[techweenie]

So there is at least one solution here: test everyone for ability and help only those who cannot work.

It seems to me as if most 'solutions' offered by the right involve increasing the size of government, and this is one. if 2 million poeple are getting section 8 grants, how many 'person hours' of work will it be to test all of them? How many more federal jobs will that create? How much more will we be paying in federal salaries than we would have paid out in assistance?

As with most large-scale endeavors, there is a breakpoint -- spending $1.01 to save $1 -- where it's pointless to proceed. If the 'fraudulent' portion of Section 8 welfare is, say 2%, what will be the cost of smoking that 2% out?

It looks like there's some agreement that the disabled and elderly poor might deserve some of our $180 per year. And without statistics, we're stuck with anecdotal discussions. But let's postulate a young woman, impregnated against her will, unemployed or underemployed (max. 20 hours per week at minimum wage). Does she merit help? Should she be punished for keeping the child? Should the child pay the price for the mother's situation?

A concerted effort on the part of certain groups in this country has resulted in over 85% of the population having no local access to abortion -- a de facto denial of the opportunity to get rid of the product of rape or incest. So those (admittedly few) examples are in society, unable to afford childcare; unable to pay rent in a 'safe' neighborhood, and potentially less able to find full-time employment and/or complete school. What help (if any) does a person like this merit?