When you make purchases through our links we may earn a small commission.
Photo Credit: instagram.com/thesmokingchair
In today’s political arena, welfare is often viewed with suspicion—mischaracterized as a crutch for the lazy or a giveaway for the undeserving. To counter this narrative, some policymakers have proposed “merit-based” welfare: a system where support must be “earned” through work requirements, drug testing, job training, or other conditional metrics. The premise sounds fair. But in practice, it creates a modern form of economic servitude—one that mirrors the logic of slavery more than most Americans would care to admit.
Let’s be clear: merit-based welfare is not a safety net. It is a leash.
Welfare conditioned on behavior is not aid. It’s a transaction. And like any transaction in a deeply unequal system, the terms are rigged. The idea that people must deserve food, shelter, or healthcare by satisfying bureaucratic hurdles presumes that these are rewards—not rights. But hunger is not cured by compliance. Eviction is not prevented by paperwork. And illness does not wait for job training to be completed.
When you only receive aid in exchange for labor, and that labor is mandated under threat of destitution, what you’re doing is not work. It’s forced servitude.
In many merit-based welfare programs—especially those involving “workfare”—recipients are compelled to perform menial jobs in order to receive assistance. These jobs are often unpaid, menial, or unconnected to long-term employment opportunities. The state effectively extracts labor from its poorest citizens in exchange for the barest essentials of life.
If a corporation required someone to clean its offices or maintain its grounds in exchange for food, we’d call it exploitation. If a government requires the same in exchange for avoiding starvation, we call it “responsibility.” Both are coercive. One just hides behind the language of policy.
Supporters of merit-based welfare claim it’s about encouraging independence and reducing reliance on government. But if you are one missed shift or one failed drug test away from homelessness, that’s not freedom. That’s economic coercion with the smiley face of reform.
In the antebellum South, enslaved people were told their value depended on their productivity. Today, welfare recipients are told their worth is measured by job applications submitted or hours clocked at state-approved placements. In both cases, people are denied autonomy and treated as tools—valuable only when useful.
A truly compassionate society asks: What do people need to thrive? Merit-based welfare asks: How can we extract value from the poor before giving them anything at all? The first question leads to dignity, innovation, and growth. The second leads to stagnation, resentment, and wasted human potential.
How many artists, inventors, caregivers, or students have been denied support because they couldn’t meet a narrow definition of “merit”? How many were forced into exhausting, unproductive labor just to prove they were worthy of survival?
Slavery was not just an institution of forced labor—it was a system that denied people the right to self-determination. Merit-based welfare does the same, dressed up in modern clothing.
The alternative is not “lazy giveaways.” The alternative is unconditional, universal support—ensuring that no one starves or sleeps on the street because they failed to jump through bureaucratic hoops. Universal Basic Income, flat tax refunds, or social safety nets without strings are not handouts. They are investments in freedom.
Because freedom doesn’t mean the opportunity to earn your way out of misery. It means the right to pursue your potential without fear of losing everything.
You’ll get more articles like this – and our favorite promotional offers delivered straight to your inbox.
By submitting this form you agree to our terms and conditions. You can unsubscribe at any time.
When the Sky Breaks: How Global Warming Turns Rain Into Ruin
Extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent and devastating around the world. This article explores the science behind how global warming intensifies rain and flooding, the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, and what we can still do to adapt and prevent the worst.
32 Americans Dead: Why Were Weather Warnings Too Late to Save Them?
In the wake of the devastating flash floods in Central Texas, 32 Americans are dead—including 14 children. This tragedy wasn’t just an act of nature—it was a failure of our emergency warning systems. Why weren’t families warned in time?
We Are Not Babies: Work Requirements for Basic Healthcare Are an Insult to Every American
Requiring Americans to work for basic healthcare isn’t just demeaning—it’s a betrayal of our values. This article explores how work requirements insult everyday citizens and reflect a legacy of coercion, not compassion.
The Real Fiscal Question: Can We Afford Not to Enact the Standard Tax Refund?
The Standard Tax Refund isn’t just a fiscal reform—it’s a national imperative. This article makes the case that the real risk isn’t implementing it, but failing to. From economic growth to bureaucratic efficiency, the benefits are too great to ignore.
The Standard Tax Refund offers an elegant solution to America’s bloated welfare state: cut out the bureaucracy, deliver equal monthly payments to all tax filers, and leave behind the red tape and moral hazard. It’s a dream come true for those who want fairness without fostering dependence.
How Quinshon Judkins Perfectly Fits the Browns’ New Power Run Scheme in 2025
The Cleveland Browns are reshaping their offensive identity in 2025—and it’s great news for rookie RB Quinshon Judkins. With a downhill power run scheme under new OL coach Roy Istvan, the Browns’ offensive line is now tailored for Judkins’ strengths. This deep dive breaks down his fit, scheme synergy, and why he could break out behind Cleveland’s revamped front five.
