I don’t remember where I heard this comment, but the basic idea is that there are two types of drivers:
1) Maniacs–these are people who drive faster than you
2) Idiots–these are people who drive slower than you
What is the ideal speed? Whatever speed you drive.
I think a lot of middle class neo-liberals have the same basic outlook on how social programs should be structured. There should be two types of people in their view.
1) Payers–these are “rich” people (people who make more than them)
2) Recipients–these are “poor” people (people who make less than them)
And what is the ideal wage to neither pay or receive? Whatever they make.
Want to put this to a test? Let the market decide. List every social program on the individual tax returns and allow people to choose how much of their yearly income will be allocated to which program. Allow people to contribute as much or little as they want. Allow them to choose as many or as few programs as they want.
What do you think would be the result?
I had a similar idea to help decide which political party you should be in:
If you take more from the government than you give, and like it, choose Democratic.
If you give more to the government than you take, and don’t like it, choose Republican.
If you give more to the government than you take, and don’t like it, choose Republican.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this is true any more. Now they just distribute it a litle differently than the Democrats would.
Social welfare and corporate welfare are both welfare.