Eradication of Poverty

Sometimes I wonder under the auspices of “The American Dream” and the current paradigm of economics (supply and demand) and the nature of capitalism (our governing authority) if it is possible to eradicate poverty. Christ stated, “the poor you will have with you always”. Are we helping others to tolerate, ameliorate, or eradicate poverty? It is not for a lack of anti-poverty programs mind you. AmeriCorps National Service VISTA and other programs are making tremendous impacts. When tides rise all ships should rise. Not so! Examine for yourself the rate of poverty when the Johnson administration declared war on it and take a look at it now. Appauling! So, while we have more billionaires than ever, we have failed to deliver the benefits of prosperity to ‘all”. This has a tremendous impact on what one eats, where one lives, works, goes for health care - if at all, where one might attend school, etc. According to the US Department of Agriculture and other studies over 20% of American’s food goes into waste each year (approximately $31 billion dollars that could have fed 49 million people or more). What are we really doing and what can really be done. Most government programs, funders and service providers want to see demonstrable outcomes…why don’t we apply the same standards to equity across the board? What do you think it will take to change the current insanity or doing feel good stuff while the money is simply not enough?