Paul: 50 years of fighting poverty the old way to no success means we need a better way

CONSTITUENT HOTLINE 1-888-909-RYAN (7926) Fighting Poverty on the Front Lines Our country is all about striving, but too many of our people are stuck. Over the years, Washington has made many promises, created many programs, and spent many trillions to fight poverty. Yet today in America, if you are raised poor, you are just as likely to stay poor as you were 50 years ago. No amount of government intervention—no matter how well-intentioned—can replace the great drivers of daily life: our talents and aspirations, our neighbors and loved ones, our communities and places of worship. We are all in this fight together, and we need an approach which reflects that shared responsibility. We don’t have to settle for people trapped in poverty and deprivation. There is  a better way to fight poverty. Earlier today, Paul spoke with WBEL’s Stan Milam about the House plan to tackle major problems, called  A Better Way: Our Vision for a Confident America . One of the major pieces of this agenda includes a plan to address poverty, which you can read  here . Excerpts of Paul’s conversation with Stan are below. Stan Milam : One of the local organizations, I’m sure you’re familiar with them, Community Action for Rock and Walworth Counties they have all kinds of very interesting programs, mentor programs, to help folks find jobs in the construction industry that dovetail with some of the highway projects and that sort of thing. Is that an organization that you’re using as an example of how the federal government would drill down more into the local communities?  Paul Ryan : Yes. Yes, because I’ve actually met with the Community Action many times. I’m very familiar with their mentoring program, their fatherhood program, and their work. The point I’m trying to make is: We have people in our communities who are in there with their sleeves rolled up, helping people get out of poverty, helping people reach their potential. That’s what should be supported. That’s what we should get behind, not push aside. Yes, government can provide good resources, and then resources should go with what works.  ***There’s something about communities solving these problems. There’s something about the person-to-person interaction that makes the huge difference. When the federal government tries to play this top-down bureaucratic dictation, where they try to dictate what works in communities, it’s not making a difference in the way it should. These groups are making a difference. Let’s not push them aside; let’s get behind them. And focus on results.  T o read more about Paul’s interview with Stan,  click here , and listen here . To read more about A Better Way and the House’s poverty plan,  click here .