Welfare's customer service problem

Its intentionally mean bureaucracy is crushing poor Americans

Red tape.
(Image credit: Ikon Images / Alamy Stock Photo)

Usually when America's welfare programs are debated, we think in terms of spending. And that debate matters. Compared to most advanced Western nations, spending on the U.S. welfare state is quite stingy. But it's not the only debate we should be having.

Every welfare program — from Medicaid to food stamps to TANF and more — is also a mess of personal interactions, which have an effect on low-income Americans all their own. And on this front as well, we could be doing a whole lot better.

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Jeff Spross

Jeff Spross was the economics and business correspondent at TheWeek.com. He was previously a reporter at ThinkProgress.