“My understanding is that in many parts of the country, if you work hard at a low-paying job you may well end up with less money in your pocket than someone who makes absolutely no effort to be productive and who just lets the government money roll in.”
There is truth in that. Fifty years ago we would ride through town looking for hands during ginning season. Most refused the offer of work, as it would negatively impact their welfare payments. More profitable to sit on the porch.
My 56 tear old daughter is on disability ( bogus ) and gets the equivalent of $45,000 pretax income by my calculations from state and federal funds. I rationalize this as being a rebate foe the taxes I have paid and still pay, as do my other two children. But it pains me to think about it after paying for her college degree. She is also not the only one of her generation in this situation.