Posted by
Andrews on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 2:58:14 PM
I am sure you have all heard it, so say it along with me:
Give a man a fish, he eats for a day
Teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.
I know conservatives love to say they fit the second clause, and want to "teach men to fish", but I think neither should really be the goal of conservatives. The second too readily provides a justification for all those liberal education and job training plans that are really just expensive boondoggles.
So, I propose a third line:
Build a cannery next door, and a man will teach himself to fish.
THAT should be the conservative mantra. Don't give, don't teach, just pursue your own interests, as the result will be to create opportunities for those who want them. When rich men build stores, they don't stand behind the counters, those jobs are now available for several others, jobs which were not there before. That should be the sort of opportunity creation conservatives should back, not this "teaching to fish".
So, please, stop giving AND teaching. Just pursue your own good and you will help enough along the way.