I Am Not an Animal

“It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life I have been searching for evidence which could support this” ~Bertrand Russell

A couple of weeks ago a local politician received a lot of hate mail concerning a comment he made regarding the welfare system. He had quoted a metaphorical story regarding animals and their eating habits.

His comment was…“It sort of reminds me of one of those signs you see in the national parks: Don't feed the animals or they may become dependent on those who feed them”.  

The problems people had with his comments were twofold. One was the lack of compassion he showed for the people who truly need welfare…Two was the statement comparing humans with animals.
One disappointed reader said… “Councilman __________ seems to say that they are just lazy and looking for free food.”  “He is demonizing food stamp recipients”

Both the councilman and the disappointed reader’s position should be rationally looked at… If the councilman is guilty of painting with a broad stroke the current situation of the welfare system, then are those who fail to recognize the current failure and abuse of the welfare system not just as guilty?
If so, which position is more likely to be flawed?

The councilman’s position is not that “everyone” is lazy and looking for free food… but that failure to recognize the severity of this abuse could/will lead to the demise of our current system.

Is this position not correct?  

If your position is of the latter…how much logic must be sacrificed in order that one may squirm continually in an awareness of one’s personal dissonance pertaining to the welfare system?
How many needless assumptions must be made, and how many contortions are required, to receive every new insight of information regarding these abuses, and still maintain a passive position?

The problem we are dealing with regard to most (not all) federal programs is the illusion that “everyone” using the programs “truly” needs them. The demand to “give up” this illusion about our condition is the demand to give up a condition that “needs” these illusions.
Our misguided, apathetic approach has created a flawed system of entitlement and thievery.

Personally, I have no doubt about the fact that there are many who need assistance, (and I believe they should have access to it)
But to continue to support a system that fails to address and prosecute the abuses, is a system designed to fail from its very inception.

The second part of this argument is the animal reference.

Are we not all part of the mammalian family?

It is true that humans differ from other animals in terms of intelligence.  However, from a biological perspective, humans are classified as animals! Why does this bother people, and why do people take great measures to prove that they are not animals?
If you think about it, it is only a classification system anyway. It is a biological classification system designed to classify any living organism it encounters into groups according to the organism's characteristics/genes.

Therefore, biologically we are members of the Animal Kingdom… we are animals.
I have a question regarding this topic…

If animals (non- humans) could speak…would they be offended that they are in the same classification as humans?

I mean think about it???

Mammals (non-humans) have an immature, underdeveloped frontal lobe. This translates into instinctual behavior. Mammals do what’s best for the species to live. They do what they do based on the blind drives of biology that perpetuates the species.

On the other hand…humans have a mature (I’m raising my eye brow right now) frontal lobe. This feature is what makes us unique. We are conscious of our desires and have the “extra special ability” to delay gratification when it’s our best interest to do so.

I’ll ask again…

Would animals (non-humans) be as offended as humans are, if they knew they were classified in the same category as us?

After all…we know better…why don’t we do better? This applies to the people at the top…and people at the bottom.

To sum up this blog in my own words would not do justice to the severity of our current dilemma.

I’ll close with these insightful words from Abraham Lincoln…   

“You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.
You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves”