Customer Reviews

A Life of One's Own: Individual Rights and the Welfare State

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Philosopher David Kelley has written a masterful--and incredibly convincing--book. Kelley examines the modern welfare state going back as far as the first English Poor Laws in the 1600s to FDR, to LBJ, and examines the impact that government wealth redistribution schemes have had. He then meticulously examines the reasoning behind the welfare state, presenting each argument that has been offered in its support in a fair, objective manner and shows, shockingly, how all of the arguments are morally bankrupt. He concludes with a very convincing case that human rights, dignity and benevolence can only prosper in a society free from a paternalistic welfare state. Dr. Kelley is a brave intellectual--one who not only is incredibly sharp, but who is also not afraid to tell the truth.

Even if you find yourself predisposed to support the ideas behind the welfare state (and Kelley may change your mind,) this book is required reading. The arguments presented in _A Life of One's Own_ must be dealt with by anyone who supports the modern welfare state. Considering the importance of this issue and the brilliance of the writing, the book is a steal at $8.00!

In a short, but very concise work, Dr. Kelley easily lays to rest the multiple moral and ethical claims to the welfare state. By going over the history of the idea, from the 19th century English Poor Laws, up through FDR and the Great Society of Lyndon Johnson, he shows how welfare evolved into the "entitlement" it is today. He ilustrates lucidly how the idea of welfare transformed from philanthropic choice, and act of kindness, into its present state as a "right" endowed by the government to the people through their "coercive" actions. He argues that the welfare state was caused by a change of philosophy, from the individualist, classical liberal philosophy to the "new liberal" let's-take-care-of-everyone philosophy. He goes on to say that these welfare "rights" are not rights, but acts of coercion by the government which force people to look out for others in the name of "compassion" and "benevolence." This book is an excellent book for anyone, wether you are against or for the welfare state. He opens eyes and challenges the common presumptions of our modern political, moral and ethical beliefs

As a former liberal, I found Kelley's arguments especially compelling. When I departed liberalism, I recognized that there was something profoundly wrong with the welfare state - that it was somehow unnatural and led to results that were contrary to the expectation of "informed" liberal policy makers. With the arguments presented in this book, I now have a rational basis for understanding why many of the liberal social experiments, especially welfare, have failed. The book is well structured, with the introduction providing a historical framework for an understanding of our modern welfare state. Kelley then proceeds to show how and why arguments for that welfare state are without any rational foundation - specifically (1) the argument from economic freedom; (2) the argument from benevolence; and (3) the argument from community. By invalidating each of these arguments in turn, Kelley demonstrates that the current welfare state is not only without a rational basis - but that it actually is contrary to the liberal individualism upon which this nation was founded. I definitely recommend the book to those who wish to shore up their opposition to the welfare state and America's creep towards socialism. I also recommend the book to those who defend liberal social policies so that they will be confronted with Kelley's powerful arguments and by necessity either defend or abandon the liberal welfare state.

This book stands with Charles Murray's classic LOSING GROUND as offering the best analysis of the American welfare state. The data Kelley uses to help make his case against government-directed welfare assistance are relevant, clear, and convincing. And his argument is tight, compelling, and beautifully written.

Kelley is surely correct when he says that "The concept of welfare rights does not represent a historic advance in moral development, as its advocates often assert. It represents a reversion to a primitive moral code." For a solid explanation of the truth of this insight, and for other key insights into the nature of the welfare state, read this marvelous book.

Kelley is a rational, intelligent writer and thinker. A Life of One's Own clearly and consisely shows why the welfare state is a contradiction in terms and a tremendous harm to our nation and our liberty. A bit too terse at times and repetitive at others, overall a well structured work. This book should appeal to all hard working Americans, not just libertarians and principled conservatives.

In this book David Kelley lays out with remarkable clarity the history and philosophical underpinnings of the welfare state. Kelley's style, besides being extremely lucid, is dispassionate and fair. He brings to the question considerable analytical abilities and puts them to use, thereby showing the notion of "positive rights" to rest on a conceptual muddle. He makes a strong and convinving case for the morality of individualism, and a social ethic of individual responsibility and voluntary association and aid. Opponents of welfare will find themselves edified. Defenders of welfare will find themselves challenged. Highly recommended.

I've read a number of books on the basic rights of life, liberty, and property. This is one of the best. I don't know how anyone could read this book and not be convinced that we're on the road to socialism. Poverty is a terrible condition, but the violation of basic rights by the welfare state to "fix" the problem is immoral. David Kelley leads the reader to this conclusion in a very reasoned fashion. Truly, the ends do not justify the means. This book is highly recommended.

The goal of 'A Life of One's Own' by David Kelley is to argue against the premises responsible for the formation and the persistence of the welfare state. He provides a well-reasoned case for the claim that the welfare state is both without a moral foundation and without a practical justification in the actual results it achieves. At the end of Kelley's analysis the welfare state is seen to be a sham that violates the rights of producers for the sake of non-producers.

In order to justify the transfer of wealth from producers to welfare recipients the welfare state must appeal to the notion that a need somehow translates into a right. A need to eat, have medical care, or have a job is viewed as somehow being a claim upon those who produce these things. The concept of 'welfare rights' rests upon the notion that one's life is not completely one's own; there is held to be some sense in which one's life, one's productive effort, is the property of the society of which one is part, and the welfare state can distribute this property to recipients as it sees fit. This contradicts the traditional rights of life, liberty and property, although welfare 'rights' disguise themselves as being rights within the tradition of classic liberty rights. Such 'positive rights' violate the basis of rights themselves: to be free to act, and to keep and use the product of one's productive effort as one sees fit.

From the beginning (from the time that capitalism created enough wealth for poverty to be identified as a problem) private charities have shown themselves to be superior to state-funded ones, and they are in fact the only moral charities. The welfare state attempts to institutionalize the process of giving to the needy, but it is a contradiction to believe that one can be forced into giving out of charity. Kelley provides a convincing case for the idea that private charities, and privately run insurance, are actually the most effective way of dealing with the needy. The concept of state-run economics has been taken to the graveyard of economic theory, and it is only a matter of time before welfare programs meet the same fate, either through their privatization or their inevitable collapse.

David Kelley's cogent arguments make this book required reading for those on both sides of this issue. Anyone who wishes to discuss the welfare state intelligibly has much to gain from this book.

I agree wholeheartedly with all of the previous, positive reviews, with the following contribution: This books has one of the clearest, best presented arguments for individual rights I have read anywhere.

Who owns your life? God? The government? A guru? No. You do. Must we live lives of religion, for society, by altruism? No, again. Live life fully: for yourself first, by the guidance of reason, grounded in objective principles, and with beneficence. This righteously self-serving suggestion rests solidly on the firmest of ethical, intellectual, and historical foundations. So proves philosopher David Kelley in "A Life of One's Own." But Kelley's message is even better still! The serendipitous side effect of rational non-selflessness is greater social well being overall. When you are thoughtfully squeezing every ounce of enjoyment and profit from life, the net result will be a better, more prosperous, and happier world for us all. Too good to be true? No way. Get the book. Read it. Celebrate life anew, unfettered by conventional wisdom and reinvigorated by solid understanding.