However, it is not the goodness of the intention that makes the goodness of the medicine.

Frédéric Bastiat
Economic Sophisms Third Series

These two “posters” from Jacques Bonhomme expose the belief according to which the government can feed the people while the people is where the government gets its ressources from. Of course, it is always possible for the government to benefit a tiny part of the population to the detriment of the rest but this is a policy consisting in robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Obviously, in general, the arguments used are that the needs of Paul are much higher than those of Peter, which generates a lot of good intentions towards Paul. However, as Bastiat reminds us, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.