The government allocates a tiny tiny amount for poor and disabled people, and when others lie and make fake claims, it's not like the government just takes that hit and says no problem, we'll cover it. They take it out on the people who have been honest on their forms, by adding many more layers of difficulty and red tape, requiring more proof and forms even from people who have never lied, and even lowering benefits for everybody.
Yes, the government SHOULD absolutely provide the basics for everyone, but we know that's not the reality we live in. We know they don't care and they use every opportunity to put less money into benefits for poor and disabled people.
No, I don't think anyone should be badly beating themselves up or feeling like CTB for lying, but nor should they be at the other extreme of laughing and bragging about how they lie and get "free money" (I've encountered plenty of those people) when there's disabled and impoverished people who don't get nearly as much as them, and don't find it a joke when they can't get enough food for the month.
If you have enough to get the basics like food, the kinds of things that you wouldn't feel okay telling someone to their face they should go without, don't contribute to them going without by knowingly lying on forms and claiming benefits you don't qualify for.
Fraud does make everything worse, like collective punishment. It is true the government doesn't do enough but this also goes to funding. People (rightfully) complain about the NHS for example but don't take into account how badly they are stretched thin, underfunded and constantly asked to do more with less. Same applies to education and social nets such as benefits.
That funding has to come from govt investments and taxes. The wealthy, corporations simply do not pay enough taxes. It is absurd reading about how little billion dollar corps pay in taxes, finding loopholes including setting up in other tax-friendly countries. Then there is the issue of straight up tax evasion, trillions hidden in offshore accounts. Do not forget the billionaires and corps do not pay living wages. They get to exploit cheap labor, not providing basic health care. It's basically socialism for the rich, they privatize the profits and socialize the losses. As all the low wage workers have to rely on govt assistance for aid.
The same wealthy owner class along with
conservatives constantly push to cut social services which aligns with their push for tax cuts which ultimately benefits only the rich.
But there is the issue of priorities for example the US has given billions upon billions in aid and weapons which could go towards fixing the record homelessness, towards the vast inequity in education, towards affordable healthcare, social safety nets and benefits for the neediest.
Last year Jon Stewart was spot on when he called out the
corruption in defense spending:
"Now, I may not understand exactly the ins and outs, and the incredible magic of an audit. But I'm a human being who lives on the Earth and can't figure out how $850 billion to a department means that the rank and file still have to be on food stamps," Stewart said. "To me, that's fucking corruption. And I'm sorry. And, if like, that blows your mind and you think that's like a crazy agenda for me to have, I really think that that's institutional thinking, and that it's not looking at the day-to-day reality of the people that you call the greatest fighting force in the world."
