Jeff, This has to be one of if not the best topic responses I have ever read. Your observations are clear and concise. The situations you describe are the result of excessive Government intrusion (even with the best of intention). The result is that the only "fix" is more excessive government intrusion that includes some very hard choices. The only way to stop the cycle is to stop funding the cycle. So, do we let children go hungry? The simple answer is no we don't, but we do stop feeding their parents. The school systems already provide breakfast, lunch and adding a third meal would be less costly than the current link card system. For those already in the system we make strict requirements to get out of the system including random drug tests, required community service, job training and application assistance. Most of all we stop allowing welfare recipients to sit at home and collect benefits. In simpler terms we make being on welfare suck worse than getting a job and being self sustaining. Just My Opinion.....