[asciimov]

We already have the dole it's known as food stamps, wic, ssi, government subsidies, etc.

Instead of padding the pockets of Walmart or McDonald's by supplementing their labor costs, why don't we give the money straight to the people. Then force these companies to pay the true cost of their discounted labor.

[pilsetnieks]

Because that goes against raising work, especially as hard and as much as possible, as a virtue, and directly challenges the protestant work ethic [1]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic

[icelancer]

It's also wildly unpopular amongst liberal groups in America who think people can't be trusted to be given cash; also disincentivizes the need for public workers to allocate the resources "properly," etc. Conservatives fear a "welfare state."

It's a tried and true bi-partisan way to make sure the poor are worse off and feeling that we need to coddle them.

[pilsetnieks]

I believe it's a deeper cultural trait that goes beyond the current left/right extreme divide. It also doesn't help that at its best, it brings notable achievement in many spheres, but it does not assign value to the general welfare of people.