“There really has to be some sort of more effective methodology than ‘work or starve’ on one extreme and the ‘nanny state’ on the other”
Gee, if only humanity had invented social institutions between the individual and the state. We could call them “families,” “churches,” or “fraternal organizations.” Naw, that’s crazy talk./s
By the way, Lenin’s replacement for “he who does not work shall not eat” was “he who does not obey shall not eat.” Which I bring up because your “work or starve” reminded me of it. That’s the gubmint’s (and Tim Allen’s) perennial solution: more power. Only it didn’t work with Lenin, even, who had almost total power, as lots of people who obeyed starved to death, too.
Good post.