Why We Can't End Poverty

This fascinating opinion piece in the New York Times, from two weeks back, points to several endemic reasons that poverty persists in America. Here's a pertinent quote....

"Four reasons: An astonishing number of people work at low-wage jobs. Plus, many more households are headed now by a single parent, making it difficult for them to earn a living income from the jobs that are typically available. The near disappearance of cash assistance for low-income mothers and children — i.e., welfare — in much of the country plays a contributing role, too. And persistent issues of race and gender mean higher poverty among minorities and families headed by single mothers."

...and...

"We’ve been drowning in a flood of low-wage jobs for the last 40 years. Most of the income of people in poverty comes from work. According to the most recent data available from the Census Bureau, 104 million people — a third of the population — have annual incomes below twice the poverty line, less than $38,000 for a family of three. They struggle to make ends meet every month.'

Considering that these factors are a confluence of business practices and politics, I'd say perhaps a better title for today's entry might be "Why We Won't End Poverty."