We abdicate tzedakah to the state at our own peril

What is tzedakah? Tzedakah is charity, caring for the less well off, social justice. People -individuals- do acts of tzedakah. Governments do not do tzedakah.

The recent U.S. election brought about a lot of debate on taxation and the role of the state in providing for others. One of the prevailing narratives was about the redistribution of wealth. There seems to be some confusion here on its purpose.

Making people dependent on the state through dole or bloated government is not tzedakah. Transferring wealth from one section of society to another disincentivies both parties from work - the rich who don't want to reach a level of taxation where they essentially work for nothing or the poor who don't want to loose their government handout. That is not tzedakah. Tzedakah lifts up both the giver and the receiver; redistribution of wealth tears down both. It robs the one to make the other a prisoner of the state.

Let's be clear, the redistribution of wealth by the state through taxation is a form of socialism. Socialism (like Communism) is a godless system invented by man, and not a very good system at that. Tzedakah, meanwhile is a religious commandment of God. Charity, like God, is loving, selfless, pure of heart, longsuffering and involves on service to others. Socialism by definition is not of god and therefore redistribution of wealth by the government is not of God, it is therefore not tzedakah.

There is nothing patriotic or religious about paying taxes. There is nothing selfish about wanting to keep one's own hard earned money; there is nothing selfish in determining for one's self how income is to be charitably distributed, to what extent and where. Governments do not 'share wealth' or even the 'proceeds of wealth' (please note, Mr. Cameron). They take money to accomplish certain acts by the common will of the people to insure their liberties.

Charity by its very nature is voluntary; taxation is forced, required and mandatory. Taxation is not tzedakah. It is not social justice and it is not dignified.

Charity, being voluntary, blesses both the giver and the receiver.

As Portia declared in the Merchant of Venice: The quality of mercy is not strained, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice bles't It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes

Yes, society, acting through government does have an important role to play in caring for the least among us; to care for the elderly who have provided to the society throughout their lifetimes, to care for the soldier who has served in times of war and peace; the victims of war, terror or 'Acts of God'; to provide for those who are incapable of providing or caring for themselves. But taking from some to give entitlements either back to the original person --the government deciding how to spend one's money for him on healthcare, for instance; or transferring it to another who is actually capable of providing for himself, is a demeaning system. That is not social justice, it is surely not tzedakah.

When we abdicate tzedakah to the state, or delude ourselves that redistribution of wealth is a form of social justice, we do so at our peril.

Democracies that offer liberty to their citizens demand self-reliance otherwise we cannot be free.

There is a difference between the rights of man and government entitlements. One is an unalienable right inherent in us as children of God; the other is not.

What liberty is there in a nanny state?

This is the price we pay when we let the government do our tzedakah for us.

Government dole programmes and entitlement culture is nothing more than the state acting as a sugar daddy or pimp but with our own money. Socialism -unlike properly administered welfare-is like a drug fix. Once taken it weakens the constitution, demeans, belittles and drags the human spirit down. We make ourselves wards of the state at our peril, for it is hard to come off their welfare fix

Tax us to the limits that are needed to maintain our defence and law and order - but taking more and more -even from the rich-just to feed a burgeoning and ever expanding state sector, forces us to work for someone other than ourselves with no ability to strike or quit. It is not tzedakah.

Tzedakah is based on a realisation that we are created by an Almighty Creator, in his image, with his attributes. He has given us the means to take care of ourselves and others. Abdicating that responsibility to government; allowing the government to do our tzedakah for us takes us on a road away from god, not towards him.