I don't think the judgement was that the money was wasted, but that the money would be spent immediately by the poor, and the rich wouldn't do much with it. I

I don't think the judgement was that the money was wasted, but that the money would be spent immediately by the poor, and the rich wouldn't do much with it. If you have $5 Million in the bank and I give you $2K. The money I've given you won't change your spending habits. There is no purchase you have put off due to lack of money. If you have $100K in the bank it's more likely you'll spend it, but not a guarantee. If you are living paycheck to paycheck like roughly 3/4 of the country (http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/24/pf/emergency-savings/ http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/24/pf/emergency-savings/) then that $2k will most likely get spent. Just because it's spent doesn't mean it's wasteful. That spending will reflect things they are living without because they can't afford it. A more reliable car. A second car so their SO has a better opportunity to work. A computer. In the case of some low end works it could mean equipment and/or space to open their own business. Better/More food. An evening at the movies. Painting the house. These are all things they can't/won't take on debt for, but could do with a windfall.