As I've suggested on this blog, those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it, as philosopher George Santayana famously said. History is a great teacher. We learn lessons by learning from our mistakes. This is true for a nation as it is true for each one of us in our personal life. Are you making the same mistakes you made as a teenager?
One of the issues that fascinates me is what happened to the War on Poverty, started by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The highest poverty rate in the US was in 1959 with 22% of people in poverty. By 1965 that rate had fallen to 17.3% (today it is 15%). Johnson started the War on Poverty to great fanfare. The left felt really good to do it; as it does to this day. But as Lt. Columbo would say before he left his suspect: One more question, if you don't mind: Have we won the war on poverty? and how much have we spent? We've spent over 15 Trillion dollars. Our current national debt is about 16 trillion dollars. The result: nothing. That's right nothing. Click here for verification. Had we not spent that 15 Trillion we would not have a national debt today.
What does the left want to do still to this day? Spend more money to fight poverty. Now, as one who loves logic, how does this square with facts? The political left not only does not learn from history, it ignores it completely. You see, for the left facts do not matter; feeling good about themselves does. If you appear to be doing good, even if it does not accomplish what you intend, it does not matter to them.
Economist all over the world are in almost total agreement that poverty cannot be alleviated by government handouts; on the contrary government policies do most of the damage by their incoherent policies, such as minimum wage which causes more unemployment. In the August 26, 2013 issue of "The Weekly Standard," An article titled "Don't Forget the Poor" states: "Moreover, many of the conditions that trap Americans in poverty are the direct result of governmental policies, often implemented with good intentions." Further down in the article it says this: "Government itself often holds back the poor, for instance through the ever-growing regulatory state. Outdated union-protection laws like the Davis-Bacon Act, which requires union wages on many federal project, reserve desirable jobs for union members."
Listen to one of the best economists in the US, Thomas Sowell, talking about the economics of poverty. Click here.
Thanks, Russ, always good to read your thoughts. So my question is, if we acknowledge that poverty exists, what (as individuals or collectively as society) do we do to alleviate it? I completely agree with you that government has failed in its endeavors. What's so interesting is that in our great-grandfather's book on Taylor County Iowa it was the local community and its citizens and churches that provided facilities for the poor as well as children who were orphaned. I don't have answers. I have volunteered on poverty programs, say prayers for those without, live simply.
ReplyDeleteGreat question Steve. Here is my take on it. First of all, I believe that poverty is caused, mainly, by the breakdown of the family (especially in the black community) and failure of individuals to take personal responsibility. Many who are impoverished got there by poor choices, such as education, drugs, absence of fathers in the home, having kids out of wedlock, etc. Now, I agree, we, need to help those who need help. I agree that the community, meaning us as individuals, the church and private organizations, such as religious organizations, need to do most of the work. Government is not the answer. Government can facilitate our help, but it cannot solve it. Government can help by promoting the family, and personal responsibility.
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comments Steve. Hope you're doing well.