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Your Turn / Re: Social programs and family structure
« on: May 23, 2022, 02:44:13 PM »
Charles Murray made very similar arguments in the 1980's. I had the opportunity to sit next to him at a luncheon and found his presentation quite compelling. As he said, poor people aren't financially stupid, they just don't have much money, so they make the best choice available to them at the time. If work was the best choice, they would choose that. The one big question is, of course, what can we do about this culturally destructive system.? Murray was unable to give any option except to abolish the system, and there's the rub. We have a huge number of people that make very good livings managing the current welfare system and they are deeply imbedded in the various bureaucracies fighting like tigers to get their share of tax money. Add in the number of receivers of the benefits and those who mistakenly believe this system is actually doing good for the poorer among us, and you have a lot of voters. I don't believe this system, full of unintended consequences like demeaning men, can be changed in my lifetime.
BTW, when I was in graduate school people often referred to those earning nice salaries to manage these programs as "welfare pimps." Probably mean, but also somewhat descriptive.
BTW, when I was in graduate school people often referred to those earning nice salaries to manage these programs as "welfare pimps." Probably mean, but also somewhat descriptive.