[–] perfectpencil ago
For all those individuals who "were just lazy and made constant stupid choices", how many of them do you believe would go and get jobs tomorrow if you made welfare harder to obtain/maintain? If some of them already sell drugs what incentive do they have to get a McJob instead?
That opportunity you mentioned helped 2 people and that's good. It obviously wasn't the solution for that populace...but I don't think making them poorer or hungrier is, either.
[–] Lake ago (edited ago)
Honestly? No, I dont think they would have done anything different. Maybe we are providing for people that no matter what you do for them will continue to fail. Still sounds like a waste of everyone's money.
The point is the people that need assistance will be more than happy with what's provided especially if it is just healthy food. The others, in my opinion, will either continue to fail or go try to succeed to get the treats/luxuries they want.
PS: I never said make them poorer or hungrier. I said make it less attractive. Welfare should never be a lifestyle that is desirable.
[–] perfectpencil ago (edited ago)
I think we can agree on that. The next logical question about those with no desire to improve would be: how much compassion do we show them as a society?
In regards to your PS: I think making it unattractive would lead to many of them going hungry, sure. At least in the sense that they don't sign up and still have bad luck finding income, then you inherently go hungry. Personally, i know what that is like first hand. My family looks down on welfare/unemployment benefits in general. After I graduated from undergrad and went looking for work, i spent a while below the poverty line making me a candidate for benefits, but never took them...just because it was shameful to do so. I did go hungry and accrued debt a result. In retrospect, I don't know if my choice there was wise.
Like a lot things though, moments like that give perspective.