I think that's why it should be mandatory for policy makers to live for one month on a welfare check. Give each of them a different scenario, ie: single mom with one, two and three kids, single male, single female, disabled, elderly and so on.

At least when they sit down together, they would have some experience on which to base their decisions.

I also think it should be required for teachers to take at least an introduction to sociology or cultural anthropology.

In fact, the trouble with most of our large, archaic institutions is that the bureacrats that make the decisions have absolutely no idea what its like to live the lives of those who are being effected by their decisions.