It all boils down to one thing: bennies given are virtually impossible to stop. They have their own inertia and in fact find a way to grow.
OK, I do believe that some form of food subsidence should be in the US, whether it is federal or state I don’t care. But the current scheme is not sustainable IMO.
I recall my mom telling me that during the depression in her area, their food subsistence was a box of basic food stuffs once a week. It came via a county welfare assistance office. I don’t know if it was delivered or you had to go fetch it. She was not on it as she grew up on a farm and they took care of themselves but nearby families lived off that program. The point of the program was this assistance will keep you going. If you think this is demeaning, get a job but at least you will not starve till then.
We are kidding ourselves if we think we live in a free economy. Consider all the direct subsidies and indirect enhancements for businesses, it is semi free at best.
Charity should be private and local.