Welfare

David French, who joined Jonah Goldberg and Steve Hayes to create the recently launched Dispatch is ” convinced that the more we politicize the crisis [in community] rather than personalize it and spiritualize it, the more we’ll miss the mark.” “A functioning community doesn’t just provide love and resources,” French…

Cheryl Chumley of the Washington Times examines another ill-advised pronouncement from freshman U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in her normal screeching manner, just raised national hackles by saying people will starve — starve! — because the Agriculture Department, under President Donald Trump’s watch, is reeling…

Editors at National Review Online label the Trump administration’s approach to food stamps “commonsensical.” Our food-stamp program has some bizarre loopholes in it, and the Trump administration is trying to close them. A new rule finalized [Wednesday] attacks one in particular. In theory, the program has a strict…

Keith Smith co-founded the Surgery Center of Oklahoma, which describes itself as a “free market-loving, price-displaying, state-of-the-art, AAAHC accredited, doctor owned, multispecialty surgical facility in central OK.” In a recent interview, Smith advised “not to consider the poor in the aggregate.” They are individuals; and I believe that individuals…

Pensions and health benefits for retired state employees are a significantly understated obligation for state governments, but until states actually budget money for those needs, Medicaid is the biggest threat to other state spending. The National Association of State Budget Officers reminds us of that with today’s release of the…

Eric Levitz at New York Magazine claims the American Dream is being killed. He blames three policy decisions by which “we let” wages fall, prices climb, and the social contract fail. My colleague Mike Schietzelt raised the primary objection when sharing the article with me, that Levitz defines…

Mitchell Nemeth uses a Foundation for Economic Education column to explore the notion that Scandinavian countries offer some sort of socialist paradise. As the 2020 presidential election nears, progressive candidates continue to propose social welfare programs focused on expanding government intervention in health care, education, and long-standing familial…

Chris Edwards writes for National Review Online about the government’s role in wealth inequality. Are increases in wealth inequality the awful thing that Democrats claim? It depends on what causes them. Much of the recent modest rise in wealth inequality stems from innovations in our economy that are…