What's the Exit Strategy?

So, driving around listening to local talk radio. On comes a man who is irritated with with the Democrats and their attacks on the President. "What," he asks, "is the exit strategy for the War on Poverty?"

Wikipedia notes

"Since 1965 America has never seen more than a 4% drop in the poverty rate."

Now, $5 trillion dollars later, the "war" continues with almost no improvement in the rate of poverty.

n the mid-1960s President Lyndon Johnson declared a "war on poverty." Dozens of government programs were created or expanded with the goal of "abolishing poverty." Three decades and over $5 trillion later, the percentage of American's living below the poverty line is greater than when these welfare programs were established and even many activists who once advocated increasing federal assistance to the poor now agree that the attempt has been a failure.

Foundation for Economic Education

Apples and oranges? Probably, but programs without a defined "victory" goal will go on forever.