3 ms·
> I think the insulting part is the subtle insinuation that the money is more likely to be used to buy drugs/alcohol than for the purpose of feeding the recipie
by jstarfish 9y ago
> I think the insulting part is the subtle insinuation that the money is more likely to be used to buy drugs/alcohol than for the purpose of feeding the recipient or otherwise helping them out of poverty.
> Even if 50% of recipients go buy drugs with the money, does it really matter?
The libertarian dream, however the unfortunate reality is that where the money is supposed to do things like feed your children, you instead squander it on drugs. If the presumption of drugs is too harsh, replace it with something equally stupid like cigarettes, lottery tickets, rent-to-own furniture or some other predatory service that the poor disproportionately participate in. This is not a behavior beneficial to anybody or worth enabling.
This is why we have systems like food stamps (disbursements that can only be spent on food), WIC (disbursements that can only be spent on fresh vegetables, baby food/formula, etc) and so on. Handing cash to people who don't know how to use it responsibly does not spontaneously teach them otherwise.
- icantdrive55 9y agoHow about harsher regulations on the predatory businesses? Yes--I know regulations are not liked. Rent-to-own is basically extorsion. My biggest gripe is the payday loan type companies. Oh yea, federally insured banks should be required to cash checks, without a consumer being a customer. We have so many laws/regulations that protect businesses; While the poor have the BBC. This is not the America I put my hand over my heart as a kid. I ashamed at what we have become.
- icebraining 9y agoBanning that stuff doesn't solve anything except the guilt of the middle-class. People use payday loans because nobody else lends them money. If you want to help them, offer them loans with better conditions, and you'll see most of those payday shops go out of business.
- bcoates 9y agoBoth Food Stamps and WIC are USDA subsidy programs for agriculture and food manufacturers. They require you to buy the particular things subsidized to ensure that the funds are directed to the right recipients in the correct ratio, not because of any particular human need.