Two hundred and forty years ago, our ancestors fought and won the fight for independence from Great Britain. After a year and a half of fighting, we were finally able to declare that we were once and for all our own nation, answering to no one. Our founding fathers knew the importance of freedom from strict government rule and regulation.

So how can it be, in this nation founded on the principle of freedom, that we have become so dependent on our own government?

Following the Great Depression, in the mid 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt had a major problem on his hands. With Americans financially struggling to the point that they were mobbing grocery stores just so they would have food for the week, Roosevelt decided that it was necessary for the national government to step in. What started as a program designed to keep poor single mothers from having to enter the workforce evolved into a nationally backed security net in the form of a welfare system.

Through the years, it continued to expand to include assistance for more disadvantaged groups such as the blind, the disabled, dependent children, unemployed workers, etc. Originally thought of as a short-term solution, our welfare programs have expanded exponentially throughout the years and continue to grow all the time.

Today, over one-third of all Americans (about 110 million) are on welfare with annual government spending reaching $131.9 billion. In 39 states, welfare pays more than an $8/hr. job. Residents of Hawaii receive the most assistance, being given the equivalent of a $17.50/hr. job.

Many of the people receiving government assistance are hard-working people who were met with a circumstance that required them to seek outside help. When utilized properly, government benefits have done a lot of good for a lot of people and helped them to get back to the point where they can thrive on their own. Many people are in and out of the welfare system within two to five years.

However, there is another large portion of people who have become overly-dependent on benefits. When they are not required to work for what they earn, they lose the skills and drive that it takes to be successful in American culture. For many recipients, the welfare system becomes a metaphorical quicksand, holding them in the same place as they slowly sink into further dependence on others. This stagnation can become extremely detrimental, in some cases making it nearly impossible for one to re-enter the workforce.

Few people are eager, after receiving money while not working, to go out and work hard for what may be less money than they were being given. This is a disheartening fact which leads to a vicious cycle of dependency on federal government. Was it really worth fighting for freedom from other governments if we were only going to become dependent on our own?

Lending a helping hand to those in duress is laudable, and we should always be looking for opportunities to help those who are in need. However, this would ideally be done on a more personal level such as through personal relationships and private organizations. This fosters a sense of interdependence rather than reliance on bureaucracies. Maybe then, by building each other up as individuals, we can reclaim some of the independence that has made this nation so prosperous.