What Paul Ryan could learn from Robert Kennedy about reforming the welfare state

The liberal lion didn't like welfare, either. But his objections only accentuate the cruelty of the modern GOP's anti-poverty platform.

Robert Kennedy
(Image credit: (Bettmann/CORBIS))

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"[M]illions of our people are slaves to dependency and poverty, waiting on the favor of their fellow citizens to write them checks."

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Joel Dodge

Joel Dodge writes about politics, law, and domestic policy for The Week and at his blog. He is a member of the Boston University School of Law's class of 2014.