War on Poverty Turns 50: Are We Winning Yet?

Cato Institute ^ | October 20, 2014 | Michael D. Tanner and Charles Hughes

[Stand Watch Listen]

The War on Poverty is 50 years old. Over that time, federal and state governments have spent more than $19 trillion fighting poverty. But what have we really accomplished?

Although far from conclusive, the evidence suggests that we have successfully reduced many of the deprivations of material poverty, especially in the early years of the War on Poverty. However, these efforts were more successful among socioeconomically stable groups such as the elderly than low-income groups facing other social problems. Moreover, other factors like the passage of the Civil Rights Act, the expansion of economic opportunities to African Americans and women, increased private charity, and general economic growth may all have played a role in whatever poverty reduction occurred.

However, even if the War on Poverty achieved some initial success, the programs it spawned have long since reached a point of diminishing returns. In recent years we have spent more and more money on more and more programs, while realizing few, if any, additional gains. More important, the War on Poverty has failed to make those living in poverty independent or increase economic mobility among the poor and children. We may have made the lives of the poor less uncomfortable, but we have failed to truly lift people out of poverty.

The failures of the War on Poverty should serve as an object lesson for policymakers today. Good intentions are not enough. We should not continue to throw money at failed programs in the name of compassion..................."

Read the Full Policy Analysis
http://object.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa761_2.pdf

Michael Tanner is a senior fellow with the Cato Institute and author of The Poverty of Welfare: Helping People in Civil Society. Charles Hughes is a research associate with the Cato Institute

[Skooz]

bump

[Stand Watch Listen]

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No.
Because our own government keeps bringing in new troops for the other side.
It’s been like trying to stop the incoming tide

But...but...but the administration has 'top men' on it
who????
top men!!!

[Stand Watch Listen]

How can a ‘war on poverty’ succeed if saving the ‘poor’ pauperizes an entire nation of working taxpayers?

Seems a Margaret Thacther quote is very appropriate...

“The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
― Margaret Thatcher

“I think we've been through a period where too many people have been given to understand that if they have a problem, it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem, I'll get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.' They're casting their problem on society. And, you know, there is no such thing as society. There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It's our duty to look after ourselves and then, also to look after our neighbour. People have got the entitlements too much in mind, without the obligations. There's no such thing as entitlement, unless someone has first met an obligation.”
― Margaret Thatcher

For the unfortunate, I'm not adverse to provide a temporary safety net in our society...but we now are compromised, guilt ridden, scammed into providing a permanent hammock for much of our society...SWL

[Iron Munro]

Looks like the typical government office anywhere in the country.

[SMARTY]

“For the unfortunate, I’m not adverse to provide a temporary safety net in our society...but we now are compromised, guilt ridden, scammed into providing a permanent hammock for much of our society...SWL”

Government assistance is in place and it is there for the individuals who in fact cannot care for themselves or people who (for whatever reason) are temporarily struggling.

We are a Christian nation and so that assistance will ALWAYS be available to the unfortunate - as it should be.

That said.... you will never convince me that tens of millions of able bodied people (many NOT even citizens) have a right to the full support and the endless assistance of the US government at the expense of working Americans.

[central_va]

The war on poverty defeated the middle class.