Lets Stop Pretending Wealth Redistribution Works

One of the biggest issues in the previous Presidential campaign, and still today, is wealth redistribution. There are members of Congress fighting everyday over programs like the Affordable Care Act, SNAP (commonly referred to as Food Stamps), and TANF (commonly referred to as Welfare). The argument for these programs is that there is a class of people, who are unjustly poor, which creates a certain level of inequality. These programs are meant to assist these people, in order for them to rise out of poverty. This inequality tends to disproportionally affect minority groups, which increases the problem. While it cannot be argued that there is a large income gap in America, the idea that social welfare and redistributive programs will fix it represents a major misunderstanding of the value of equality. The fact of the matter is that we have been using these programs since the 1960s, yet very little advancements have been made for the poor of the nation. It is not because they are not funded enough, it is simply because they do not work. Sorry Bernie, that’s just how it is.

Every redistributive policy follows the same format. The government takes money form the people at the highest levels of income, and gives it to people in the lowest level of income. Essentially the government “donates” tax money to the poor for a certain cause. Recipients use this money to pay for bills, food, or whatever else they need (I am not one of those people that thinks welfare money goes to drugs and alcohol). On paper, these programs look great, but they are cosmetic and in no way a valid prescription. The stipends from the program raise recipients above the poverty line, but this growth isn’t real. They are now not poor, because of government money, not because of any advancement in their life. It ultimately makes them dependent on these checks. This money continues to flow outward, but does nothing to better the situation. While welfare checks are being paid, school districts are decaying and poor children aren’t getting a decent education. It ultimately does nothing but assures that the next generation will still be poor.

The problem is that this nation equates income to equality, but true equality does not come in the form of a monthly check. True equality is the equality of opportunity and ability. We should be putting our money into programs that give children and young adults a shot at a decent education. Take advise from the oldest adage there is: “Give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach a man to fish, he eats for a life time.” If we pour our money into paying welfare checks, then we are just putting a Band-Aid over the issue of poverty. If we invest that money into teaching skills, trades, and education we are giving the next generation very valuable and marketable skills. Skills that have the potential to actually lift masses of people out of poverty. Over time we will see a drop in poverty, a drop in government spending, and the flourishing of all people.