In a word "Yes"

Should the Poor Pay for Deficit Reduction? - Ezra Klein, Washington Post

 

You aren’t doing the poor any favors by keeping them dependent, and an unjust shift of wealth from the earners to the “undeserving poor” in the words of dolittle in “My Fair Lady”. It is more important to keep the earners motivated than to keep the takers fat and happy.

 

 

“On a first pass, then, it appears that Ryan is offering a large tax cut, leaving seniors mostly alone for the next 10 years, increasing defense spending and cutting spending on programs for the poor.” The support of the poor is not on the plate of the Federal government.  Defense is. The poor have a stake in good government, because the lawless victimize the poor.

 

“So Ryan’s budget ultimately poses two questions: First, whether this amount of deficit reduction is actually necessary. It’s more substantial, I believe, than what’s called for in Simpson-Bowles. And second, if you do consider this amount of deficit reduction necessary, whether the right way to achieve it is almost solely by cutting program for the poor“ Evidently spending the country into bankruptcy  is not a problem.  The poor have a stake in solvency also. If tightening the belt now prevents starvation in the future, it is a good deal.

There are poor who would work and enjoy it if it wasn’t such a barrier to work, in the form of a corrupt tax code. Give the poor a hand up, not a hand out.