American Poverty: Presidential Failures and a Call to Action

Poverty has been a fact of American life since the nation’s founding; every American president has faced this scourge during his administration in one way or another. Whether bound up in the problems of slavery, immigration, or the recent financial and housing crises, the cycle of poverty has bedeviled presidents, policymakers, legislators, and scholars for more than two centuries. Yet poverty is increasing, not disappearing. One out of three Americans is now living at or below the poverty line, according to recent studies. How did this happen?Woody Klein explores the anti-poverty programs―or lack thereof―during each successive administration, explaining how and why no president thus far has been able to end poverty. American Poverty urges the president and Congress to work together to finally eradicate poverty in America.Poverty is the Achilles’ heel of our national and economic security, Klein asserts. Unless the chasm between rich and poor can be bridged, America will never live up to its full potential as the most successful democracy on earth. Will the White House answer the call?