NYTimes | Poverty in the United States is deeper than in all other wealthy
nations. Yet neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump has a specific
anti-poverty agenda.
Mr.
Trump has said that more jobs will help cure poverty — which no one
disagrees with. His promises to create jobs, however, are hollow.
Historical evidence and economic analysis
indicate that his agenda — less trade, less immigration and huge tax
cuts for the wealthy — would harm job growth. Even his recent attempts
at a middle-class agenda, including subsidies for child care, and paid
maternity leave have been fatally flawed. The former skews toward
high-income earners and the latter relies on states to come up with the
money.
The failure to talk frankly about poverty is especially regrettable in light of this week’s Census Bureau report.
