I could see the attraction of living in a society that provides all the amenities of a well-run prison. I could even see how someone could believe that if only someone else would pay our bills for us, that it would unleash a mighty avalanche of creativity with all that extra free time.

On the other hand, there is a price to be paid; either in terms of a possibly stifling nanny state or the sort of cultural decline that may come from trying to eliminate the less pleasant aspects of competition. Look at the rioting in France over some proposed tweaks in the law that would make it slightly less difficult to terminate the worst parasites.

Is there some compromise position that would at least keep government out of our lives if not our pockets? The Swiss will be voting on June 5 on a proposal that would have the government provide every citizen with a small basic income. The more reckless, feckless and luckless get supported with some trimming to Nanny G's apron strings. It will be interesting to see what they decide.