I agree that parents are better at determining their needs, but that's why they need to become self-sufficient. While they're not self-sufficient, they should be given only non-cash contributions so that they can survive while becoming self-sufficient, which makes them truly free to make determinations for their family. A parent can't really say he/she is doing that while they're on anyone's dole.
I've seen the model I've advocated work well dozens of times in reality.
Please understand that all of the groveling before "empirical results" is thinly-veiled hypocrisy. How many times does someone see a dense academic document and say "Oh, this totally changes my opinion on this controversial issue"? Almost never; if they agree with the outcome, they beat everyone over the head with it and call them denialist for not accepting it, and if they disagree, they insist that the outcome is biased, that there were "flaws in the methodology", etc.
If I did give you an article, study, or paper that supported my claims, don't pretend like it would matter. 98% of the time, people will accept propaganda that supports their existing opinion on controversial issues, and nothing else. It's why our media is the way it is.
I've seen the model I've advocated work well dozens of times in reality.
Please understand that all of the groveling before "empirical results" is thinly-veiled hypocrisy. How many times does someone see a dense academic document and say "Oh, this totally changes my opinion on this controversial issue"? Almost never; if they agree with the outcome, they beat everyone over the head with it and call them denialist for not accepting it, and if they disagree, they insist that the outcome is biased, that there were "flaws in the methodology", etc.
If I did give you an article, study, or paper that supported my claims, don't pretend like it would matter. 98% of the time, people will accept propaganda that supports their existing opinion on controversial issues, and nothing else. It's why our media is the way it is.