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> I generally think that people are pretty good at spending money on necessities

There is actually a wealth of data that shows that poverty changes how brains functions and interferes with long term planning.

> As a rapper once alluded, foodstamps don't buy diapers.

True, but that's probably mostly a consequence of the fact that food stamps were created by the Department of Agriculture partially to address food production surpluses.




There is also a wealth of data showing government inefficiencies and poor effectiveness with blanket purchase policies. I still contend that the poorer will make better choices than a top-down provisioning system.




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