How does depending on the Government welfare KEEP you Free?

They would be ashamed. The founders and first colonists were very self-reliant

He has his opinon, and since they aren't coming back to correct him, its just his opinion.

Back in the day the family took care of their own, they stuck the crazies in the attic, used poor relations for cheap labor in the home or business, and there were so few people, like widows, left without resources that the church could help care for them and the elderly.

But they were aware of the needs of those people, and took care of them, the idea of government funded welfare arose out of need, when those needs outstripped the capacity of individual or church resources. People died earlier, particularly women.

You won't find too many people in todays mobile society who take in their parents when they are elderly, ot care for Aunt Jennie who thinks the moonbats are after her, and they don't want drunk Uncle Andy or the slut of the town living with their kids. In the absence of caring families we do need government welfare, as even the sluts and nuts are citizens who do not deserve to die of starvation or exposure. We did go throught a period of time when we didn't have welfare, and it was a shameful blot on the American experience, a rival to anything you've seen in Haiti.

In all the small towns, especially in New England, they took care of all in need.