The Pursuit of Happiness

Here's a thought. Let's scrap the bureacracies and do an individual voucher. Via RealClearPolitics, Tony Snow:

Charles Murray, whose book "Losing Ground" made manifest the profound failures of the welfare state, has published a new book, "In Our Hands," that suggests an alternative to the present mess.

Murray wants to abolish every major federal program concerned with health care, food, housing, education, jobs, job training, energy assistance, social services, retirement, unemployment insurance and income security. In their stead, he would give every American citizen over the age of 21 $10,000 per year from Uncle Sam, to be deposited directly into the person's bank account, with the stipulation that $3,000 of that sum must go directly into a retirement account.

I know some people objected that some of those displaced by Katrina were given a $2,000 debit card. But though some continued to make bad decisions with the money, others used it to make a new start. I think it was the right approach. It's like the parable of the talents: Buried, squandered, or invested. The investors are lauded and rewarded. It's the American way. No guts no glory. Under this plan, you'd still have some safety net, but the opportunity of responsibility and reward. Tony goes on to say:

The welfare system actively prevents our pursuit of happiness. It discourages enterprise, innovation, risk, work, marriage, and personal responsibility for procuring medical care, caring for loved ones and saving for the future. It outsources compassion and criminalizes common sense.

Think about it. The Pursuit of Happiness. A hand up, but then well-earned, by your own hand.