WHEN SOCIAL WORK BECOMES ANTI-SOCIAL WORK. “Even as legit practitioners try their best, it’s an ever more uphill battle—pitted not just against deepening social challenges but also idealistic and/or opportunistic academics, bureaucrats and political appointees for whom worse is often better so long as it leads to more authority and funding. Priorities and supposed best practices (not to mention promotions and raises) are increasingly defined by those with grander ambitions than helping empower their clientele.”