Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

How Trump is forcing Republicans to rethink poverty
Christian Science Monitor ^ | 1/24/2016 | Gail Russell Chaddock

Posted on 01/25/2016 8:33:48 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel

The Trump phenomenon is driven in large part by working-class voters under economic strain. Republicans are increasingly talking about antipoverty programs as a way to help lift some up.

Well before Donald Trump ever became a political phenomenon, Rep. Paul Ryan told his fellow Republicans that poverty should be a Republican issue.

Now, the Trump rebellion is beginning to make his case for him.

The overarching message of the Trump campaign isn't directed at the usual targets of federal poverty programs, such as isolated pockets of extreme poverty in Appalachia or the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. It targets people who have had good jobs but have lost bargaining power in a global economy.

Polls show Mr. Trump resonates most strongly with the growing precarious middle - those whose parents were firmly middle class but now find themselves in need and at least nearing the margins of poverty.

The result is a percolating conversation among Republicans about how to shore up America's safety net. To Mr. Ryan, now speaker of the House, that means moving federal money out of some welfare programs and into others he says are more effective, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

To Democrats and some advocates for the poor, that sounds like robbing from one class of the poor to give to another - perhaps for electoral advantage.

Yet the shift in Republican thinking was noted by none other than President Obama in his State of the Union address.

"Speaker Ryan has talked about his interest in tackling poverty," he said. "I'd welcome a serious discussion about strategies we can all support..."

Whether they can agree on any reforms is an open question. But Mr. Trump is forcing Republicans to talk about poverty as more than just a target for federal budget cuts.

(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bfac; poverty; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last
To: TontoKowalski
When I first arrived in Pocatello, I spent a few Sundays at church. I met the people in my LDS ward and especially the college age young men. You can get a good education locally, but you can't get a decent job to stay in town.

In 2008, my son was living in the Eastlake area of Chula Vista, CA. On Feb 8th, a Mexican cartel execution took place just 100 feet from his front door. He knew the victim. They were probably on the way up to visit him. On Feb 14th, I had a U-Haul rented and relocated my son to my 2nd house in Pocatello. The arrangement was that he would pay off his debts and taxes and I would provide a place to live and my car. He had his Idaho real estate broker's license in 3 weeks and was making progress. Fast forward to last week. He has a mountain of debt again from a divorce. Business isn't good enough to get ahead. He is making plans to return to San Diego where his sales volume will allow repaying his debts. Like many others, he just can't earn enough in Idaho to get ahead.

A post script to my son's situation. He is almost finished with his degree in nuclear physics. It's what he prefers to real estate. He's very good at it. Just ran out of money about 2 semesters short of graduation. Finishing that degree would be entre to work at Idaho National Labs. That is what most of my neighbors do for a living.

21 posted on 01/25/2016 9:30:48 PM PST by Myrddin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Neu Pragmatist

And you believe one man from New York who believes in compromise will stand up and say what has gone before was wrong and will no longer be tolerated?
Do you believe that other politicians would support such a statement? (or such action?)


22 posted on 01/25/2016 9:38:45 PM PST by txnativegop (Tired of liberals, even a few in my own family.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: BlackFemaleArmyCaptain
how to shore up America's safety net usually means more handouts.
23 posted on 01/25/2016 9:39:57 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: txnativegop
It was the government that caused many of the problems; it is not the mechanism to be used to correct the problems.
Used in a different way it is the only mechanism that (peacefully) can.

Yes, one man can't do it. But one man with powerful support from the people can.

The truth is, the power of Trump's support is already having an effect on policy thinking and he's not even elected yet.

24 posted on 01/25/2016 9:42:16 PM PST by lewislynn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

When the well runs dry, they will look to jobs for their water. There MUST be jobs there for them. That means getting our trade relations in fair running order and bringing jobs back to America.


25 posted on 01/25/2016 9:42:51 PM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: BlackFemaleArmyCaptain

He’s really only interested in taking their property under eminent domain. < /sarcasm>


26 posted on 01/25/2016 9:44:18 PM PST by lewislynn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TontoKowalski

Close the Department of education and give the power back to the locals and states. The Constitution did not give the Federal Government the authority to create a Department of Education. It is illegal and should be destroyed.


27 posted on 01/25/2016 9:45:38 PM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: txnativegop

Compromise his way ... the art of the deal , he comes out ahead every time .


28 posted on 01/25/2016 9:52:33 PM PST by Neu Pragmatist (Trump is the only one who will secure our borders . Vote Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: BlackFemaleArmyCaptain

BARF!


29 posted on 01/25/2016 9:57:21 PM PST by Eagles6 ( Valley Forge Redux. If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us then who?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lewislynn

and with any luck, he won’t be elected, but let us agree to disagree on that point.

As far as policy is concerned, do you really think policy is being changed because of Trump? I think you exaggerate the power of his support.

JMO.


30 posted on 01/25/2016 10:01:49 PM PST by txnativegop (Tired of liberals, even a few in my own family.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Mollypitcher1

“When the well runs dry, they will look to jobs for their water. There MUST be jobs there for them. That means getting our trade relations in fair running order and bringing jobs back to America.”

I agree with all you’ve said, but it will, of necessity, take a sea change for the “welfare class” to take jobs. “The Well” will have to go dry, and it won’t go dry from those folks willingly taking jobs. It’s going to be interesting to see if the next government has the will to throttle welfare benefits as more jobs become available.
The biggest problem here is most likely the fact that the “welfare class” has not availed itself of the abundant educational opportunities in this country (Chicago, and a few other major cities excepted).


31 posted on 01/25/2016 10:09:06 PM PST by vette6387
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: vette6387

I don’t believe the entire welfare class is against working. Some...perhaps even a high percentage fall under that category, I don’t know, but once the taste of self respect and the respect of others takes hold...and the opportunity for advancement, human nature will prevail. Much of the welfare problem will disappear with deportation as well. We also need to get rid of a lot of garbage about children can’t work and can’t even have a lemonade stand. The entrepreneurial spirit must be encouraged, not stymied. Our work ethic has to be restored from the ground up. There are too many constrictions in Europe on labor. It has been their ruination and we are doing the same thing.


32 posted on 01/25/2016 10:26:44 PM PST by Mollypitcher1 (I have not yet begun to fight....John Paul Jones)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: TontoKowalski

” maybe we could tackle the problem.”

‘We’, tacking problems, corporately, has been the problem.

That is, if individuals were able to keep the other half of what they earn, the problems would solve themselves.


33 posted on 01/25/2016 10:46:26 PM PST by dasboot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: txnativegop

If there were a great, workforce in Appalachia that was cost effective for their efficiency, industry would have move there to take advantage of it.


34 posted on 01/25/2016 10:49:03 PM PST by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: TontoKowalski

....and immigrants to this country would more likely be individuals who wish to work and build, rather than those seeking subsidized sloth. Perverse incentives.


35 posted on 01/25/2016 10:50:46 PM PST by dasboot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Mollypitcher1

That is the only acceptable solution! JOBS! They have traded away our economy to the third world with their brainless “free trade.” Losers. Some of the jobs we have remaining, they give to third world foreigners here on visas and here illegally. Paul Ryan is such an a..


36 posted on 01/25/2016 10:57:42 PM PST by SaraJohnson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: txnativegop
that statement is scary indeed. The gov’t caused the problem and now you believe one man will somehow use that same power more wisely to fix the problem the gov’t created.

You are right we should just stay the corse. </s>

37 posted on 01/25/2016 11:15:35 PM PST by itsahoot (Trump is a fumble mouthed blowhard that can't speak in complete sentences. Wonder why is he winning?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: BlackFemaleArmyCaptain

We don’t need anymore stinking “government programs”! You fix the fundamentals of the country there will be an economic boom! Everyone will benefit with more opportunities, more jobs, more weakth, more security, and more freedom.


38 posted on 01/25/2016 11:35:33 PM PST by WMarshal (Who in the Republican Party will be brave enough to name Obama a traitor?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlackFemaleArmyCaptain

Lower the tax burden on the middle class and eliminate the tax burden of the retired fixed income people. Sit back and watch the economy grow.

just a side question. Do the welfare lifers go into retirement or do they continue to “earn” at the same rate until they die?


39 posted on 01/25/2016 11:42:56 PM PST by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: txnativegop

I’d say half of the damage Obama has/will done/do was/is by Executive Order. So yes, one man could make a sizable dent.I don’t dislike Cruise. The Trump supporters I know don’t dislike Cruise. That said we don’t think he can win a general either. All of the Trump hating in the world won’t change that. We also believe without sending illegal immigrants home and securing the border the rest will crash anyway.


40 posted on 01/26/2016 12:03:39 AM PST by enduserindy (A painted trash can is still a trash can.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson