Liberal Forum

Fuelman » 21 Sep 2024, 11:01 am » wrote: ↑

21 Sep 2024, 11:01 am

One thing is for sure, these programs haven't really moved the needle for reducing poverty.

The poverty rate was 11.9% in 1972 and 11.5% in 2022. The rate has hovered between 11% – 14% for 50 years. We have made lives more comfortable for 50 years but haven’t lowered the poverty rate.

I missed this post so let me address this, because your take is severely flawed.

1) The federal poverty rate is laughable based on their income thresholds, so I would take the Census’ numbers with a heaping pile of salt, just as I do with every number pumped out from the BLS - Bureau of Lies and Sh*t.

2) “We’ve had welfare for decades and the poverty rate hasn’t changed, therefore it must be ineffective.”

You cannot draw this conclusion because welfare and poverty is a complex subject. There’s a reason multivariate regression analysis exists in statistics and natural sciences.

The goal of “welfare” - at least in the US - is to keep those who are poor from sliding into extreme poverty, not to lift people out of poverty. When viewed this way, “welfare” is actually a resounding success.

(The other goal is to recycle the currency into the hands of the poor - also a success)

Aside from disability benefits, there are few if ANY welfare payments that cover actual expenses (e.g. food stamps are around $300 / month but grocery bills are easily $350-450 / month per person if you eat healthier foods and not ramen noodles and milk/cereal/Campbell’s soup 2x a day)
 
Maybe @Cannonpointer  can chime in since he has more experience dealing with poor people, I just know by doing the MATH that “welfare” is certainly not designed to lift anyone out of poverty - so the assumption is invalid