That French/German/Greek deal is just messed up! Sounds like a plan to get Greece into even more debt (if that's possible).
I can think of of a circumstance where the Government 'giving' people money can help relieve (maybe not remove totally) the poverty situation. I was over 25yrs old, living independently & as a 1st year apprentice was earning $328 per week after tax. Hardly poverty, granted, but considering the current costs of living my favourite cookbook was '101 ways to make rice taste good'. Our ol' mate the Government chipped in an income supplement payment that came through every three months that worked out to be about $130 per week after tax. This taught me a thing or six about budgets & priorities, so things have become a lot easier with just that small 2nd year increase.
Of course, by doing this the Government expects that I'll become qualified (which I will) & theoretically earn a higher than previous income (bloody hope so!) & therefore pay more tax (:() ending up in a return on their initial investment. Without it, I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing, which is getting out of the unskilled labour force! :)