Thread...
I was contemplating welfare and its disastrous effects in contrast with private charity.
Rome had issues with the public grain dole from its inception as a subsidized and price-fixed grain purchase and storage program in the republican era, which even though it was financed by tax increases, saw a precipitous increases in demand as all price-ceiling schemes do. Once it was implemented corruption set in and was frequently a topic of reform but not abolishment by politicians.
All this made me consider that famous phrase from Jesus, "The poor you will always have with you". It is an undeiable fact that poor people exist, and we don't need to talk about why they are poor; however, we have to live in a society with people who are poor. There are many things we can do to help the poor if we are so inclined individually such as the above mentioned food donations.
