Avram in MD – Sure I was over the top, but many republicans (like those who would vote for Trump) would completely agree with what I said. That perspective is alive and well in the US, even if not correct.
Halacha has the concept of the “Asarah Batlanim”, ten people in the city who are paid to sit around and do nothing (be available for minyanim, learn, etc.), so we Yidden have that concept and agree it is important.
Others consider other types of “Batlanim” as providing services to their community that you would think are wasteful (example – member of J Street, or “vulture investor” (as I saw some “rabbi” tried to write an article that being one is Assur)). The government (not looking through the lens of religion) could decide that both should not get benefits, as they are not “Osek B’Yeshuo Shel Olam” in their eyes.
Finally:
The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.
Attributed (perhaps incorrectly) to Alexis de Tocqueville. We see it time and time again in our own communities, where we vote against our most dear values for the sake of government funding.