Quote Originally Posted by Poopadoop View Post
If I understand you correctly, you're against such a program in principle because that wouldn't be capitalism and so should be dismissed regardless of being eminently better at face value.
I embrace capitalism because it is better at total value. If socialism was capable of providing greater value, I would support that. But it hasn't and according to the best economics theory we got, it can't.

It sounds like you're saying that these kids should walk around squinting so that we don't somehow hinder the economy from producing more and better eyeglasses for future generations. In other words, it sounds like you're mortgaging the present for the future.
I'm okay with the characterization in bold. A courageous man is somebody who does the right thing to benefit others even if it means he doesn't experience the same benefit. Due to the function of exponential growth, when we do this it makes everybody better off. If our antecedents mortgaged the future for themselves, we'd still live in huts, till the soil with our hands and backs, and live at the mercy of warlords.

Children should walk around with wonderful vision. Government programs crowd out private programs. Private programs work better. I don't want the government involved because it harms what it's meant to help. For the future and for the current time, welfare is a bad idea.