>>And then nobody needs to work because society (ie the 'enlightened' ones) have determined a comfy standard of living that the gub-mint will pay for. What a deal!
>>
>>Apart from in Ayn Rand novels, can you name a wampy-pamby Socialist state where this has actually occurred in real life? Apart from Greece, I mean. ;-)
>
>The US. Unfortunately, I'm not kidding.

When people ask for improved social benefits, it's interesting to ask them 2 questions:

1. Who's going to pay for it?

Typical answer: "The government"

Translation: "Other people"

2. How much will it cost?

Typical answer: "I dunno"

Translation: "I don't care, someone else is paying for it, and I want it"


The higher the proportion of the population that thinks this way, the more danger a nation faces of becoming a (failed) welfare state.

When elected politicians and officials start to think this way (unhappily, elected because their constituents think this way), the danger is severe.