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There is a difference in public perception between a welfare state based on public goods, which everyone pays for and everyone benefits from (even if some peopl

There is a difference in public perception between a welfare state based on public goods, which everyone pays for and everyone benefits from (even if some people are asked to pay more) and a welfare state based on government charity, where only the poorest people benefit. The charity model is one that can make the middle class resent the "undeserving poor" for getting "handouts", while welfare programs based on public goods tend to be very popular.

valuearb 9y ago
The welfare state is enormously more expensive. Social Security/Medicare spending dwarfs every other expenditure, and it’s payroll taxes are higher than income taxes for most people. Most people are for reasonable government social programs, i don’t think they have to be given bribes (that they have to pay for) to support them.