In 2012, Congress lost sight of the
fundamental purpose of a safety net, extending it beyond the difference between
life and death. By zeroing in on the purpose of a safety net, Congress can both
save money and better provide for the survival of those who are not providing
it for themselves. Of such people, where survival itself is at stake, questions
of being deserving pale in comparison to society’s obligation to fend off
starvation, sickness and homelessness. Ironically, by extending the safety net
beyond survival, Congress has undercut its role in providing for its citizens’
survival.
The full essay is at "Distringuishing Entitlements."
