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A review by brendamn
Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond
5.0
To abolish poverty in America the estimated cost Desmond suggests is $177 billion, if it was applied to most effective programs and initiatives of course. It is not so much a magic number, but more the best starting point if seriously approached. His answer to the knee-jerk question of where that money would come from is straightforward, the cheaters. Those who cheat on their taxes and corporations who squirrel money away in shell companies, which puts our government at over a $1 trillion loss.
It is of course not a new idea, and it has generated much debate of course as to whether it would be an effective approach. Though in the end, it is crazy not to at least try. They may just change their tactics to hold on to their ill got gains, but just throwing our hands up in they air and not trying at all is insane. "There is no point so just let them keep it" in the end is what really is least effective, it does absolutely nothing at all. Give the IRS some actual teeth to do its job at least, and if you don't like that idea then pick another one from the pile, choose whatever method looks best to you. If after that nothing changes by all means go ahead and say "See, I told you so.", the fact is we would have at least tried.
He dives much deeper into this, but it was what stood out to me the most. Because it really can be that simple. The illusion of scarcity, segregation via housing and zoning, and the hypocrisy of how people demonize the idea of subsidizing people in poverty even though the affluent are verifiably the most heavily subsidized group in the U.S. are other things that he covers incredibly well.
In my opinion, Poverty, by America ought to be the last book that needed to be written on this subject at all. He nails everything. The vast majority of books I have read regarding income inequality spend a lot of time analyzing the subject, exploring the results of their findings, and then devote a final section or chapter of possible solutions. This entire book is all solutions. If you want to know what our nation both on a governmental and personal level need to do in order to eradicate poverty, it is all here. No more exploration is needed, this is it.
Though to be real, the chances of that happening are slim at best. But the important thing that Desmond proves with this book is that it can happen, it is a goal we have the resources to achieve. The impoverished are not who is the most responsible for their station in life, it is the system our society is designed around that keeps them there. Most of those in poverty can do everything in their power to escape their situation, but in the end it is up to the rest of us and our institutions who can bring about the most change.
It is of course not a new idea, and it has generated much debate of course as to whether it would be an effective approach. Though in the end, it is crazy not to at least try. They may just change their tactics to hold on to their ill got gains, but just throwing our hands up in they air and not trying at all is insane. "There is no point so just let them keep it" in the end is what really is least effective, it does absolutely nothing at all. Give the IRS some actual teeth to do its job at least, and if you don't like that idea then pick another one from the pile, choose whatever method looks best to you. If after that nothing changes by all means go ahead and say "See, I told you so.", the fact is we would have at least tried.
He dives much deeper into this, but it was what stood out to me the most. Because it really can be that simple. The illusion of scarcity, segregation via housing and zoning, and the hypocrisy of how people demonize the idea of subsidizing people in poverty even though the affluent are verifiably the most heavily subsidized group in the U.S. are other things that he covers incredibly well.
In my opinion, Poverty, by America ought to be the last book that needed to be written on this subject at all. He nails everything. The vast majority of books I have read regarding income inequality spend a lot of time analyzing the subject, exploring the results of their findings, and then devote a final section or chapter of possible solutions. This entire book is all solutions. If you want to know what our nation both on a governmental and personal level need to do in order to eradicate poverty, it is all here. No more exploration is needed, this is it.
Though to be real, the chances of that happening are slim at best. But the important thing that Desmond proves with this book is that it can happen, it is a goal we have the resources to achieve. The impoverished are not who is the most responsible for their station in life, it is the system our society is designed around that keeps them there. Most of those in poverty can do everything in their power to escape their situation, but in the end it is up to the rest of us and our institutions who can bring about the most change.