A MESSAGE TO CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKERS IN ALABAMA: LET’S GET SERIOUS ABOUT POVERTY
The state of Alabama has a serious issue that does not receive the proper amount of attention, discussion, or energy from our lawmakers— specifically conservative lawmakers. This issue is poverty. As of 2016, Alabama ranks as the fourth poorest state in our Union, in which 900,000 (close to 20%) Alabamians live under the federal poverty line. It is important to note that Alabamian’s purchasing power ranks among the top in the United States, meaning our dollars go further than in states such as California; however, this does not negate or excuse the poverty crisis our state is enduring. To accompany this abysmal statistic, there are other figures that show the economic sickness of our state. The labor participation rate, or those currently employed or seeking employment is a mere 55.3 %, one of the lowest in the country. This signals that people in Alabama, along with the rest of the country, are beginning to give up looking for work, amplifying the cycle of poverty that people so often are trapped in.
Poverty goes well beyond materialistic deprivation. Evidence continuously shows that those living in poverty/joblessness experience increased feelings of hopelessness, higher divorce rates, the intensification of disease severity, lower levels of happiness, and higher rates of suicide. To imagine 900,000 Alabamians enduring this material destitution or mental desolation is truly horrifying and should lead us to a desire to see those in poverty be provided a pathway out of this perilous cycle. Whether you are a Christian who is motivated to assist the poor by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and scripture or an atheist motivated by compassion, we can all agree that those who live in poverty should be tended to. This is where the argument typically begins among individuals — what is the best way to assist those in poverty?
It is at this point in the discussion where conservatives usually begin citing off facts and figures about budgets, dollars, and tax brackets, which often leads to the perception that conservatives don’t care about people, only money. In fact, one poll suggests that only 5 percent of Americans feel that the term compassionate describes the Republican party “very well (Brooks, 2015).” In other words, people do not feel that conservatives care about people, particularly those who are poor. Is this perception of Republicans and Conservatives true? Evidence indicates otherwise. Studies have shown that conservatives are more generous than liberal counterparts as a whole; so why is there such a negative perception attached to conservatives? Being compelled by Arthur Brook’s take on this issue in his recent book, The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America, and as I briefly touched on earlier, I believe this negative perception comes from how conservatives communicate ideas on poverty to the public.
Here are a few suggestions I want to ask conservative lawmakers to consider as they make their way to Montgomery this upcoming legislative session.
TALK ABOUT POVERTY
I realize this may seem obvious, but based on my following of Alabama politics, I do not recall a conservative lawmaker in recent years being a true champion for the poor. If I am wrong about this, I accept full responsibility and welcome correction. When I say the term “champion,” I am not suggesting someone who depthlessly throws around the word poverty in opposition to Democrats disproved welfare state solution to poverty. What I mean by “champion” is a conservative who spends countless hours studying poverty, speaking with those in poverty, and educating his or her Republican and Democrat colleagues on real solutions to poverty. Though Alabama’s legislative session only lasts several months, serious work can be done to help those in poverty when lawmakers are out of session.
SPEAK ABOUT THOSE IN POVERTY WITH CARE
Remember earlier I included the startling statistic that the vast majority of Americans do not believe conservatives care about the poor, or people in general. Knowing this, we as conservatives must be careful when discussing the poor. If we begin our case by labeling those in poverty as “lazy” or “moochers,” it hurts our chances of showing the public our authentic concern for those in poverty and even worse — it prevents us from garnering support for real solutions to help those in need. Are there those who abuse our safety net for the poor? Of course. Reforms should be made to prevent such abuse. However, this abuse cannot distract us from helping those who are in genuine need.
CONSERVATIVE POLICIES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FIGHTING POVERTY
Since 1970, starvation level poverty has decreased globally by over 80%(Brooks, 2015). In the 1970's, 1 out of every 4 people in the world was living on a dollar a day or less. Fast forward to now and only 1 in 20 people globally are living by this standard (inflation being accounted for). I am not implying that we should halt efforts on eliminating poverty, but there are billions fewer people living in extreme poverty today in comparison to only decades ago; this is something worth rejoicing over and studying. What exactly caused this sharp reduction in global poverty? It was not foreign aid, redistribution of wealth, or the EU. Nearly all evidence indicates that this amazing accomplishment was made possible by free trade, property rights, rule of law, and entrepreneurship. If you did not catch the theme, all of these concepts make up the larger idea that is the free enterprise system, which is fundamental to conservatism. As we move forward in combating poverty in Alabama, let us not forget the billions of individuals who are no longer living in extreme poverty thanks to free enterprise and conservatism. When engaged in a debate about the best way to fight poverty, understand that no other ideology has seen more success in alleviating those who are impoverished than conservatism and free enterprise. Communicate conservatism as the moral choice as we fight against poverty.
LIBERAL POLICIES HAVE FAILED IN FIGHTING POVERTY
Not only should conservatives understand the success of free enterprise in fighting poverty, conservatives should understand the failure of liberal policies in genuinely helping the poor. I will not argue against the evidence that welfare and government spending has assisted modestly in lifestyle improvements and increases in material possession; however, I believe technological advances, competition, and entrepreneurship have played a bigger role in this improvement of living conditions. Ironically, while global poverty has decreased over the past few decades, poverty here in the United States has, for the most part, remain unchanged. While the rest of the world was embracing free enterprise, America decided to engage in an experiment known as the War on Poverty, which was part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society proposals. In 1966, as Johnson’s proposal began to be put into effect, the poverty rate was 14.7%. In 2013, after $15 trillion had been spent, the poverty rate in the United States is essentially unchanged at 14.5% (Brooks, 2015). This is only one example of our misunderstanding of how to fight poverty. The government putting money into peoples’ pockets is only a temporary solution to this extremely complex problem. Liberal proposals have not consistently exemplified the capabilities of focusing on poverty at its core. Because of this failure of understanding poverty and the effects that go well beyond material deprivation, I would say liberal policies have failed those living in poverty, making it the immoral choice (not suggesting those who have adopted these ideas were immoral people)to fight poverty.
MOVING FORWARD
The topic of poverty in one that is difficult to explain in a short period of time, and I am aware that this piece only looked to the surface of several concepts and ideas. Democrats and Republicans can work together on this. Democrats and those leaning more liberal typically express a greater concern for the poor and Republicans and those leaning toward conservatism have the policies to truly help the poor. Because of this, Democrats and Republicans can come together to help those who need it the most. It is important to not think of those in poverty as problems who are incapable of earning their own success, who are simply after material goods. Those in poverty have the potential to make grand contributions to our state and society. It is the duty of our elected officials, Democrat and Republican, and those who are more fortunate, to put forth ideas, policies, and resources for those who are impoverished to have the opportunities to experience earned success, the value of work, the dignity of providing for their families, and self-sustainability that many of us have experienced. Combating poverty will not be easy. There are many areas we must focus on as we move forward in addressing the root causes of poverty such as family stability, rewarding work, creating jobs, and education reform. Poverty is not an issue that can be cured through money. Though it may seem like a daunting challenge, it is our duty as human beings to serve others and create for them the opportunity to live in an environment that promotes human flourishing.
Sources:
The Conservative Heart: How to Build a Fairer, Happier, and More Prosperous America Hardcover — July 14, 2015 by Arthur C. Brooks
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/conservatives_more_liberal_giv.html
