Owing to the record number of Americans who today are receiving food stamps, some of President Barack Obama's critics have called him the "food stamp president."
That criticism initially drew scorn from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who hurried to Obama's defense.
But now he seems to have changed his mind. He says it should be an "honor" for Obama to be called the "food stamp president."
Why? Because in addition to providing sustenance, Jackson argued during a recent speech, "Food stamps hire people."
That is an interesting theory, to say the least.
We do not want anyone going hungry, and we do not say there is no need for a safety net.
But the real source of durable jobs is not a government welfare program. It's the free-market economy unencumbered by undue taxes and regulations.
Government programs remove money from the job-creating private sector, reducing economic growth and ultimately jobs.
The goal should not be to expand welfare programs but to foster free-market conditions that make it easier for people to find jobs and not need food stamps in the first place.