Every cloud has a silver lining - or so the story goes.
Now and then, however, a cloud so ominous, so potentially destructive, appears that it's hard to imagine that anything good could in any way be associated with it. Charles Murray has spawned several such clouds over the past ten years, all targeted at making life for the poor more dismal than it already is, none with even the slightest hint of this proverbial omen of good yet to be. None, that is, until now. Based on evaluations of 60s programs to help the poor, he concluded that most of the things being done created an environment which eroded the work ethic, promoted irresponsibility and generally deteriorated individual character among recipients, perpetuating a cycle of poverty by fostering the same traits in young people raised in this environment. This brought him a large following, especially among conservatives who feel that too much money is spent on the poor as it is.