PART I.
A social commentator argues that the welfare programs which were introduced in the mid 1960s have caused an unprecedented expansion of poverty in the United States. Based on the following data from the Statistical Abstract of the United States 2009, would you agree or disagree with this causal statement? Explain.
Year Percent Below Poverty Level
1960 22%
1965 15%
1970 13%
1975 12%
1980 13%
1985 14%
1990 14%
1995 14%
2000 13%
2005 13%
2007 13%