I went to amazon and looked for Frances Fox Piven's books.

This one I'm going to get hold of and read:

Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare

By Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward

From a reader’s review:

“In short, the key point the authors make is that welfare policies are designed to pacify rebellious out of work people. Once they are pacified, welfare is reduced. And while welfare programs are operating, there will be a tendency to make benefits low so that recipients are impelled back into the work force, even for low wages. The authors put it this way (page xiii): "Historical evidence suggests that relief arrangements are initiated or expanded during the occasional outbreaks of civil disorder produced by mass unemployment, and are then abolished or contracted when political stability is restored. We shall argue that expansive relief policies are designed to mute civil disorder, and restrictive ones to reinforce work norms."

“expansive relief policies are designed to mute civil disorder”—to me sounds like common sense. Why else would there be expansive relief policies? While many people would think of it as the decent thing to do, many other people also would feel that it’s their own fault they’re poor (some dumbasses think that no matter how bad the job situation is.)

imagine piven being asked to testify before the house and sentae re: the poor, for example.

So are traffic regulations.

I will have to break down and buy one. Couldn't decide which one. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts when you finish.