>>John, again, the "taxpayer/welfare" model is mandatory, i.e., implemented by force.

More emotive terms. If you don't want to be part of the social compact, as your friend used to say: you can leave the country. Nobody is "forcing" you to stay.

>>But generally speaking, the implementation of measures over decades created perverse disincentives and failed miserably.

You're saying that government is responsible for poverty? What about Mitt's exporting of millions of jobs for short term dividend benefit? Did Obama cause that too? An alternative viewpoint would be that left to its own devices, the market smashes the financial system and runs away until nanny state cleans it up, and puts millions out of work so 1%ers can privatize a few extra profit points and then socialize the fallout and blame.

>>You seem to be all worked up about the "Borg" reference. I can't speak for what another person says, but I'm guessing that was a symbolic reference.

Worked up? No - just pointing out derailing tactics.