Poverty is still a major problem

In his 1964 State of the Union address, Lyndon B. Johnson said that poverty is a national problem, which in 1960 forced 35 million people (or 20%) to live on “the outskirts of hope”, and declared an “unconditional war on poverty in America.” LBJ launched community action programs (CAPs) to promote participation of the poor in the workforce. Black and poor community uprisings occurred with accelerating speed, but The Department of Labor reported that a “pathological” battle was responsible for black poverty. However, the resources dedicated to CAPs were quickly redirected to a growing conflict overseas in Vietnam.

2014 marks 50 years since LBJ’s State of the Union address. Much like the 1960s, United States citizens continue to live in poverty. According to the Supplemental Poverty Measure taken in 2011, 49.7 million people (or 16%) are considered to be living in poverty. Not unlike the Vietnam War, foreign wars continue to redirect federal spending. Not unlike the Civil Rights movement, our own cultural and social differences continue to affect political and ideological trends within the federal government.

What is different today are the faces of poverty. In 2014, more African-American, Latino, and high school graduate households are officially poor. Compared to 19.9% in 1960, now 72.9% of people living in poverty are high school graduates, according to the 2013 book “Legacies of the War on Poverty”.

This raises some serious concerns and questions. The United States continues to debate the costs and effectiveness of social programs as 1.3 million people have had unemployment benefits cut, and 47 million people have had their food stamp benefits cut. These programs that are meant to alleviate poverty and provide a social floor have been reduced drastically, which places more burden on privatized non-profit organizations to help people in hard times.

LBJ warned, “If we fumble away our opportunity in needless, senseless quarrels between Democrats and Republicans, or between the House and the Senate, or between the Congress and the administration, then history will rightfully judge us harshly.” We should correct the causes of poverty, and not just its affects. It is ineffective to blame the poor for the almost inescapable circumstance of poverty. It is irresponsible and sensational to even refer to this as war, like so many other cultural “wars” America wages. However, if one should fight, it should be against the political powerlessness of those in poverty. Why don’t we try to better understand the institutions and cultural norms that keep people in America impoverished?