[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.