Friend With Benefits

By CHARLES M. BLOW
NYT

Government is not the enemy. Not always. Don’t believe that right-wing malarkey.

In fact, for millions of Americans down on their luck and at the end of their rope, they can quickly find that government is their last friend left. Governmental assistance can prevent the certainty of a hungry night and a homeless tomorrow. It can mean the difference between the comfort of stability and the ravages of poverty.

This function is now more important than ever, even as it is under more pressure than ever.

We learned this week that not only are there more poor people in America than had been previously reported, but that the only thing keeping millions more out of poverty are the very same social safety net programs that many Republicans despise.

(More here.)