13. Welfare Programs and the Great Society
From 1950 to 1980, Americans were indeed Losing Ground. Charles Murray’s book on social policy debunks welfare programs. The programs are the problem. It is not possible to design a wealth transfer program that will not produce net harm.
Within Lyndon Johnson’s legacy of failure were the kids who were never educated, the health care system that was already working, and the jobs that weren’t created. ‘60s liberalism discouraged all the right things and encouraged all the wrong ones. Criminals went free. A good portion of Americans began to see welfare as a right.
Lecture 13 of 14 from Tom Woods’ The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History lecture series.