You also bring up a good argument in favor of supporting the social sciences. Often times the arguments against providing a minimum standard of living boil dow

You also bring up a good argument in favor of supporting the social sciences. Often times the arguments against providing a minimum standard of living boil down to "but if we give people things they won't have any incentive to work hard to get them themselves!" Is that true? Maybe, probably not, we can't really know unless studies are done and we work out the facts.