On Stigma

Instapundit quotes Mickey Kaus on the stigma of food stamps:

"But a stigma placed on cash-like welfare (which food stamps are) remains a positive sign of a healthy work ethic. If you came across two societies--Society A, in which food stamps were stigmatized, with families reluctant to go on the dole even if they were eligible, and Society B, in which they weren't, you would want to bet on (and live in) Society A. It's one thing to relax the stigma on welfare in times of epic economic decline. It's another if the stigma doesn't return with the possibility of employment."

I agree. Making entitlement programs too accessible also makes them too attractive. Many years ago, it was known as "the dole", and it was considered shameful if you didn't do everything you could to avoid it.