[okie01]

Once again, Steyn nails it. Sadly, this stupidity is not the exclusive disease of overt liberals. Remember “compassionate conservatism” and “a kinder and gentler nation”?

Historically, one might say that a society's decision to "do something about the poor" is a harbinger of immediate decline.

[hinckley buzzard]

one might say that a society's decision to "do something about the poor" is a harbinger of immediate decline.

I would say a society's decision to nmake government responsible for "the poor" is a harbinger of decline. This society took care of "the poor" for generations without the government being involved at all, and did a good job with voluntary charitable and Christian organizations. When the "progressives" decided after the turn of the century that it was government's "duty" is when it all began to turn sour.