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Comment by monero-xmr | Hacker News Reader

And I would say that developed western nations, including the USA, have done a pretty good job of providing subsidies and benefits for low skilled workers, so they can get on the lowest rung of the totem pole and contribute to society without starving. We specifically have food stamps, the EITC, welfare, child tax credit, housing vouchers, and so on specifically so they can provide valuable labor to society (and minimum wage is definitely a cost to businesses) and not starve.

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Surviving in these systems is incredibly stressful and leads to trauma for both the workers and their families. The stigma, uncertainty, and bureaucracy exact tremendous tolls.

Try surviving in the world before those systems existed.

This is not a helpful mindset. Because things were worse before, we should ignore how they are still not faultless?

Isn’t perfect the enemy of good? It’s better, but not better enough until it’s faultless?

The comment I replied to made no constructive suggestions.

They didn't explicitly, no. But implicitly, their constructive suggestions seem obvious to me. Reduce barriers to benefits often called "means testing" - also make them more comprehensive.

Oh, it was most certainly worse. But that doesn't mean we can't do better.

and I would assume you would agree that these benefits be expanded as needed and cover a larger population if necessary, right? In fact, it would correct if everyone gets these living expenses taken care of, right?

No I don’t want to give free housing to rich people. I support means tested benefits. The goal is to make people self sufficient, not dependent on the government handout for life.

I wonder how our "pretty good" would rank in percentage terms on an absolute scale (what is possible under the circumstances we find ourselves in).

I bet cultures that have the ability to consider such perspectives would beat us handily, especially if they could do it willingly.

Asking for a friend - how do you get access to those programs? He's about to be homeless.

Just Google your state plus food stamps.

Typically that will lead to a portal for all of the Social services benefits.

If not they need to also Google your state plus Medicare, as long as your state participated in the Medicare expansion.

It's Texas so there could be problems. Certainly no Medicare expansion.

oof yeah. Not sure what to say about that.

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