[Kevin]

madmax, as right-of-center as I tend to be, what I see above are a bunch of nonsense generalizations and stereotypes.

I don't think it's really helpful (or productive) to focus on the immorality of poverty or who is at fault or any of that. I also think that cutting people off of what in many places has become a way of life and subsistence in some sort of fell swoop is not only impracticable, but in many cases, inhumane. For better or worse, we've created an expectancy that certain folks in certain situations get cash.

To suddenly cut off the supply of cash for these folks is simply not doable -- not unless you want the working people in society to experience some major repercussions -- think urban instability, unrest, massive crime, etc.

Want to force folks to work? Great. I'm all for it. Society is going to be bearing the cost of poverty one way or the other -- whether it's in welfare checks or prisons. Hopefully the states and the feds can get together and figure out the most efficient way to manage this problem.