If one person gets a $12,000 job and gets off of food stamps due to having a $120/yr phone, that's saves the government >$3600/yr. If they get off Medicaid that's another $1200/yr
Where is the incentive for these poor people to go look for a job if the government provides not only their needs, but their wants?
Well there has to be jobs out there in the first place. Right now we have 25% unemployment. And it's not because people aren't incented to find a job. It's that most have been trying and having the same result as banging their head against a brick wall.
Sure there are some that have made welfare a way of life. But most people want a lot more than minimal food and a phone with a low number of minutes. Give them an opportunity for a good job and most will take it. The rest may need some form of intervention.
We need to raise the import tariffs back up, that our founding fathers had in place. Put American's back to work is the way to cut these benefits.
When I was a supervisor at the unemployment office, I signed for millions of dollars in Wal-Mart and Target gift cards, gas credit cards, bus passes, loaded-up laptops with free Internet service, free child care, etc., etc. You have no idea. Phones are the least of it.