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This is paternalism, and philosophically I think it’s best to let the individual decide what’s best for them rather than society telling people what to buy. You
by seibelj 8y ago
This is paternalism, and philosophically I think it’s best to let the individual decide what’s best for them rather than society telling people what to buy. You are essentially saying that the poor cannot be trusted to know what they need, whereas I think the poor are intelligent, rational people who will allocate their resources best.
- macintux 8y agoI've helped keep a young drug addict alive for the past several years. I can assure you that good financial planning, and decision-making in general, does not always coincide with poverty. And it's fine to argue that if people make poor decisions, they should be allowed to suffer the consequences, but that downplays the consequences that those around them suffer as well, especially children. It's perfectly reasonable to say the money should be in a single bucket, but don't delude yourself that people are rational actors.
- seibelj 8y agoYou are implying that enough poor people are junkies, or are poor because of some debilitating personal failure, that it is better not to trust any poor person to spend their welfare, in order to save the poor from themselves. Your anecdote does not change my opinion. I trust that most poor people are hard working and honest, not one foot in the grave with dope like your friend.