By Matthew Hayward Buddhists are committed to the principles of non-violence, compassion, and non-harm. Every living being has inherent worth and dignity, and our actions should be guided by a deep sense of empathy and responsibility for the well-being of all. For these reasons, it is antithetical to support any political organization or philosophy that relies on force or the threat of force to achieve its goals. This includes, but is not limited to, governments and political systems founded on the principles of coercion, domination, or control. The use of force is inherently violent and coercive, running counter to the core principles of Buddhism. Buddhism teaches that our actions should be guided by a deep sense of ethical responsibility and a commitment to non-harm. It encourages us to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and understanding and to seek peaceful solutions to conflicts whenever possible. Moreover, using force by governments and political organizations often leads to the viola...

By Matthew Hayward The stronger our communities are, the less need for government exists. Conversely, the weaker and more disconnected our communities are, the greater the need for government assistance. The problem is that the more government grows, the more it takes the place of charity and community, the more disconnected and less likely we are to help one another. This is a vicious cycle. The only way to break it is to come together and help one another. Start with your friends, family, and neighbors, surely most of us could be doing much more for them than we are. Even if all you are doing is helping a family member with rides until they can get their car fixed, or helping with the 90-year-old neighbor's lawn, maybe you have a friend going through a hard time and they need a little more than a shoulder to cry on, they need some extra money to cover their bills. Going to the government for assistance should be the last resort. You should only ask for government assistance...