Essay Database

The proportion of children growing up in poverty is more than twice as high in the United States as in Germany, France, or Scandinavia. The U.S. government spends billions on anti-poverty programs, but does not provide the kind of comprehensive safety net that's common in Western Europe. Some observers look for the explanation in American culture. I feel that the answer can be found in the political culture of Washington, D.C. Reducing child …

…To some in Washington, the example proves that it's all about power politics. That is, poor families only get help when their interests coincide with other, more favored constituencies. The simple truth in Washington today is that children do not vote, they do not lobby, they don't contribute to political campaigns, they don't pay for politicians' all-expense-paid trips. The only thing children are good for to politicians is as a photo opportunity during an election.