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Welfare & Poverty

Since we began to use the government in an attempt to fight a war on poverty, we've spent $5 trillion trying to get people back on their feet. We have nothing to show for this other than more poverty and calls for yet more money. Government-run welfare is an abysmal failure and must come to an end if we're truly serious about helping the poor. These programs are a burden not only on the taxpayers that must support them, but the lower income families that are lured into dependency.

Our country's greatness came from its entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic. With so many people unwilling to work to improve their futures as a result of government dependency, we risk losing everything that's been built.  From the 1940s onward, poverty was dropping at a rate of 1% per year in a relatively free market.  It wasn't until the institution of LBJ's "Great Society" that poverty flatlined, and has not decreased since.  Not only doesn't government-run welfare clearly not help those at the lower end of the income scale, it actually hinders them from working their way out.

To ensure our country's economic future and provide the greatest amount of prosperity to the greatest number of people, we must take the following actions:

• Phase out social welfare programs, which create dependency, so that Americans at all income levels can regain their dignity and take control of their lives.
• Remove regulations and obstacles for entrepreneurs that would make it difficult for someone in poverty to work their way out.
• Encourage contributions to private charities by removing any tax-deduction caps on donations so that these organizations can bridge the gap for those that are truly in need.