Ideas? Cool — Let's Hear 'Em.

Andy said: This country has spent over $7 trillion dollars in anti-poverty programs since the "war on poverty" started in '64. So far, that $7 trillion has subsidized poverty... Just because people like myself want to try another approach doesn't mean we care about the poor any less.

Understood on all points. I'd love to hear about another approach — or several, if you've got 'em. Seriously.

I would reason that most every American citizen would like to stop spending tax dollars on unsuccessful poverty programs, but doing so to help others improve their lives will most likely require actions from our government, that is unless we can make everyone promise — cross-their-hearts-and-hope-to-die — to support his fellow American.