Since Lyndon B. Johnson launched the War on Poverty nearly 60 years ago, we have spent more than $22 trillion on social welfare programs. And what do we have to show for it? Stagnating wages, an even larger gap between rich and poor, the highest out of wedlock birth rate in US history, and millions of Americans on food stamps.
Almost always the answer to any of the above problems is more funding. More funding for schools, more funding for healthcare, and more funding for social programs across all levels of government. But if the persistence of poverty over the last several decades has shown us anything, it is that more funding is often as futile as bloodletting. Why? Because none of these programs, as well intentioned as they are, address the root cause of our social dysfunction.
Fatherlessness.
Hey, Comically Transparent Partisan Hack you forgot to enlighten us about this:
Nice sounding sentiments and platitudes about "cultural" change. Such talk is cheap. What specific actions, to be started right now, do you suggest?
Poverty isn't just a symptom. It's a social ill that is also a cause of single parent homes.
That's why it's called " the cycle of poverty." You break a vicious circle by interrupting it.
Gee, you seem out of sorts much more than usual.
In other words, you have no policy suggestions.
Oh I have plenty of suggestions starting with scrapping the futile policies of recent history.
We could also focus on the importance of the modern day nuclear family, two loving parents regardless of differing skin colors, differing religions, while accepting those who are of the same sex.
70 million Americans are 18 or under and one in every four is in a household of one parent. In large metro areas 55% are black.
Everyone has to have a hand in positive reinforcement of the two parent family, Churches, Hollywood, the Internet, all forms of government, and political leaders. We need to stop worrying about what bathrooms we use, or pronouns we choose, and focus on strong family life, community involvement, and those activities that are complementary.