The New American Poverty
Year: 1984
Type: article
Abstract: SPEECH The New American Poverty* Michael Harrington** Poverty in America is an issue with growing visibility. Both its gravity and the attention focused on it will increase during this decade. True, there has always been poverty in America. Fundamental transformations in Ameri- can life, however, have changed the national landscape so much that I feel it appropriate to speak of the new American poverty. What are these changes? They are many, but they include the broadening of poverty; the popular disillusion with the social welfare policy developed in the United States from the time of Franklin Roosevelt through the administration of Lyn- don Johnson; the internationalization of the economy and forces of produc- tion; and the complex technological revolution rapidly transforming work patterns throughout the world. The new poverty will be a policy issue of the first order for the rest of the decade, and probably for the rest of the century. Though some may accuse me of being wildly optimistic, I am willing to hazard that this second term of the Reagan presidency marks the beginning of the end of the conservative era in American politics. I believe that we are on the eve of a new period of social change. I say this because I am absolutely convinced that Ronald Reagan has not solved any of the fundamental problems of the American economy. The finan- cial crisis that threatened the Reagan administration in 1981-1983 will re- emerge in 1985-1986. Supply side economics is a total failure, and this will become apparent. Americans will be forced to face up to the issue of poverty in a way they have not done since the 1960's. Within this context of a certain pessimism and a certain optimism, let me approach the theme of the new poverty in three different ways. First, I want to discuss what I mean by the new poverty. Second, I want to look at the causes of the new poverty. Third, I want to put forth some ideas about a new program to combat the new poverty. * This speech is an edited version of the keynote address which was presented at the conference, Poverty, Justice & Equality: New Directions for Public Policy, held at the University of California, Los Angeles on September 15, 1984. Selected responses to this address are also included. Due to the expository nature of this address, the sources referred to by the orators are not footnoted. ** Professor of Political Science at Queens College, New York and co-chairperson of Demo- cratic Socialists of America. His book, THE OTHER AMERICA (1962) is considered by many to have been a major impetus for Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty. His most recent book is THE NEW AMERICAN POVERTY (1984).
Author: Michael Harrington
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: No poverty
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1584844806