Just found out that adopted children who were once in Kentucky foster care get to go to university for free. Pretty interesting. As a potential foster care adoption parent, that’s an exciting bonus to read about.
Or is it?
In the previous post, I said I’m not a fan of the government providing “free” services for people. And the other day, I said the best time to speak out against racism is when people treat you better than average as a result of your race.
Here’s where the contradiction shows up.
Even though in general, I don’t want the government to provide free services for people, I get all excited about it when it’s provided for me and my family. Suddenly, I’m happy to accept it. That’s a contradiction right there.
Further, applying the same principle from that post on racism, this is when I should most speak out against the government offering these kinds of things. But do I? Do I turn away the benefits?
Sometimes, I might. For example, some people actually do refuse to draw unemployment checks. I admire that. But what about public funds for college? I totally accepted those grants they gave me.
And the example even closer to home for me now: adoption and the state benefits that come with it. If I adopt a child from foster care, they’ll pay for his college education. They even pay for books.
But when that time comes, do we turn it down? Do we speak out against it? Should we? Am I missing something here? Is there some way this really isn’t a contradiction? Or is it just a contradiction I’m willing to live with?
Like, That’s my stance, but here’s how it is. That’s how I think, but here’s what I’ll do.
It’s one thing to make up your mind on an issue from an outside perspective. It’s quite another to hold that same position from the inside, especially when staying consistent means refusing the benefits of the system you’re fighting.
