Consider how often you'll hear government officials or politicians talk about "empowerment" - usually if you cut through the haze, it's obvious it's the government that's ultimately "empowered", not the people who are purportedly being helped. Carrot and stick from various state, local and federal feeding troughs are more or less worse than crack-cocaine. Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
It cultivates an entitlement mentality, whether by design or result doesn't matter. Good intentions don't necessarily make good law or social policy.
The road to H.E. Double Hockey Sticks is paved with good intentions.