I’m currently in grad school studying policy, and I’ve been very involved in cash transfer research over the past 6 months. I too have been shocked by just how married Americans continue to be to the idea of “workfare.” Even my fairly progressive grandparents balked when I described the CTC to them - “but how do you make sure they’re not just spending it on whatever they want and not working?” Survey data backs this up - most people aren’t keen on the idea of just handing out money.
But I do think there’s still lots of “room for growth” in public opinion here. When normal people see the poverty alleviating effects of the CTC, they tend to be impressed. I’m a former cash aid skeptic who was converted by good arguments and data! I think people like readers of this blog should continue to champion these sorts of policies, and in another 5 or 10 years, we could see some real shifts in public opinion.
So may own beliefs are even for the people who are fundamentally lazy, it would still be better to make sure they have enough to live on than the alternative. Human rights are unconditional or they aren't human rights.
Not sure about welfare *payments* per se, but I think many people have an idea of welfare in the broader sense as a right - that there exists some minimally acceptable standard of living that the state ought to guarantee.
Very much like your post Noah. I often disagree with some of what you say, but I applaud your willingness to revisit your priors. We are all human after all, even the smartest amongst us. Inbound information is filtered through sometimes biased, sometimes ignorant filters, and we ourselves have our own limitations and biases, as we must. The healthiest amongst us is only on this planet for about 35,000 days, and our productive working lives are maybe half that much. Honest individuals do what they can to try to make the world a better place. Way to go.
Seconded. I disagree with much of what Noah writes, but those disagreements are honest and it is exceedingly difficult to find honest disagreements in opinion writing.
“ Instead, I think we need to focus on addressing high costs, with the “supply-side progressivism” and “abundance agenda” recommended by writers like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, and by the folks at the Niskanen Center.”
- Yes, yes and yes.
- But these words need to be policy. That’s what’s proving hard in my mind.
This post made me pleased to have subscribed. I had been reading your free offerings and thinking about subscribing. This post provides some reasons for optimism which can be difficult for an old ill guy to achieve. Thanks.
I agree with you closing statement that "they’re consistent with my prediction that a shrinking fringe of American society would continue to get more and more radical even as the bulk of the populace became more disengaged. " The issue is that for democracy to trend towards the robust, we need a tipping weight of the populace to be engaged (my opinion)..
To be fair, US inflation is also due to rising fuel costs due to the war (with OPEC using its monopolistic power to resist calls for supply increases) and the Shanghai lockdown leading to rise in supply chain costs (but I don't know if companies passed them down to the US consumer), no? Or was it clear that inflation is not transitory before February?
Very off topic, but - in a group I participate in we were asked what kind of animal we would like to be. I responded "a pampered house cat". I really wanted to say "one of Noah's pampered rabbits" but didn't think anyone would appreciate the context.
I will shortly be in Dublin staying near St. Stephens Green and will definitely visit the WBY memorial.
I think public supported quality childcare (with meals), after school program/care might be a good start. Then parents can go to work knowing their children are safe, with trained professionals who can assist them with their homework, recreational activities, etc. during those hours between school and when their parents can pick them up. They can eat a meal after school and the same program can continue full time during school vacations. This supports employment for adults while also supporting children.
I’m currently in grad school studying policy, and I’ve been very involved in cash transfer research over the past 6 months. I too have been shocked by just how married Americans continue to be to the idea of “workfare.” Even my fairly progressive grandparents balked when I described the CTC to them - “but how do you make sure they’re not just spending it on whatever they want and not working?” Survey data backs this up - most people aren’t keen on the idea of just handing out money.
But I do think there’s still lots of “room for growth” in public opinion here. When normal people see the poverty alleviating effects of the CTC, they tend to be impressed. I’m a former cash aid skeptic who was converted by good arguments and data! I think people like readers of this blog should continue to champion these sorts of policies, and in another 5 or 10 years, we could see some real shifts in public opinion.
Ultimately, I think that y'all are going to have to find a way to convince people who have a more...negative...default view of human nature.
I'm in that boat, and I am extremely skeptical that a significant minority of people won't accept the cash and just work less or coast thru life.
Or funnel it into actively harmful things like drugs and alcohol, or just purely wasteful things like luxury items or gambling.
I strongly suspect that most of the people I grew up surrounded by would have done exactly that. To their detriment.
So may own beliefs are even for the people who are fundamentally lazy, it would still be better to make sure they have enough to live on than the alternative. Human rights are unconditional or they aren't human rights.
That's a nice sentiment, but the whole issue is that there are massive disagreements over what constitutes 'human rights'.
I would not include welfare payments in that category, for sure.
Not sure about welfare *payments* per se, but I think many people have an idea of welfare in the broader sense as a right - that there exists some minimally acceptable standard of living that the state ought to guarantee.
I'm being nitpicky, but earlier you said that human rights are unconditional, or they aren't human rights.
But here the 'condition' is adequate public support.
It kind of seems like it leads to a kind of tautology.
Very much like your post Noah. I often disagree with some of what you say, but I applaud your willingness to revisit your priors. We are all human after all, even the smartest amongst us. Inbound information is filtered through sometimes biased, sometimes ignorant filters, and we ourselves have our own limitations and biases, as we must. The healthiest amongst us is only on this planet for about 35,000 days, and our productive working lives are maybe half that much. Honest individuals do what they can to try to make the world a better place. Way to go.
Thanks so much!!
Seconded. I disagree with much of what Noah writes, but those disagreements are honest and it is exceedingly difficult to find honest disagreements in opinion writing.
Best line for me was:
“ Instead, I think we need to focus on addressing high costs, with the “supply-side progressivism” and “abundance agenda” recommended by writers like Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, and by the folks at the Niskanen Center.”
- Yes, yes and yes.
- But these words need to be policy. That’s what’s proving hard in my mind.
Noah,
This post made me pleased to have subscribed. I had been reading your free offerings and thinking about subscribing. This post provides some reasons for optimism which can be difficult for an old ill guy to achieve. Thanks.
JPD
Thanks so much!!
I agree with you closing statement that "they’re consistent with my prediction that a shrinking fringe of American society would continue to get more and more radical even as the bulk of the populace became more disengaged. " The issue is that for democracy to trend towards the robust, we need a tipping weight of the populace to be engaged (my opinion)..
Thank you for this article. We need more like this in the world.
Aww thanks. 🥰
To be fair, US inflation is also due to rising fuel costs due to the war (with OPEC using its monopolistic power to resist calls for supply increases) and the Shanghai lockdown leading to rise in supply chain costs (but I don't know if companies passed them down to the US consumer), no? Or was it clear that inflation is not transitory before February?
I think everyone has realized it's multi-causal.
Very off topic, but - in a group I participate in we were asked what kind of animal we would like to be. I responded "a pampered house cat". I really wanted to say "one of Noah's pampered rabbits" but didn't think anyone would appreciate the context.
I will shortly be in Dublin staying near St. Stephens Green and will definitely visit the WBY memorial.
Yeah.
I think public supported quality childcare (with meals), after school program/care might be a good start. Then parents can go to work knowing their children are safe, with trained professionals who can assist them with their homework, recreational activities, etc. during those hours between school and when their parents can pick them up. They can eat a meal after school and the same program can continue full time during school vacations. This supports employment for adults while also supporting children.