mekka okereke 2d ago

They pay $34 for burgers. Should their fire department service be free? Opening a new fire department in one of NYC's richest neighborhoods has some of America's pettiest journalists asking silly questions in headlines again.🤡

The article acknowledges the fire department analogy, then blows past it.🤷🏿‍♂️

The solve for "Sometimes when a service like free childcare is available to all, marginalized communities get squeezed out," is "Address that racism."

It's not "Therefore waste incredible amounts of time and money trying to means test something that society should just make available to all.🤡"

Show threadLaura "Tegan" Gjovaag ⛈ 🐸2d ago

@mekkaokereke
When school lunch programs throw out the "who deserves to get free lunches?" and just provide for every child, the entire program is cheaper due to the lack of an enforcement layer, all children get fed, and children learn more and pay attention better.

Being overly concerned that someone might get something they don't "deserve" usually ends up screwing over the ones who need help most.

We're supposed to "promote the general welfare" of the public - not gate-keep who gets help.

Show threadRaymond Russell2d ago
@realtegan @mekkaokereke
My pet hate.
When you start to "means test" something that really should be universal the means test itself costs money to administer and you create a barrier to some of those who should be benefiting but may not be able to navigate the red tape required for many many reasons.
Show threadcraignicol10h ago

@raymierussell @realtegan @mekkaokereke in Scotland we used to means test prescriptions. It turned out that the money saved couldn't possibly justify the cost of administration (mainly because people on many prescriptions are highly likely to be unable to work) so they just made them free for everyone.

That's how most benefits should work. Although I do have some sympathy for the idea the UK has where everyone gets child benefit but higher rate taxpayers who get it pay more tax.

Show threadRaymond Russell10h ago

@craignicol @realtegan @mekkaokereke

Yup I have benefited from free prescriptions in Scotland.

Another side effect of free prescription is better compliance with taking medication.
When you need to fork out a tenner per item there is the temptation to not spend the money. This leads to further cost for the state down the line if people are not properly recovering from illness.

There are always unintended consequences of these things.

Free meals means better nutrition even for "rich kids".

Show threadChris
@raymierussell @craignicol @realtegan @mekkaokereke "we'd rather spend the free prescription money on denying prescriptions to 'undeserving' people" is the perfect encapsulation of the english political system
12:35pmWeb
Show threadcraignicol7h ago
@ASprinkleofSage @raymierussell @realtegan @mekkaokereke "undeserving people" is the root of so much poison in politics. Many USA historians would rightfully point to the Scottish Presbyterian work ethic for their roots, but the justification of colonization (and the USA "manifest destiny") feeds into that too
Show threadRaymond Russell7h ago
@craignicol
Funny how the "undeserving" doesn't include them or their ain folk.
Show threadcraignicol7h ago

@raymierussell "I'm rich so of course I'm deserving"

Forgetting that every great fortune came from a great crime