If there is one pattern we see in the public policies the Cathedral produces, it’s that they tend to be very good at creating dependency. Washington has made itself necessary. Not just to Americans, but to the entire world. Why does Washington want to help the survivors of Cyclone Nargis? Because helping is what it does. It dispenses love to all. Its mission is quite simply to do good, on a planetary basis. And why does the government of Burma want to stop it? Why turn down free help, including plenty of free stuff, and possibly even some free money? Because dependency is another name for power. The relationship between dependent and provider is the relationship between client and patron. Which also happens to be the relationship between master and slave.

(From The ugly truth about government by Moldbug.)

Food stamps are the most inefficient, vastly expanding social welfare program in the country, according to a new study.

Forty-seven million people participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, and costs have increased over 358 percent since 2000.

The increase in recent years cannot be attributed to the economic recession, according to Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, but lax eligibility requirements (non-citizens qualify) and an aggressive campaign by governments to boost their rolls.

States like Florida have hired food stamp recruiters, who have a quota of signing up 150 new recipients each month. Rhode Island hosts SNAP-themed bingo games, and the USDA tells its field offices to throw parties to get more people on their rolls.

(Via AmRen.)

Just imagine all the self-actualization those millions of people can do now on FUNemployment!