@Camomila "What do you mean by 'more community' Screaming ?"
that is a very good question.
The State has taken over a lot of functions that the community used to do - and as a result, has hollowed out communities.
Think about it. What used to be the real role of the church, which is still what happens in the strong communities of Africa and the middle east?
The parish used to run welfare. So the priest/Imam/Chief would know exactly who was on hard times, and the community would step in. It was also very personal: they knew who suffered tragedy, who needed a temporary boost, and who was just malingering.
When bureaucracy takes that role, it becomes a faceless 'one size fits all' and introduces the economic forces of 'moral hazard'. All benefits fraud is moral hazard. I don't get outraged at benefits fraud at all. People will always do what is best for them and their family. . Highly enterprising people with a lot of agency, that is what they are. They would be an asset to the economy, and here they are trapped in the bureaucratic welfare system. If the state is going to be so stupid as to refuse to admit how inefficient and wasteful it is, if it is not going to give individuals the right to run their own lives, being taken advantage of is an inevitable consequence. It is ridiculous that people are punished ££ wise for working. No wonder they all go into the black economy - which is up to 20% of our GDP and not contributing to the fiscus. Madness!
The solution would be universal benefits THAT DO NOT ACCOMPANY BABIES and leaving people to make their own decisions and run their own lives. That takes the State and bureaucrats right out of it. Except for a tiny minority who are too stupid or unlucky, who really need to be cared for, most people do this very well.
Similarly the church and charities used to run adoption. Nowadays the State runs it. It takes over 2 years (because of the bureaucratic process) to adopt a baby, with the mother being given rights to change her mind and then get overwhelmed again, the baby gets shunted back and forth at a time when the attachment process is so vital. Larger children - lets not even go there.
The State is NOT the solution.
I remember reading a paper from Stanford University and being completely outraged. It was an admiring study about the European welfare system and HOW CLEVER THE GOVERNMENTS ARE - to pay welfare so cheaply.
The paper said: all European governments have learned that if you tax capital, capital leaves (absolutely true). This damages the economy, so governments leave capital alone.
What they do, is shuttle economically unproductive people into ghettos (housing estates) - and then tax habits.
What are habits? - tobacco. Alcohol. VAT. Fuel. The Lottery.
Who consumes these things the most? - THE POOR
Therefore, the people who pay for welfare are blue collar workers and the low paid, who are taxed disproportionately for what they earn.
Boris Johnson pointed this out in an article when New Labour were busy ruining the UK imposing Social Justice and running up our current astronomical debt
... but of course he is a stupid buffoon (got you all there, didn't we! Remain thoroughly outmanoeuvred in his first 60 days)
If you think the welfare system is just and good, that poorly paid people pay for it? You shouldn't be allowed to vote IMO. The solution is Universal Benefit which costs much more but would give people meaningful control over their own decisions. No more nanny state.