeless future lead to these negative emotions. Beneficial programs help maintain civility and responsibility in times of upheaval.

Assuming Mayor Lightfoot has noble intentions – truly wanting to help the disadvantaged – then she certainly wouldn’t want the recipients of her program to fall in the bad habit of ‘living on the dole.’

So, how do we balance these two ‘forces’: helping persons and their families until they ‘get back on their feet’ versus encouraging them into a life of expecting handouts?

The answer is: give the assistance… in exchange for attendance in classes.

By attending classes, both the recipient and his/her family are ‘nudged’ back into self-respect and the good habits necessary for returning to the job market, including:

 – stimulation of their minds;

 – increased level of energy and enthusiasm;

 – the discipline of a daily routine;

 – expanding their network for job opportunities;

 – expanding their social skills;

 – taking pride in their appearance;

 – physical activity – aiding in weight control and exercise.

Class subjects would be restricted to:

 – home economics – such as healthy eating, budgeting and child-rearing;

 – computer skills;

 – communication skills;

 – family management;

 – trades.

The recommended number of hours would be 20 hours per week, thus allowing the recipient adequate time for job-seeking. Attending classes might even spark an interest in a new trade.

Research has proven that physical and mental activity help alleviate depression, anxiety, and frustration. Forcing recipients to physically attend classes – as opposed to online learning – serves two purposes: mental stimulation and, at least some physical activity.

The first objection to this modified program: As with any assistance program, there is the usual percentage of people who will use abuse the program – using the money for non-essentials like lottery tickets, snacks, sports/concert tickets, etc. Responsible recipients will not abuse the program, but rather be grateful for the opportunities it affords.

The second resistance rests with the politically savvy: They don’t want the masses to get smart! Difficult times provide opportunistic politicians with the tools to create a class of needy people dependent on leaders.

The best argument in favor of this modified program is that the children of these ‘encouraged’ parents will be exposed to the kindness of the assistance-providers and inspired by their own parents’ efforts.

The most important aspect of this modified prgoram: the recipient will be re-establishing their self-worth.

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[1] Chicago Tribune Sep 20, 2021: “Mayor Lightfoot Proposes $500 monthly…” by Gregory Pratt)