I didn't mean to say that punishing poor people was (directly) on your agenda, just that anything that is framed as "tinkering" tends to result in just that sort of punitive result.  The point is that I find it unacceptable for anyone to tell me that they are just "tinkeriing with the system" when, in fact, there is no system, but instead only the divergent interests of numerous social groups--divergent interests which require some considered judgment in the name of justice.  If you told me that changes to labor policy in a number of European countries were necessary in order to achieve more just societies, I would whole-heartedly agree.  But you seem to be one of those people who wants to fix the system, a sentiment I find completely foreign.

Sorry, read "tweak" for "tinker" above.  Also, whether or not you agree with this assessment, I highly recommend Galbraith and Garcilazo.