Two words that you don’t hear together very often are opportunity and poverty. But the poor think about it. Do you think those in poverty want more welfare? Or, do you think they would rather have more opportunities? The Cato Institute sponsored a welfare opinion poll with YouGov.com. Cato’s report on the poll is entitled “The Poor Want More Opportunity, Not More Welfare Spending.” It found the following:
- 59 percent of welfare recipients say that the government should focus on eliminating the underlying causes of poverty, as opposed to “giving what money we have to poor people to help them get on their feet.”
- 76 percent of welfare recipients believe that increased economic growth will do more to reduce poverty than would increasing welfare spending.
- 77 percent of Americans call the war on poverty “ineffective.”
- 63 percent of people receiving welfare today say that the War on Poverty has not succeeded.
- 58 percent of welfare recipients said that even if the government had unlimited spending it could not end poverty.
Financial Independence, poverty, and opportunity
The poor want to earn their financial independence, just like their fellow citizens. They want to be a contributing part of the community. They know that opportunity will get them there. They know that “hand-outs” won’t. We need to keep that in mind as we think about welfare reform and giving our fellow citizens a “hand-up.”
Most Americans want those in poverty to get their financial independence. That is why 77% feel the war on poverty is ineffective. We have increased spending dramatically over the years, but we haven’t lowered the poverty rate. More. When we think about opportunity and welfare is it just about a lack of jobs?
Lack of Jobs?
Most people believe it is a lack of jobs that wipe out the opportunity for those in poverty. That can be true, but it only impacted 7% of those in poverty that are not working. 22% of the time the poor aren’t working because they are in school and 12% say it is because they retired early. The main reason those in poverty aren’t working is that they are ill or disabled. 26% of the time it is because of a generic description called “home or family reasons.” More.
To help those in poverty to gain more opportunities we should focus on helping them tackle challenges in their life. Jobs are usually not the issue, it’s all the other stuff in life.