To show y'all that I'm not just a crazy pie-in-the-sky philosopher, I'll now propose 2 ideas for product.
1. Authorized Credit/Debit Card -- cannot be used while stolen. Why? Because it is authenticated by phone every time it is used. 2 options. a) allow a pre-emptive text message from a defined number to specify the $ value of the next purchase. b) send text messages to given # upon purchase, require confirmation.
2. Replace many/all welfare programs with said authorized credit card, or thumbprint-card. $1k/month. If there's money in the card at the end of the month, pay full month. If none, pay 1 week at a time. Virtues: makes marginally more difficult off-the-books (drug) transactions. Allows analysis of spending patterns for real, so as to improve the program. Could permit targetted prohibition (can't use in liquor stores). With above, avoids (most) theft problems.
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3 comments:
You get most of the same benefits of #2 with mandatory (random) drug testing.
AZ is most likely going to adopt this requirement this year (in the state Senate and expected to pass)
The primary value of the card for welfare programs was the ability to manage the money flow. Someone who gets $32/day to live on has less opportunity to screw up than someone who gets $1000/month.
Indeed, the primary big deal problem for the poor is poor impulse control/poor planning. If they get a fixed $ per day on a daily basis...then they simply don't have the same kind of ability to screw up as most of the poor do presently ($1000/month or some such).
Theft avoidance also is good. And spending analytics is fabulous...real data that you could use to improve the program.
Drug testing is (as per Russ Roberts book) not the big deal here.
Some folks are also talking about mandatory financial counseling as a consequence of taking Gov. assistance.
I don't know if that would be a net benefit or not. I have no desire to "help the poor" other than as a "hand-up" rather than a "hand-out".
And private of course.
Regardless, if you have to pee in a cup to get a government paycheck, you ought to have to pee in a cup to get a government welfare check.
As Ron Paul told me once (and 700 other people) "When you make a program that is just big enough to prevent people from falling through the cracks, the cracks get bigger and trap more people."
Which is why if you really want to help people, you need do disincentivize them from taking a government handout in the first place.
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