There is a similar if lesser affliction here in Canada, including the province where I speak. We live in a time of increasing inequality of the rich getting vastly richer, of the poor remaining poor. The needed response is clear. We in the fortunate countries, as part of our national responsibility, must secure to everyone a decent minimum income. We talk much of liberty and democracy.
Nothing so limits liberty as a total absence of money.
Let acceptance of this be, as it is not now the case with such support, without denigration or condemnation of the recipients. Let it be for a fortunate country a basic human right. Let us accept that some so favoured will not work. For the rich, resort to leisure is accepted, even applauded. So even in the academic world.