An unholy union

If a new law in Florida is not contested, all welfare recipients will be subjected to drug tests. The idea is to make sure that people on welfare are not buying drugs. This law is the direct result of statements by members of congress, such as Orin Hatch. Hatch said that all people on food stamps were drug addicts, he went on to say that there were plenty of jobs to be had. He said this mere months ago, when the unemployment rate was at 9.8%.
It is a long standing myth, that the majority of persons on welfare do not need to be there. this myth is easy to perpetuate because people in lower income brackets are arrested more often. Also many of us are people of color, or have a disability.
Ever since I was young, I was aware of the unholy marriage of money and morality. This union has collected some cache among groups like the Tea Party, who see wealth as a sign of moral character.
In the book "The secret" one of the lessons is about how God wants you to be rich, only when wealth is achieved should you turn your thoughts to the needs of others. This book spread like fire through the LDS community, in a matter of months it changed how lessons were taught. This book gave people further permission to judge those around them.
This thought has so corrupted religious thinking, that the LDS church is having trouble retaining converts.
So, how does this faulty reasoning manifest?
1. It perpetuates the belief that social programs are wrong.
People believe that money equals morality, so clearly those of us who benefit from social programs are of unrighteous character.
2. It frees landlords from the responsibilities of maintaining rental properties.
I heard a contractor who was working on our home say that if people wanted nice homes they should buy them. This belief that if we were better people we would live better is deeply entrenched in society.
3. It allows bishops to ask personal questions to people who need aid from the church.
My bishop was very upset to find that my job didn't pay enough for me to eat. He made it very clear to me that I needed to change my situation all on my own.

We simply cannot allow this to continue. The idea that a hard working person is not good enough. The idea that kindness, generosity, loving care, are not admirable qualities in and of themselves. The idea that the size of your home is equal to the strength of your character. These ideas have no place in the real world. It is up to us to do away with this way of thinking. If our religious leaders allow this to be taught as doctrine, it is time to find new ones.