Without government, who would help the underprivileged?
HARRISVILLE, UT – Kristen Smith and Kaitlyn Ford have been furiously picking pears since the start of the government shutdown. The two sisters wanted to assist locals in their community who are underprivileged. They had heard that the government shutdown would be hurting Women Infants and Children, so they decided to do what the state can no longer do… provide for their neighbors welfare themselves.
“This whole thing was an accident,” Smith said. “I had no idea it was going to be anything like this. I just made a quick little post on Facebook saying, ‘Hey, if there are any moms that can’t fill their WIC that need fresh fruit, I have pears that I’m willing to drop off to anyone who needs them,’” Smith said. “There were hundreds of people offering things like baby formula, fruits and vegetables, clothes, blankets, hats, scarves,” Smith said. “It’s just ballooning out. The basic necessities can go far for mothers, like Smith, who used to rely on WIC to get by. I no longer am on WIC, but if I were still on it, just imagining, my son is 3,” she said. “He doesn’t need formula anymore, but if he did, and I had the rug pulled out from underneath me, I’d be devastated.”
Ford and Smith have sparked what libertarians always say would happen if there were no social safety nets. In a free society, we do feel a very strong personal obligation to help those who are less fortunate. Libertarians believe that government welfare encourages us not to help one another, because people know someone else (the government) will do it for us. If we place accountability to nurture our communities on individuals, the community will be stronger overall.
The sisters are holding an event at Layton Commons Park on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. They will be accepting donations, as well as offering assistance to anyone who needs it. For more information, visit the Facebook page they’ve set up.
