Krugman, Human Weakness, and Desert, Bryan Caplan | EconLog
Krugman, Human Weakness, and Desert, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty
Two questions for Paul, one economic, one moral:
1. (…) Probably the wisest strategy for the poor would be to (a) take the money to make their lives better now, but (b) keep working hard to permanently escape poverty by finishing school, acquiring job skills, and delaying parenthood. But how realistic is this? Won’t many succumb to the very “human” temptation to take the money and stop trying to better themselves?
(…)
2. When someone drops out of high school, overeats, or fails to exercise, you tell us that their behavior is only “human.” But if a conservative or libertarian objects to paying taxes to help people who make these choices, you get angry. (…) If you’re going to single anyone out for condemnation, it should be the person who behaves irresponsibly in the first place, not the complete stranger who asks, “How is this my fault?”
