I think that as long as it's in their clear and immediate interest to make a little more money, most people are going to try to find a way to do that. I think

I think that as long as it's in their clear and immediate interest to make a little more money, most people are going to try to find a way to do that. I think poverty itself applies all the "stick" that's needed; as long as even part of a "carrot" is available, people will reach for it. (Sure, there will be exceptions, but that's not what we're talking about here; we're talking about most people.) I don't think people need "social pressures" to get them out of poverty — the idea is ridiculous and, frankly, offensive. [Edit: that was too strong, and I withdraw it. I'm not sure how effective it can be, though, for the government to try to apply social pressure, and I don't think it's most of what's needed, anyway.] What they need is a little more help. Case in point: In 2015, Montana implemented a bipartisan, state-funded employment initiative that offers Medicaid recipients a range of services, including career counseling, on-the-job training and tuition assistance. The program is voluntary — people can sign up when they enroll in Medicaid — and it’s paired with targeted outreach so that those who stand to benefit most from the program are aware of their options. So far, more than 22,000 Montanans have participated, and employment among nondisabled Medicaid recipients is up 9 percent in the state. [0] [0] https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/opinion/sunday/do-poor-people-have-a-right-to-health-care.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/07/opinion/sunday/do-poor-pe...