A Ten-Point Program To Abolish Povertv

THE UNITED STATES is rich in material and human resources. In 1968, the gross national product will probably reach $846 billion; the average income of families will approach $8,500. Moreover, abundance is growing. In the 1960’s alone, some $350 billion has been added to the GNP, and median family income has risen by about $2,8’75. There is every reason to expect that the technological advances nom being made will continue, that the Nation’s economy will continue to grow, and that average incomes will continue to rise. Historically, poverty has been the result of inadequate production. This situation st,ill exists in most of Asia, Africa, and South America. The great majority of people on t.hose continents are necessarily poor and will remain poor until there are major increases in the production of goods and services. By contrast, t,he abolition of poverty in the IJnitcd States is no longer a problem of productive capacity. The Nation will have t,he material resources to eliminate povert,y in the coming decade. In addition, t,here will be sufficient resources to assure the overwhelming majority of Americans (whether at. work or retired, whether widowed, orphaned, disabled, or temporarily unemployed) continuing incomes paid as a matter of righ-incomes sufficient to assure a modest but adequate level of living, not just enough to meet the very low standard that is used today to define poverty. In recent years, remarkable progress has been made toward t.he twin goals of the abolition of poverty and the provision of economic security for all. In 1960, there were 40 million people living in poverty; in 1967 the number was down to 26 million-a decline of 14 million. It appears that by January 1969, the number who are poor will have been reduced to 22 million-18 million less than in 1960 (chart 1). During this period, improvements in t,he social security program have brought higher benefit pay-