Title: We Lost the War on Poverty: Why Welfare Keeps Poor People Poor | The National Interest
Headings: We Lost the War on Poverty: Why Welfare Keeps Poor People Poor
We Lost the War on Poverty: Why Welfare Keeps Poor People Poor
Content: Work is the fastest and most effective way to get out of poverty and become prosperous. Welfare programs should be designed to offer temporary help while encouraging able-bodied recipients to find work and become self-reliant. In states that have implemented time limits and welfare-to-work requirements, recipients have received job training, found jobs, and increased their incomes dramatically. They’ve also dropped off the welfare rolls. Second, we must continue to create jobs that help recipients transition to work. As we’ve seen in just the past few years, cutting taxes on individuals and businesses and cutting regulations that hinder business growth are the keys to massive new job creation, high levels of employment, and increased wages for workers. Most Americans want a social safety net that helps those who can’t help themselves and they want to help the poor find meaningful work. We’ve learned through decades of experience that throwing more money at poverty doesn’t end it. Temporary assistance, jobs training, growing the economy and promoting self-sufficiency do. As we wage the war against poverty for the next generation, let’s fight smarter.