The outfall of WWII could perhaps be considered one of the largest instances of "stipends" (both domestically for the U.S. and overseas) ever perpetrated. The

The outfall of WWII could perhaps be considered one of the largest instances of "stipends" (both domestically for the U.S. and overseas) ever perpetrated. The outcomes, from my perspective, were "not so bad". From my perspective, the question can be broken down to two points or serial steps: 1) Do people have the resources to take care of and improve themselves? 2) Do they use and apply those resources well? Without 1), you can't have 2). And research appears to be showing that, given 1), people and extant systems are or can actually be pretty good at getting 2) right. Otherwise, it seems to come down to poverty as the reason and excuse for perpetuating poverty. (AKA they -- or/and we -- aren't capable of any better. (And in some cases, don't appear to want any better -- "my, me, mine".)) I, for one, am not willing to accept and settle for such a perspective and approach.