Why should the government help the poor?

Answer 1

* Things the Government Should Provide - these are the things without which society itself cannot hold * Defense from incursion from foreign nations * Defense against attacks from nature: hurricanes, floods, wild boars and the flu * Protection of life, liberty and property: criminal court, police, * Dispute resolution: among people, businesses and lower governments - civil court, support of contracts * Facilitate contribution: universally accessible polling places, frequent open meetings for discussion issues, unwavering support of the rights of its citizens to praise, criticize and participate in their government. Note that defense against terrorism doesn't have its own item. I would argue that it falls under "Protection of life, liberty and property" rather than under "Defense from incursion from foreign nations," but the current president seems to think it is more of a war. * Things the Government Might Provide - these are the things we might want to help one another out with, but without which society itself would not crumble to anarchy * Protection from non-transmittable disease: health care program beyond the scope of vaccination and disease control. * Protection from poverty: poverty is notoriously difficult to overcome, and programs such as welfare, Medicaid and low-income housing have tried to break the cycle. Their efficacy is debatable, though their goal decidedly good. * Education (or protection from idiocy): here I will merely comment that paying for education with local property taxes is a bad idea because of the poverty -> poor schools -> poor jobs -> poverty cycle. On the other hand, completely socializing education means people will be paying for schools that they will never use. Education seems to be a semi-public good like many of the others in this category. * Infrastructure: things like roads, airports, internet access, telephone lines, the electromagnetic spectrum could be entirely paid for by the government, entirely paid for by usage fees or by some sort of balance between the two. I am currently leaning towards government footing the bill from the start, but people paying back into the system based on use to support future improvements; regardless, we should have a consistent strategy across media. * Things the Government Should not Provide * Subsidies for items that are not public goods (sugar, oil, diapers, art). A free and open market will determine what is of value to produce and sell. (Note that in re: art, I think it may be important for government to instill an appreciation for art, for it is often said that a society's art is the measure of its worth.)

Answer 2

They are mandated (forced) by the Constitution of America to help the poor so as long as they are in America.

But why should they forced by the Constitution of America to do so? Not everyone signed it. They shouldn't be forced to do something against their will.

Answer 3

government can spend money giving them some work and help them by doing this.