gross national hapiness index

[kandrathe]

Nobody checks anyone else's tax deductions to see if they're spending it on booze, heroin, hookers and cigarettes.

The average person earning a living isn't asking the government for relief (ostensibly for food, clothing, shelter, medicine). But, I would bet that if the IRS found this stuff as deductions in an audit you'd be in a little hot water.

Did the government issue "banking stamps" when they bailed out the financial system? How much of that got spent on hookers and blow?

Paternalism is only for the poor. Everyone else, we trust to maximize their own utility.

It's more that the money is "The People's" money, before they give it away. So Congress feels those attached strings are appropriate.