Since the mid-1960s, the U.S. has spent an estimated $25 trillion (adjusted for inflation) on more than 80 federal safety-net programs—with too many disappointing results. These programs have become rife with improper spending, complicated eligibility criteria, and excessive administrative bloat that ensnare recipients into dependence on government. The Foundation recommends the enactment of “Empowerment Accounts” (EAs) to replace some if not all traditional safety-net programs whereby a recipient manages (under the supervision of a community navigator) an account with state funds available for increased flexibility to purchase basic necessities along with improvements to help recipients achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
Reining in Federal Spending Through an Article V Convention of States
People often talk about the federal government as if it is set in a bubble removed from time and space, existing outside of the influence of the people. It is often forgotten that this government is made up of people selected from the public and that its authority is derived only from the consent of...