The U.S. spent over $1.6 trillion in welfare in 2022 alone, which is $1.2 trillion more than what was spent on welfare in the early 1960s when the War on Poverty began. There are now over 100 million who have received assistance of some kind in America when factoring both citizens and noncitizens. Between 2020 and 2022 alone, U.S. welfare fraud totaled over $150 billion. The poverty rate in America has been relatively flat with it hovering between 10 and 15 percent for the past 50 years.
This War on Poverty has not eliminated poverty. It has only incentivized more use of it as the government simultaneously makes it harder for people to afford everyday living expenses.
The Libertarian Party calls for the phasing out of the welfare system and a shift toward private charity.
Libertarians know that the best scrutiny and transparency comes from decentralized support and the government getting out of the way. This isn’t difficult to imagine. Charitable giving is already high with some $484.85 billion given in 2021 alone.
When everyone is keeping significantly more of their money, and the altruistic public is free to help others without the government arresting them for feeding and housing the homeless, we can have a true end to poverty in America.