Typically, when we think of overcoming dependency, we think of welfare or food stamps. But there are other types of things that we rely on the government for that we rarely consider. Let’s discuss each of these, and target ways we can overcome dependency on the nanny state.
Get Your Values in Check
Values such as being morally righteous, honoring noble traits, and living your life according to a good set of virtues.
The government doesn’t set values, but their actions reinforce them through an adaptation to the 
culture. With leftist governments, we typically see values of communal-reliance manifest in the culture.
It begins to seem normal to rely on government support and other thought-disturbing activities to support yourself.
However, it’s not. We should be promoting the ideas of self-reliance and independence. These virtues allow people to do amazing things and reach extraordinary heights in their lives. Being constantly dependent on the government does not.
Self reliance leads to cures for major medical illnesses through innovation, it leads to an entrepreneurial focus, and most importantly, it leads to a strong moral groundwork with which to base other virtues on.
This is because being dependent isn’t just a negative for you, but a negative to the person you’re reliant on. By increasing these social programs, we put more strain on corporate taxes, reducing entrepreneurship and small business. We put more hardship on the everyday taxpayer, because they are required to hand over money from working 40+ hours a week to someone who works little and doesn’t strive to get off of these programs.
That’s where the big issues come into play. These programs, the social security nets, were never meant to be a sustainment tool. They are there to help people who have hit a hard snag in life temporarily. You lost your job? Go on unemployment until you find another. But don’t suck the government dry for years and years just so you don’t have to support yourself.
By finding and living according to good values and virtues, you’ll have the building block to overcome dependency.
Stop Listening to the Mainstream Media
I think MSNBC’s own anchor said it best:
It’s “their job to control what you think.”
Don’t believe what the mainstream media tells you for this exact reason. No one should be dependent on others for their own ability to reason and judge anything.
A huge part of overcoming dependency on the nanny state is to think for yourself. Not by others, and not for others.
You need to be able to see the indoctrination and propaganda that the government puts out, regardless of political affiliation. They all do it. But to be truly independent, you need to understand the tools they use to make you fall in line. That starts with not trusting the media.
Don’t Abuse Social Support Programs
It’s likely that every single one of you reading this will be on a social net at some point in your life.
Whether it’s government granted student loans, unemployment benefits, food stamps, or anything similar. Everyone has that net available to them if they truly need it.
The problem comes from those who abuse them, or stay on them for an indefinite number of years.
You need time to get back on your feet, but that shouldn’t take you in excess of a year. If it does, you have made some seriously bad decisions in your life to lead you to that point. And others should not have to subsidize your bad decision making.
Just take a look at the data from the census bureau:
It’s horrendous the number of welfare program recipients that have been on these programs for extraordinary amounts of time. They are societal leeches, and need to discover ways to get off of these programs and actually support their communities.
It isn’t hard to get a job, even if it is a part-time or low-wage job. At least through this action, you acquire experience to move up the ladder as time goes on. You don’t need to start out making a ton of money and immediately drop social programs, but you need to have that foundation to build upon.
Consider some ways of reaching financial independence.
Be Physically Active
One of the biggest drains on the government is through healthcare. In 2014, healthcare expenditures accounted for 17.1% of the entire GDP.
Obesity and overweight health conditions account for a tremendous portion of that spending. By working out and getting in shape, you help fight against this figure.
And then, you won’t be as dependent on the government when it comes to your own health. And who would actually want the government to be their medical source over life or death? No one, that’s who.
Much of the government expenditure goes to supporting those who have these terrible habits of over-eating and under-exercising. It requires taxpayers to also subsidize them for these poor choices.
And as we mentioned in the values area above, no one should be forced to submit their own livelihood to others who disregard their own.
Develop Your Own Strategies for Emergencies
Another common problem with dependency on the government lies here.
Whenever a disaster hits, the government is supposed to come in and save the day… right? Not really. They do backup support for some problems. But they sure didn’t fix the problem in Flint with the water purity. Or help everyone that was affected by Hurricane Katrina.
You can’t rely on them when everything starts to collapse. You need to have your own plans and your own equipment to deal with an emergency.
The government won’t be able to step in and save everyone. Overcoming government dependency requires being prepared.
Find and Help Build Your Community
One of the hardest parts about “community” is finding one. It’s no easy task. Some people do it by race, some by prosperity, and others by proximity. However you find it, make sure you help build it.
People inside your community need help and support. No one is totally self-reliant. You need the guys at the electrical plant to keep providing you with energy to keep your lights on, right?
So find your own niche community and contribute to it. Whether you do that through knowledge, skills, experience, or any other contributory factor doesn’t matter. Make your community better.
That way, when the SHTF, you won’t have to rely on the government. You’ll have a network of supporting people to work through it with.
Be an Activist for Overcoming Dependency
When you can become truly self reliant, it’s time to start helping others get there as well.
No matter how hard we better ourselves, we’ll always be dragged down by the lowest common denominator in our group. We have to work to bridge that gap and make others more self reliant. Or, we’ll continue having to have our own hard work be stolen from us and sent to subsidize the bad life choices of others.
So we must all fight for less government dependency for all.
