In the aftermath of the recent ice storm that hammered northern Michigan, we saw a familiar pattern unfold: widespread power outages, flooded basements, disabled heating systems—and a rapid outcry for government aid. While the storm was no small inconvenience, the louder story might be the continued shift in our culture: from rugged individual responsibility to dependent entitlement.
Yes, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency. Yes, the Michigan National Guard was deployed. Yes, organizations like the Salvation Army stepped in with critical support. And to be clear, there is a role for government and non-profits in disaster response. But what’s concerning is the growing assumption that government should not only help in times of crisis—but also save us from ourselves.
Where Was the Preparation?
If you live in northern Michigan—or anywhere in the Midwest for that matter—you know what winter brings. Ice storms, power outages, sub-zero temperatures… it’s not a surprise. And yet, every year, we see households caught unprepared, with no backup heat, no water storage, no generator, no plan. That’s not a failure of government—that’s a failure of foresight.
Personal responsibility is no longer in vogue. Planning, preparing, and teaching your family how to weather hardship has been replaced with one phrase: “Where’s FEMA?”
Let’s be blunt: if you live in a rural area prone to severe weather and you don’t own a generator by now, that’s not on the government. That’s on you.
The Role of Government Is Not What You Think
The idea that the government should serve as caretaker, provider, and moral compass is not just naïve—it’s dangerous. In both Scripture and the framework of American liberty, the role of government is clearly defined. Nowhere is the government instructed to:
• Redistribute wealth
• Parent the population
• Replace family or church responsibility
• Manage every aspect of human welfare
Those are the roles of individuals, families, and local communities—especially churches.
Government vs. God
Here’s the deeper issue: in times of crisis, people used to turn to God and neighbor. Today, they turn to Washington. What was once a moral duty within the church has become a bureaucratic function of the state. The result? People expect unearned rescue, but rarely accept personal responsibility.
We’ve replaced the church with the government. We’ve replaced God with the State. And we wonder why our communities feel more disconnected, more helpless, and more entitled than ever before.
It’s Time to Reclaim Our Role
It’s time to draw the line. Government has a role—to protect life, liberty, and property. But it was never meant to be your savior. That’s the job of your family, your community, and your faith.
This storm was a test—not just of Michigan’s infrastructure, but of our cultural mindset. And unless we return to a model of personal responsibility rooted in faith, community, and preparation, we’ll continue to drift further into dependency.
And next time the lights go out… we’ll be in the dark again, waiting for someone else to come fix what we should have planned for all along
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