In a free society, people must be free to fail. We agree that a society has a responsibility to help the helpless. Where we differ is on the definition of "helpless".The CEOs and shareholders of AIG, GM and Citibank are the most helpless of all if the government generosity they inspire is anything to go by.
"... They ne'er cared for us
yet: suffer us to famish, and their store-houses
crammed with grain; make edicts for usury, to
support usurers; repeal daily any wholesome act
established against the rich, and provide more
piercing statutes daily, to chain up and restrain
the poor. If the wars eat us not up, they will; and
there's all the love they bear us."
-- Shakespeare: Coriolanus, Act 1, scene 1