To the Editor:
That poverty disappeared is hard to believe, but true. Not here in the United States, where elections are won by how much we can condemn those receiving benefits, but in Manitoba, Canada during the 1970s.
There are global programs to eradicate extreme poverty in four years that failed. The Census Bureau notes 14.5 percent of Americans in 2013 lived in poverty and for every adult that received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, there were three children who received these benefits. Given all the loud and angry cries about people on welfare it is often a shock that it only costs 12 percent of our federal budget (Center on Budget and Policies Priorities, www.cbpp.org).
“Poverty in Context” noted that in the mid-1800s, our culture changed to one that was antipoverty and similar to what we see today. Politicians began to define freedom as the key to success and slavery offered no freedom.
Poverty happens when freedoms are taken away – when public education is not offered, when chronic illness limits our capacity to work, and when we are not seen as a value to US success – even when we are working full time.
The best news is poverty once stopped for five years in Manitoba. It was dubbed “Mincome.” It was kept secret due to a political landscape change.
In 2014 it resurfaced as a Dutch TV crew prepared a Mincome documentary – basic income has gained traction in countries including Scotland, Switzerland, Namibia, Uganda, and India. Today, European countries of Austria, France, Germany, and others are looking at unconditional basic income initiatives as a way to save millions in social assistance programs.
Mincome succeeded at cutting costs without wasting tax dollars on photo electronic bank transfer cards that have a history of years in use producing zero fraud cases. Personally, I prefer to save in administrative costs and gain in the stability of a family.
As the recipients gained full-time employment they became role models for their kids and the kids did not have to work to keep food on the table. Poverty disappeared along with administrative expenses – a good investment that costs less and benefits our future generations.
