The War on Poverty After 50 Years (has cost tax payers to date $22 Trillion)

The Heritage Foundation ^ | September 15 ,2014 | Robert Rector and Rachel Sheffield

[Chgogal]

This week, the U.S. Census Bureau is scheduled to release its annual poverty report. The report will be notable because this year marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty. In his January 1964 State of the Union address, Johnson proclaimed, “This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America.”[1]

Since that time, U.S. taxpayers have spent over $22 trillion on anti-poverty programs (in constant 2012 dollars). Adjusted for inflation, this spending (which does not include Social Security or Medicare) is three times the cost of all military wars in U.S. history since the American Revolution. Despite this mountain of spending, progress against poverty, at least as measured by the government, has been minimal.

[Chgogal]

Where is the GOPe on this?

The GOPe is pi$$ing away this election.

Pinging Karl Rove!

[Slyfox]

It would be interesting to know what percentage went to the poverty pimps.

[reefdiver]

Your never going to get the takers to turn that off, there are no magic words out three.that’s a lot of freebies.

[Klemper]

We serfs are too stupid to understand how this money is used. Our slavemasters in Washington, DC will distribute the money they usurp from us... and it is none of our business how it is used. Shut up and go back to work.

[Twotone]

‘Reparations’ should be considered Paid In Full.

[left that other site]

Indeed.

[samtheman]

The GOP is the downfall of America. They miss more opportunities than the ever-dedicated Palestinians.

As the saying goes, the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

That goes double, triple, quadruple for the brainless leadership of the establishment GOP.

[DJ Taylor]

We spent $22 trillion and what do we have to show for it?

A whole bunch of Democrats!!

[skeeter]

Imagine what we average Americans could've done with that 22 trillion of our's that the government appropriated.

How many kids educated; how many inventions, jobs and charities could that money have funded.

[ClearCase_guy]

It is the job of Republicans to make sure that Liberals stay in power and never face a real challenge.

[Ramius]

Adjusted for inflation, this spending (which does not include Social Security or Medicare) is three times the cost of all military wars in U.S. history since the American Revolution.

Game. Set. Match.

[FlingWingFlyer]

IMHO, Post of the Day!

[pallis]

After 22 trillion dollars the problem is worse than ever. That is how the left fixes every problem.

[Busko]

The biggest tax drain on this nation and the people that pay for it. It has been a total waste. We have generations living off of this.

[Iron Munro]

The largest effect of the $22 Trillion has been to destroy most of our cities and create a permanent and growing moocher class.

[Skooz]

Basic economics: If you subsidize something, you get more of it.

The taxpayers have been subsidizing out of wedlock births and a permanent, non-working, violent underclass for 50 years.

Now, these pools of poverty are spreading across most major cities in the US, swallowing first working-class, then middle-class, neighborhoods; transforming them into cesspools of violence and discontent.

Only a fool isn’t surprised by the results.

[Drango]

Why work?

[Gay State Conservative]

I've seen the Third World.I've seen it up close and personal.The people of the United States...NONE of them...have the first clue what *true* poverty is all about.Ninety percent of the people of Africa and at least half of the people of Asia would sell their souls to live like the typical welfare recipient lives here.”Poor” people in this country are disgustingly fat,have flat screen TVs.A/C and ObamaPhones.Poor people in Africa live in huts and have big bellies and little stick legs (I once got within 5 feet of *just* such a child).

[Captain Peter Blood]

Then there is no solution or at least one involving the Government and the redistribution of wealth.

[SharpRightTurn]

Way past time to surrender on this war, even at the risk of being called a “surrender monkey” or “cut and run.”