That's a debatable point when you consider the context that these people, many of whom are perfectly capable of working, are living exclusively off of the labor of others, perhaps not entirely with the laborer's consent. Is it just to force someone to work without benefit for someone else else's survival? What about for someone else else's comfort?
Some reservations over such handouts are entirely justified. You have no right to force others to toil for your pleasure, that's a form of oppression.
No one is being forced to work! They can simply live a life of “excess” off government assistance right?
All they have to do is trade in their current friends, their standard for home ownership, their dreams of financial stability, any ability to pay for their kids’ emergencies / college / wedding ...
This society has determined that the people who cannot fully take care of themselves should still be taken care of and given a microscopic slice of a tiny sliver of dignity, and that it’s worth the cost of some percentage of bad actors milking the system.
It’s not perfect but I am okay with that trade off.
Society sets up rules, most people follow most of them. One of the policies society has agreed on is that if your life is totally fucked financially you can get some table scraps from the government so that you don’t die as a direct result.
Some people are bad actors, which society will tolerate up to a certain level, so long as it means that the worst off people in the country can eat if they jump through some hoops.
That said if you see someone you suspect is scamming EBT etc please report them. Same goes for when your friend gives you a stock tip that’s a little too hot or your folks tell you they didn’t report some income.
I think you've missed my point. By black and white I mean we are debating over where the appropriate line is between table scraps and government subsidized golden toilets.
But yes, I also believe the poor are equally deserving to enjoy a beer or a cigarette as the rich. I also think both the poor and the rich should be helped out of alcoholism or cigarette addiction, of course, when such issues arise. But I really don't see why the poor should be given so much moral scrutiny over every little pleasurable indulgence that no one questions the right of the rich to access as they choose.