A Moral Imperative
Poverty violates our fundamental principles as a democratic nation and as ethically conscious individuals. American democracy is built on a simple proposition, declared in our founding documents and developed over centuries of trial and error: All Americans should have the opportunity to turn their aspirations into a meaningful and materially satisfactory life. Our nation is grounded on the idea that together we can create a society of economic advancement for all aided by a government that protects individual rights, ensures fair competition, and promotes a greater common good. The American system is not designed to guarantee that everybody will be the same, think the same, or receive the same economic rewards in life. It simply ensures that people start from a level playing field and have a reasonable shot at achieving success in life and making the most of their abilities.
Economic opportunity has served as the foundation for citizenship and civic engagement throughout our nation’s history. As political icons from Thomas Jefferson to Martin Luther King, Jr. have long recognized, core concepts such as freedom and democracy are essentially meaningless for those who lack economic independence. Simply put, one cannot fully participate in society and help shape the decisions of our government and its priorities if confined to abject poverty.
Beyond our founding principles, the moral imperative to serve the poor is a powerful theme in the social teachings of many major faith traditions in our country. Across denominations, faithful citizens are called upon to press both private and public actors to protect the most vulnerable and help those in need to build economically self-sufficient lives. Judeo-Christian traditions today speak of the ruptured “covenant with God” that leaves our fellow citizens suffering needlessly amid great national wealth.
Tags: High Cost of Poverty
