Granted. But aren't we doing that already? If we put cash in the hands of more discriminate buyers, wouldn't that have a boosting effect to retail sales, especially larger ticket items. Concurrently, wouldn't wholesale and manufacturing sectors have to follow? Not saying this is the greatest of ideas but desperate times call for...well, you know.
No. Social programs are not the same thing as simply giving people welfare. And its extremely hard to get on cash based welfare now unless you have children or are disabled/elderly. Food stamps are a good way of giving people commodities rather than cash. A universal healthcare system would keep our people healthy and remove the largest drag on our economy to date. Things of this sort. Even free public water wouldn't be a terrible idea. A better education system ect.
Back on point though. If we were simply to give more money to people who need it in a pure cash based system like this it changes incentives. If I make 35 thousand a year and someone suddenly is given 30 thousand a year for nothing then there isn't much reason for me to keep my job is there? I bet I could cut 5 thousand from my annual budget (maybe from gas getting to and from work) and get on that program. Or if it really is per person then a two person family would make more than I do now with BA. My wife doesn't work and if we both got 30k a year (I would only assume untaxed because it wouldn't make much sense to tax this sort of program income) would be a significant increase in my own income. I mean I can honestly tell you if I had to quit my job to get 60k a year for me and my wife I would do it.
You give people incentives to leave work or stay unemployed. Social programs often do not. Some do and I think that is a problem. We need to have programs that help people back on their feet and encourage them to do well. Our programs don't do that well enough.
Though on the same subject it is not helpful to make poverty conditions so unbearable that the poor would live inhumane conditions. We also have this in many states where state supplements to medicaid are not well funded.
If it were up to me I would change the whole system to a new design from scratch. But again that is just me. I like efficiency and what works.
