Thread by @Noahpinion

Cash benefits are a complement to the dignity of work, not a substitute.

There's nothing dignified about taking a crappy survival job because you can't afford to take some time to look for a good one or go back to school to get a better one.

There's nothing dignified about working yourself to the bone only to have to stretch your paycheck to the end of the month because you can just barely afford rent and food.

There is dignity in work that pays well and uses specialized skills. But there is no dignity in scrabbling for survival. And to deny people cash benefits out of concern for their "dignity" is concern-trolling. Go ask a working poor person whether $500 a month is "undignified".

@oren_cass

I talk about this idea (and much more) with @MichaelDTubbs in our recent interview!

noahpinion.substack.com/p/a-conversati…