Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
This is going to be a long and protracted debate and since I don't have the time or the patients for composing one of those NJGoatesque long but exceptionally informative post let me say this.
The poverty rate in the U.S. was in decline following the recovery from the recession of 1960 but its steepest post war decline occurred during the Johnson administration:
But as Johnson biographer Robert Caro, Johnson escalation of the Vietnam war effectively damaged Johnson's efforts. This was rapidly followed by the War on the War on Poverty that reached its high point during in the mid-70's.
So what have been the next effects, I would argue that outside of the subsequent recessionary years, the Roosvelt/Johnson programs have ameliorated both the level and effects of economic downturns and has for the most part stabilized poverty in the U.S.
I'm betting those who think it was a bad idea probably have no concept of how poor a lot of people were back then, from rural Appalachia to the inner cities. Also, because of political compromises with racist Southerners in Congress, before then most minorities were excluded from programs like social security.
I'm betting those who think it was a bad idea probably have no concept of how poor a lot of people were back then, from rural Appalachia to the inner cities. Also, because of political compromises with racist Southerners in Congress, before then most minorities were excluded from programs like social security.
I have a pretty good idea about how poor people were "back then", since I was born in 1945.
The highlighted part of your post is so far off that I will not respond.
If you are asking why providing federal aid to impoverished people fails, then no, I cannot tell you why it fails.
The fact that it does, and did in this instance, can be illustrated by the passage of a Clinton era bill call the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, which was passed in 1996, and signed by Bill Clinton. Clinton announced that the bill would end welfare as we know it. If the Great Society programs of Johnson were succeeding, then such a bill and such a comment would not be necessary.
The War on Poverty singled out black people and did them no favors by doing so. Black people quickly filled up public housing facilities and then settled in for the long haul on government benefits. Maybe these sorts of programs fail because of the people who are so attracted to them; maybe they fail because they are never policed properly.
Whatever the cause is, they don't work.
I'll tell you what did work. The economy of the 90's. We had almost full employment. There were people working who would be virtually unemployable in a normal environment.
what is the meaning of "poverty" when you are "poor" (on the books)
but all your needs are met ?
In short... a lack of self sufficiency.
That term and what it implies, demonstrably doing for yourself, is a far better gauge of success.
On that basis however we are doing very poorly indeed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rodricks
It's our official national lie — the number of Americans we consider poor.
Even as the U.S. Census Bureau prepares to report the highest level of poverty in 50 years,
we are lying to ourselves about the number of Americans who can't make ends meet without
government help or charity. LINK
Having occasional assistance available for the lower level needs is a wonderful thing.
Becoming dependent on them however and especially for generations... not so much.
Johnson will always be remembered for prosecuting the unpopular and often futile Vietnam war. Johnson spent a lot more on that than the "war on poverty."
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.