No need for sorry, it wasn't you I was ranting at, rather the general sort of unthinking blah that happens.
I would just die of cringe, if I was forced to hand over food stamps at the supermarket. It's incredibly hard on the self-esteem to be unable to work, on a fixed income to begin with. To hell with food stamps, I reckon. I *payed* my taxes, all those years - I would hate to be treated like a basket case who can't be trusted with cash! But then, I abuse neither children nor drugs. And so what if I want a pack of smokes - tough titties, that's my business and nobody else's.
So yes, I agree, a voucher system would not work for everyone's best interests. Such a system for say, convicted drug users *might* be affective, but looking at how that works in America, people sell their food stamps for drug money and neglect their kids anyway... and where drugs are concerned, a lack of cash to buy them with = more burglaries/muggings/robberies, more prostitution, etc.
Perhaps compulsory drug testing + clean results or you lose your kids might help protect littlies better.. plus, a FACS overhaul. Plus, them not hiring idiots. That'd be some real progress for the kiddies. I reckon.
