What is society’s responsibility to its most vulnerable citizens?
I’m thinking specifically of groups that no one can argue suffer through any fault of their own—so there can be no “personal responsibility” argument. Here are two examples.
Impoverished children. NOT their parents. The parents may have made mistakes, but the children exist. They need their basic needs met.
Those with disabilities and serious chronic health issues. Maybe slightly more complicated because I know some people will still say that living a healthy lifestyle is a personal responsibility issue, but it would be impossible to deny that a lot of people suffering from serious health issues could have done nothing to prevent them.
What do you think society owes people like this? Do you believe in any Federal programs to help? Any state programs? If so, who pays for them? Taxpayers? If you do you believe there should be programs, is it about changing how they’re managed/administered? Who decides?
Or do you think there should there be no government programs to help innocent people in difficult circumstances? Do you think/anticipate that private organizations and charities would step in?