Whenever someone proposes a means-testing solution, it's an indication they've internalized the lie, foundational to the United States, that some people deserve life and others don't.
It's an expensive lie.
It's an expensive lie.
It seems to me that there's a great fear in this country that a single dollar might go to someone who might not deserve it; or that a single given dollar might be spent on something we deem unworthy.
We'll spend five dollars to prevent the waste of that one dollar.
We'll spend five dollars to prevent the waste of that one dollar.
Our goal should be meeting the basic human needs of all people. Anytime we frame the task around questions of who deserves it, we accept the bad framework of those who don't want to help anyone but themselves.
Draw a clear and simple line—a bold one. Help everybody.
Draw a clear and simple line—a bold one. Help everybody.
Means testing is like holding swimming lessons tests in the Lido deck pool while the cruise ship is sinking, just to make sure nobody who can swim gets into a life boat.