War on Poverty at 50 -- despite trillions spent, poverty wonIn 2012, the federal government spent $668 billion to fund 126 separate anti-poverty programs. State and local governments kicked in another $284 billion, bringing total anti-poverty spending to nearly $1 trillion. That amounts to $20,610 for every poor person in America, or $61,830 per poor family of three.
Spending on the major anti-poverty programs increased in 2013, pushing the total even higher.
Over, the last 50 years, the government spent more than $16 trillion to fight poverty.
If and that’s a big if, the payments replaced all the other programs it would be a bargain. Think of all government positions it would eliminate.
“Over, the last 50 years, the government spent more than $16 trillion to fight poverty. “
If that money wasn’t spent would we be only $2 trillion in debt? /s
I don’t really see any difference in direct paying verses paying through many different federal programs. The moneys already there. The “War on Poverty” is certainly not working.
I sure don’t know. The biggest thing to get over would be the mindset that “I get paid for not working”. And also, “they get paid for not working”. Hell, “they” do anyway....Also, every family would get a check. Not just poverty level. Maybe some means testing.
Then again, this could be kinda like opening up Pandora’s Box. Something needs to be done about our Entitlement system. $1,000,000,000,000,000(is that enough zeros?) a year?
It is a never-ending cycle. The rich give it to the poor, the poor give it right back to the rich.