I really don’t have much to say, but this is just a miserable state of affairs that claws at me. The whole issue of “deservedness and worthiness” is particularly salient. It’s as if the human tendency to want to prevent freeloading—the agressive egalitarianism whereby those who hoard without contributing are rooted out—is misfiring. I imagine it’s why Reagan’s welfare queen took such a hold on the popular imagination.
They're just code for "charisma and popularity." Prove to me you deserve this - by winning me over with your personality. Show me you are worthy of support - by showing me how many other people care about you too. Idk. That's how I feel. Deservedness and worthiness are cover for "how appealing do I find this other human being?" Everyone on welfare is a welfare queen, except the person on welfare who you know by name. I guess the trouble is, where is the line drawn on who is hoarding and who is contributing? Philosophically speaking. Eh.