Rick Lowe

The following letter was sent to The Nassau Guardian in response to their news item of Thursday, September 8, 2011, entitled "Christian Council wants relief for farmers" [More…]

Dear Madam Editor.

Re: Christian Council overreaching?

The Christian Council suggests the government "ensure that those persons, farmers in particular in the islands who lost quite a bit of their vegetation, to have those restored because they rely on those as income for their family".

Surely this is the role of the church and other private charities?

As charitable works become the purview of the government of The Bahamas, we can have every confidence it will function no better here than any other welfare state.

Volunteerism will eventually go the way of the dodo bird and the state will either go bankrupt and the tax burden and sacrifices required of future generations will lower their standard of living.

Surely it is better for the Christian Council to convince Bahamians to do the right thing and donate to charities supporting the farmers and other people that have been negatively impacted by Hurricane Irene?

Just imagine how much better off society would be with the Christian Council leading volunteer efforts instead of encouraging the government to spend money it doesn't have or funds it must take from taxpayers in the first place.