Welfare reform post 1995 was generally consistent with this approach. Where reform was rigorously pursued, the results were transformative. Tommy Thompson’s Wisconsin is the classic example.
Where reform was resisted by local authorities, old habits tended to persist. This happened in many of the democrat-run swamps, but even these, the modest sanctions in the legislation had a marked impact.
We have been backsliding for a decade, mainly because the liberals have never been serious about ending permanent dependency. But the strategy is perfectly feasible. It needs to be properly presented, not as a punitive measure, but as a compassionate, forward looking, opportunity oriented approach. The speeches are not hard to write.
As for the raw politics, work requirements and drug testing of welfare recipients always poll well, with majority support even among dems.
Why doesn’t it happen?