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Because Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps do more good for 100+ million Do more good because their have much bigger budgets? - Maybe. More g
by freshm087 7y ago
Because Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps do more good for 100+ million
Do more good because their have much bigger budgets? - Maybe. More good per every dollar spent? I doubt it.
- toomuchtodo 7y agoI prefer my country’s social services delivered by professionals, inefficiencies and all, over church volunteers. Inefficiencies are okay, expected even, when operating at scale. Sometimes universal availability and coverage take priority (know what you’re optimizing for). Also, when discriminated against by faith based services, you have no recourse. This is unacceptable, and can be monitored and governed more effectively when government provides services.
- freshm087 7y agoI really don't know why inefficiency is ok, sorry. If a system is less efficient at scale then engineering approach teaches us to modularize/split it into smaller chunks. Btw, you used "professional" word as if it's something good in itself. That's far from truth. Professional bureaucrats, and state officials quite often are directly interested in growing inefficiency because it can be exploited to expand budgets, and staff.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Mediterraneo10 7y agoSaying you prefer a welfare state provided by "professionals" does not necessary mean bureaucrats. It also includes things like social workers who have undergone rigorous training to better deal with the mentally ill, those suffering from addiction, and vulnerable minorities. A church or charity worker, no matter how well-meaning they might be, does not necessarily have those skills.
- freshm087 7y agoI agree it also includes some usefully prepared people, nevertheless no state welfare program exists without bureacrats. Also, preparedness/trainings are not exclusive feature of gov't system. I know what I'm saying here because I volunteered in private charity (not in US, so American mileage may vary), and I dare to say people who worked there were more competent then relevant state officials, at least target group always preferred them.
- skybrian 7y agoIt depends what it is. The government is efficient at sending people checks and retail stores like Walmart are efficient places to buy things. It's hard to see how to do much better for supplying people with new stuff. On the other hand, thrift stores also have an important role for getting used stuff like clothing to people who need it, and charities do some of that. Then there are various services that charities do, which is a whole different thing and not easily replaced. But some of their funding comes from the government.
- freshm087 7y agoI agree that gov't is relatively good at sending checks (except in some economic circumstances, e.g. when the currency it prints is no more in demand - like in Venezuela, or late USSR). However it doesn't necessary make a particular welfare program efficient in general. Maybe recipients are poorly determined (which happens more often with larger programs), or sending checks is not the best idea at all.
- mikestew 7y agoYou...”doubt it”? I guess the issue is settled, then. I’ll take it that the underlying argument is “government bad, private good”. It doesn’t really contribute anything, but at least we can guess at the reasoning.
- freshm087 7y ago"Doubt it" is pretty much a clear invitation to present arguments. But you are welcome to present some sarcasm instead, even if very general.
- mikestew 7y ago"Doubt it" is pretty much a clear invitation to present arguments. Present an argue against what? “Is not!” doesn’t give a lot to work with. “Doubt it” does a fine job of presenting one’s biases, but it is most certainly not an invitation to stimulating discussion, quite the opposite.
- freshm087 7y agoTo sum it up. Starting point: A produces more good then B. Me: A can produce more good than B, but not necessary more per dollar spent, and I think it's not the case. --Here was a place to to try to prove it's more per dollar spent-- You: You are biased! Me: You are invited to present arguments. You: You are biased!