[ExI] Friedman and negative income tax

[Stathis Papaioannou]

2009/5/4 Damien Broderick <thespike at satx.rr.com>:

> <...the supply of welfare clients is inversely proportion to another vitally
> important factor: the cultural or value disincentive of going on welfare. If
> this disincentive is strong, if, for example, an individual or group
> strongly believes that it is evil to go on welfare, they will not do it,
> period. If, on the other hand, they do not care about the stigma of welfare,
> or, worse yet, they regard welfare payments as their right – a right to
> exert a compulsory, looting claim upon production – then the number of
> people on welfare will increase astronomically, as has happened in recent
> years.

This is an alien view of welfare for me. In the client group I deal
with, the mentally ill, welfare payments are regarded unquestioningly
as a right, but despite that, I don't know anyone who actually wants
to *stay* on welfare if they are able to work. This is because they
feel better about themselves and also make more money if they work. I
can't say I've met many who could work but prefer not to because they
can get welfare payments.


-- 
Stathis Papaioannou