A pillar of conservative thought holds that those who are too lazy to improve are not worthy of consideration. It is a mindset that reflects an ignorance of human behavior, an apparent lack of empathy for others, and a worldview that includes selfish thinking.
This mindset serves as a reason for conservatives to vote against welfare programs that are designed to help the less fortunate.
It would seem that there are many who fail to connect the dots when it comes to how conservative thinking can cover a wide spectrum of social programs. From cutting funding to public schools based on the premise that the parents of public school students are crooks who are too lazy to generate enough income to cover private school tuition; to cutting Medicaid, whose recipients are looking for a free handout and lack the work ethic to be able to pay for health care as responsible citizens.
Unfortunately, this notion of ‘laziness’ is a misnomer in terms of human behavior. In fact, there is no such thing as laziness inherent in nature. This is because the concept of laziness is contrary to a basic drive of all living beings, ‘self-preservation’ or ‘the will to live’.
What is perceived as laziness is simply a lack of motivation, which can manifest itself through a number of causes. The lack of motivation or desire for one to do the best they can given their circumstances reflects dysfunctional behavior. Something has gone wrong with the normal scheme of things when someone displays what is perceived as ‘lazy’ behaviour.
It could be suggested that a debilitating lack of self-confidence can serve to make one feel unable to contribute to society. Helplessness and hopelessness could be included as a cause of decreased motivation. Certainly forms of emotional disorders such as depression would play a role in someone possibly being perceived as ‘lazy’, and therefore not worthy of receiving free handouts from hard working taxpayers. Those who long ago dismissed the possibility of a better life due to lack of opportunity must also be considered as a part of our society that stands as the target of ridicule and intolerance by conservative thought.
We are currently witnessing a president and a Congress that embody this ruthless conservative vision of loitering on the poor lying around the house having fun while they wait for their next free handout from the government. This thinking ignores the homeless because they are using whatever money they can get to buy alcohol or drugs…they are completely out of the question.
The truth is that there are millions of our fellow citizens who have simply fallen on hard times unfortunately or lack the opportunity or the means to improve their lives. These are people who need a helping hand and deserve our compassion. Marking them as ‘too lazy to get by’ isn’t just ignorance, it smacks of thinking that reflects arrested emotional development and undeveloped empathy.