Private community-based charity is usually much more conducive to helping people achieve the desires I mentioned because their assistance is based on relationship and a deeper knowledge of individual’s need.

“Did austerity politics kill compassionate conservatism?” That’s the question writer Amy Sullivan raised recently in Time magazine.

She’s questioning whether political conservatives have proven themselves uncompassionate by the way they’ve advocated for severe cuts in the size and spending of government. She believes they have. And she points to some conservatives’ love of libertarian author Ayn Rand as proof.

Ayn Rand is the author of (among other things) “Atlas Shrugged” and “The Fountainhead.” Her writing is often hailed by conservatives to echo their view that big government suppresses free markets and individual rights. Citing Ms. Rand would be fine if that was all she espoused. It turns out she was also an anti-Christian atheist whose philosophy, known as objectivism, elevated the pursuit of one’s own happiness and self interest above any concern for others.

I have to agree with some of my fellow conservatives who have challenged this devotion to Ayn Rand. Taken to its logical ends, her position is wholly inconsistent with a proper view of our fellow man or, as those of us motivated by our religious faith would call it, “loving our neighbor.”

Rand’s libertarian philosophy reflects a purely material view of humanity and denies the inherent dignity of other people. That view undermines what true conservatism supports, which is personal freedom and personal responsibility that allows us to improve our lives, better support our family and have the means to be charitable.

All of us would do well to reject the “me first, me only” viewpoint.

Of course, that’s not to say that the opposite view is correct – that government is the remedy for meeting people’s needs and administering compassion. In my opinion, a large, overreaching government hinders acts of compassion almost as much as hyper self-interest does.

Limited government is much more preferable because an overreaching government disrupts the ties that bind us together. If we believe the government is helping the needy, then we’re apt to become less purposeful about doing it ourselves. The more we see government as the chief instrument for meeting the needs of others, the less we feel personal responsibility to get involved.

Big government may also hinder compassionate collaboration at the community level when its ubiquitous, taxpayer-funded programs role into town and crowd out private charitable organizations who are working to meet, not just material needs, but often emotional and spiritual needs as well.

Yes, people need assistance, and the government can provide that safety net to those who really need help. However, we do no favor to anyone who is perpetually receiving assistance when they are capable of doing work or giving back to the community in some meaningful way.

True compassion requires us to take charity a little more personally than to expect government to do the work.

We human beings want more than just having our material needs met. We have a desire for purpose, to enjoy the fruits of our labor and to know that the wellbeing of someone or the success of something depends – to a significant degree – on us.

Typically, bureaucratic government programs (no matter how well intended) can’t fulfill these desires. Private community-based charity is usually much more conducive to helping people achieve the desires I mentioned because their assistance is based on relationship and a deeper knowledge of individual’s need.

Time magazine writer Amy Sullivan is right to point out that extreme libertarianism doesn’t seem to be too concerned with the plight of the poor and needy. However, it’s inaccurate to suggest that the impulse to scale back government is inherently lacking in compassion.

Indeed, small government and more personal freedom are best for fostering opportunities for personal compassionate engagement.

Randy Hicks is president of the Georgia Family Council, a non-profit research and education organization.
@Copyright 2011 WORLD Magazine – Used with permission.