I think welfare is an important saftey-net for society that may save more money than the expense of incarcerating people who commit crimes of desperation over the long run. That said, I would like to see tighter controls on how the money is spent. I think using a special credit card that is only authorized to purchase certain pre-approved necessities, as well as going to a councilor who will help pay bill directly instead of writing a check to the welfare recipient might be an improvement.
There is an argument to be made that it’s the person’s money and therefore it can be squandered if they so choose. I mean no one argues that social security should be monitored in terms of what people buy with it. I realize that you have to pay in to social security in order to get something out, but you could see it as just another social service that your taxes go to provide should you qualify for it.
I know a guy who was a CEO of a biotech firm that went under, and he lost everything. He made millions over the years and paid plenty of taxes, but literally became homeless. It’s arguable that he’s entitled to tap into the welfare net he helped pay for, and shouldn’t be told what he can and can’t spend it on.
As I understand it, welfare isn’t a forced charity, but a service like roads, schools, police, that will be there if you ever find yourself in dire circumstances. The fact that it’s being exploited by some for that purpose, is what gets conservatives and many liberals (such as myself) upset. GQ.