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You're right that I'm not buying into the class model. And I think you've an astute observation that money and class are not as closely coupled as they once wer

You're right that I'm not buying into the class model. And I think you've an astute observation that money and class are not as closely coupled as they once were. I tend to view things along the lines of "we have criteria (whose validity I mostly accept) for determining need for food assistance; these people meet the criteria; class distinctions be damned, give these people some food." The question of whether a four year degree is worthwhile is an interesting one. When I graduated it certainly was. And those four years were pretty hard financially for me. When I was a kid, my parents qualified for, but did not accept (boo), assistance. Apart from a small amount of money from my parents my first semester, my state school edumacation was funded by loans, grants, scholarships, and my ability to make 'nix machines do things. I can point to major turning points in my life where not having a college degree would have been a non-starter. (I subsequently went to grad school to enter a field where I make significantly less money, but that was a matter of conscience and a different story.) So I feel it's hard to blame the 20-something college-educated person (I've never met any underwater basket weavers), who grew up seeing slightly older people get ahead by going to college... for going to college. We could take the putative approach: "You should have predicted a long-lasting recession and seen a coming phase-shift in the labor market." But I think that's silly. The fact remains that there are a lot of people out of work right now, and that people have to eat. I see both trends continuing. Wasn't there just a posting a day or so ago here "confessions of a job destroyer" or something? Software developers are putting people out of work. That's good, in so far as we find new and better things for those people to do. Finally, as for fried battered cheese sticks (mmmm), I'm pissed that I can't find the correct Futurama Youtube clip. You'll have to make due with the quote I was looking for: "Heck, you're never too rich to enjoy a free turkey dog."

lsc 14y ago
Oh, I'm not arguing with food aid. (I mean, I can see how one can take issue with government subsidies in general, but I agree that food aid to low-income folk is probably the best bang you are going to get for your subsidy 'buck'[1] and, well, it's hard to argue against food for the hungry when you are well fed without being an even bigger asshole than I am willing to be.) I was just pointing out what I think the reason for outrage was. (to be clear, middle-class people have nothing against subsidies... they just prefer their subsidies in the form of tax loopholes. The outrage here is that culturally middle-class (but financially lower-class) people were taking subsidies intended for culturally lower-class people, and using those subsidies in the way you'd expect a culturally middle-class person to use them.) [1]I scare quote 'buck' there because I'm talking about the total cost of the subsidy; not just the monetary cost, but also the market distortion cost. both should be considered before we decide a subsidy is worth it.

lsc 14y ago

Oh, I'm not arguing with food aid. (I mean, I can see how one can take issue with government subsidies in general, but I agree that food aid to low-income folk is probably the best bang you are going to get for your subsidy 'buck'[1] and, well, it's hard to argue against food for the hungry when you are well fed without being an even bigger asshole than I am willing to be.) I was just pointing out what I think the reason for outrage was. (to be clear, middle-class people have nothing against subsidies... they just prefer their subsidies in the form of tax loopholes. The outrage here is that culturally middle-class (but financially lower-class) people were taking subsidies intended for culturally lower-class people, and using those subsidies in the way you'd expect a culturally middle-class person to use them.) [1]I scare quote 'buck' there because I'm talking about the total cost of the subsidy; not just the monetary cost, but also the market distortion cost. both should be considered before we decide a subsidy is worth it.