Herman Cain is generally opposed to expansive government welfare programs. He has stated that such programs tend to encourage people not to seek employment, while forcing people to provide for themselves encourages them to find work to provide for themselves.
In 2006, Herman Cain wrote an article in which he expressed disapproval at the country's increased use of the LIHEAP program to use government funds to pay for heating bills of people who cannot pay for the utility themselves. He stated that instead of forcing the poor to choose between food and heat, the Senate could have cut the stifling taxes and regulations on energy companies, encouraging them to increase the supplies of oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear power.
Around Christmas of 2010, Herman Cain wrote an article discussing the work of Jesus Christ. He stated that Jesus Christ was able to assist the poor and do numerous public works without the use of expansive government programs.
In 2011, Herman Cain responded to a question on Welfare by noting that he supported the 1990 reforms. He stated that programs that make it so that people are not required to work to provide for themselves encourage people not to find work.
LIHEAP
LIHEAP is a low income heating assistance program in which the government pays for heating assistance. In March of 2006, Herman Cain wrote an article noting his opposition to the government intervention in the market. He notes that lessening government involvement would lower costs to allow people to pay for such things themselves.
... The Senate also voted last week to raise the federal debt ceiling to nearly $9 trillion, dispelling any myths that a majority of Senators are truly committed to fiscal restraint. The Senate continued their spending madness by approving budget amendments to increase funding by over $3 billion for heating assistance for the poor. Excuse me! This is not a legitimate role of the federal government. It is a local responsibility. Will the next program pay for central air conditioning for the poor? This is the kind of program that has led to the spending mess we are in today with all social programs.
Instead of actually fixing the problems Congress caused in the first place by enacting their litany of entitlement programs, the Senate last week chose the ageless and gutless election year tactic of “spend ‘till it hurts, then raise the limits and spend some more.” To address the alleged problem of the poor choosing between food and heat, the Senate could have cut the stifling taxes and regulations on energy companies, encouraging them to increase the supplies of oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear power. This Senate would have none of that common sense thinking. To the contrary, we are asked to believe that energy companies are evil profit-makers who raise grandma’s gas bill in the dead of winter, requiring the good guys in the Senate to ride to the rescue with bags of cash. ...
The Perfect Conservative
In December of 2010, Herman Cain wrote an article discussing Christmas and Jesus Christ. In that article, he discusses the work of Jesus taking place without the benefit of government programs or intervention.
He was not born into a royal family, but He left a royal impression on the world.
For 30 years, He learned the ways of the world without becoming of the world. He then changed the world for the better.
He led without a mandate. He taught without a script. His common sense parables filled people with promise and compassion, His words forever inspiring.
He never condemned what others believed – just sin, evil and corruption.
He helped the poor without one government program. He healed the sick without a government health care system. He feed the hungry without food stamps. And everywhere He went, it turned into a rally, attracting large crowds, and giving them hope, encouragement and inspiration.
For three years He was unemployed, and never collected an unemployment check. Nevertheless, he completed all the work He needed to get done. He didn’t travel by private jet. He walked and sailed, and sometimes traveled on a donkey.
But they made Him walk when He was arrested and taken to jail, and no, He was not read any Miranda Rights. He was arrested for just being who He was and doing nothing wrong. And when they tried Him in court, He never said a mumbling word.
He didn’t have a lawyer, nor did He care about who judged Him. His judge was a higher power.
The liberal court found Him guilty of false offences and sentenced Him to death, all because He changed the hearts and minds of men with an army of 12.
His death reset the clock of time.
Never before and not since has there ever been such a perfect conservative.
For over 2,000 years the world has tried hard to erase the memory of the perfect conservative, and His principles of compassion, caring and common sense.
His followers are now millions and millions the world over, as those who resent Him have intensified their attacks on who He was and what His followers believe.
The attacks are disguised as political correctness, or a misunderstanding of the First Amendment to the Constitution. Separation of Church and State does not mean Separation of Church from State. The State cannot impose Church on the people, but the people can display and say as much Church in the public square as they desire.
Our Founders recognized that distinction, which helped to inspire the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the founding of this nation – The United States of America!
We must be the Defending Fathers and the defenders of the perfect conservative.
That’s why I proudly wish one and all a very Merry Christmas!
Christianity Today Interview
In March of 2011, Herman Cain was interviewed by Christianity Today. He was asked about his previous column in which he referred to Jesus Christ helping people without government programs.
In a column you wrote late last year, you described Jesus Christ as the "Perfect Conservative," because "he helped the poor without one government program. He healed the sick without a government health-care system. He fed the hungry without food stamps." An increasing number of evangelicals are passionate about serving the cause of social justice. What would you say to those who see government assistance as one avenue through which our society can help the poor and the oppressed, as Christ commanded?
Christ empowered people. He didn't make them dependent. That's the difference. And I've said we must go from an entitlement society to an empowerment society. Programs today are designed to make people more dependent rather than less dependent. When Jesus gave three servants talents—this is in Matthew, the story of the ten talents, the five talents, and the one talent—he expected them to go out and use those talents to multiply those talents. And the servant that got the one talent sat on it, did not multiply it, and he was chastised by Christ. So that is the parable that suggests Jesus didn't want people to be dependent.
Jesus could have sat there and said, "Okay, when you use up those talents"—and that could have been food, it could have been water, shelter—"come back and I'll give you some more." No. He wanted them to go out and use them to multiply them. And so I believe that Christ wants people to be empowered to help themselves.
Jesus also said, "The poor will always be with us." He did not say, "The poor have to always be poor." And if you look at the poor in this country, some people don't remain poor.I think that's what Christ expects of us, is to help people get out of poverty, to help people that cannot help themselves; that is Christ-like. But not make people dependent.
CCS Question
In May of 2011, Herman Cain spoke to a classroom of AP government students about a number of topics. He was asked a question about where he stands on welfare. In his response, he states that welfare should help those who help themselves. He pointed to the reforms of the 1990's and stated that those reforms encouraged people to go back to work.
References
[1]Website: The North Star National Article: The Perfect ConservativeAuthor: Herman Cain Accessed on: 05/31/2011
