Paul Krugman on Welfare

Paul Krugman asserts:

So once again, if you’re poor or you’re sick or you don’t have health insurance, remember this: these people think your problems are funny.

I'm not a conservative, but I think it's fair to argue in their favor that poverty is not "funny," but by and large self-imposed. I don't know of too many people who don't believe in some form of a social safety net for those  legitimately infirmed and unable to produce value to society (i.e., the mentally and physically handicapped, for instance). But they also believe that it's destructive to both the individual and to society to step in and protect individuals from the adverse effects of their poor choices.

As an economist Krugman obviously understands the incentive effect from welfare. If not, there is plenty of literature that explains it. To accuse conservatives of laughing at people's misery, either self-imposed or otherwise, is disingenuous and further erodes any constructive debate on how we as a society can actually improve the human condition.

Comments

[Lee]

Krugman used to be an economist. These days, he's lost his mind.