Why do people think the government is some form of parent?

[soddingsoda]

I've spent a lot of time in the US, i'm British but have a fair amount of family in the US.

While there's obviously huge social issues in the US, and I feel fortunate to be British I'm just not a fan of the British mentality. Someone said something the other day and it hit the nail on the head: If an American employee sees his boss turn up in a Mercedes he'll be envious and it will inspire him. The same situation happens in the UK the employee would be spiteful and call it unfair.

I have a second job working behind a bar once a week. Quite often when punters have had a drink they love to rant about the system. One woman 'debating' with the others then pointed to me. Apparently if there wasn't any foreigners over here I would be able to a council house. She seemed pretty stumped when I told her that it wasn't the governments responsibility to house me, I'm healthy, young, able to work and choose to live at home so I can save for a deposit and go travelling and spent a shit ton on starbucks.

Someone also had a conversation that she's had tooth ache for over a year as she needs a filling. She feels that she shouldn't have to pay for it as she pays taxes. I really wanted to point out that if she wasn't down the pub every week paying £3.50 a pint, she could easily pay for that filling within a month.

It's just really starting to grate on me, we live in such a privileged society where we get a free education, everyone has access to a fairly good health service and we have so many opportunities. I just want to give a good shake to some people and tell them to take responsibilities for their own lives as they're adults and that's what adults are meant to do.

I know this was said to get a dig in at the OP, but this is such a strange concept to me. I do think it is my job to house my children if they need it. Family taking care of their own or community taking care of their own is the same concept as the government doing it.

Well no it wasn't just a dig. Hanging around at home as an adult isn't a choice available to all and it's a hefty subsidy from parents to adult children when it happens. It's not a subsidy available to everyone.

Fine if everyone involved is happy with that but I don't see that it's morally superior to accept a subsidy from extended family as opposed to some other source. So it IS laughable that OP thinks she's in a position to criticise other people taking subsidies available to them when they need them.

As it stands now, I should think a majority of today's young adults need some kind of helping hand to leave the nest and set up home. I'm perfectly happy if some of my taxes go to do this through state housing subsidies of whatever sort. I'm also actively encouraging my teens to come home and save (towards a deposit, not endless coffees) after graduation and am looking at moving back to the city to facilitate that. But I don't see a moral disparity between the two things.