Conservatives in America mistake the existence of a social safety net for socialism, even though they are NOT the same thing at all .
This safety net is absolutely essential for any civilized country , and if the government dismantles and destroys it , the results will inevitably be disastrous for that nation .
This is exactly what the Republican party is so stupidly and foolishly trying ot do , in the name of "self-reliance" and "personal responsibility ", which are nothing but code words for destroying the safety net .
Conservatives say that help for the poor and those out of work through no fault of their own etc should be provided by private charities and churches . This sounds nice in theory, but there's just one problem with it, because it's totally unrealistic . Church charities and private philanthropy are all well and good, and liberals aren't opposed to them in the least bit . But to assume they can help everybody in need until they can find decent jobs is to delude one's self .
Conservatives, if you support the social and economic policies of the GOP , be careful of what you ask for !