Assistance Quotes
He was summarizing a political principle that he observed Richard M. Nixon follow both in domestic politics and internationally.
This is an excellent statement of an ultra conservative view of welfare where the welfare recipient is “punished” for succeeding by losing all or part of the welfare payment. On the other side is a need based philosophy. If someone is in need, welfare will help. But once the person is on his feet and no longer has the degree of need, the welfare payment is ended and the funds are available for someone else is in need.
The quotation is from Walzer, but the idea was originated by the Jewish Rabbi, Physician and Philosopher Maimonides (1135-1204) who Walzer credits. This idea is really at the historical and philosophical backbone of all welfare reform efforts. Maimonodes, for example, argued that one of the greatest forms of charity is giving a person money or other assistance to start a business.
He was asked to comment on the poor initial response of the Federal Government during the Hurricane Katrine crisis.