Wiliam Epstein points to the perils of unrestricted subjectivity - "the corruption of both social science and social discourse" - and argues for a more disciplined approach to policy making. Rather than scientific theory and applied scientific practice, the social sciences have been appropriated to create ideology - "corrective myths in support of social denial". Epstein contends that the social sciences script fables of cure, prevention and rehabilitation that falsely testify to the feasibility of inexpensive and culturally compatible solutions to deep social problems. Rather than providing effective service, social welfare programmes are rituals of social values, expressing, proselytizing, reaffirming and strengthening factional preferences. This is an unsentimental analysis of American social policy making and a call to action to create more effective policies for social welfare.