An unscientific poll of soup-kitchen clients in Glen Burnie suggests that the able-bodied jobless are getting by on a mixture of public assistance and private charity, but still have plenty of incentive to find work.

ECONOMIST: Or reform going into reverse?

Once a week, take them down -- whether it's to a soup kitchen or to volunteer on a community project -- teach them what it means to be a real citizen.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama and the First Lady Pack 15,000 Backpacks for Children of Our Troops | The White House

After the daily dawn-to-dusk fast, comes the feast, and even the most career-minded single women are dragooned back into the kitchen to help prepare the time-consuming harira bean soup and the traditional pancakes and sweets: melaoui, baghira, chebbakia, sfouf.

ECONOMIST: After the fast comes the feast

Ms. BLANTON: I went into the kitchen and mom was stirring this - probably some soup or something, and tears were just running down her cheeks.

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