October 27, 1999

Last week, "The New York Times" reported that the U.S. Census Bureau was working on a revision of the definition of "poverty," which if implemented could wind up boosting the government's poverty line for a family of four from $16,600 to $19,500 - a 17% increase with a stroke of the government's pen.

Subsequently, the Census Bureau declared that it was not advocating a rise in the poverty threshold, but only working with the Office of Management and Budget to present "alternative measures of poverty."

Whether the Clinton Administration goes ahead with redefining the poverty line or not, this story reveals just how arbitrary such definitions actually are. Advocates of big government have every incentive to increase the perceived number of poor, so as to expand the welfare state and ensnare more a nd more people in a web of dependency. In turn, of course, such an expansion is funded through taxes on workers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and consumers.

Real poverty - a lack of food, shelter and clothing - is far rarer in the U.S. than government poverty statistics would lead people to believe. And for those truly poor, or on the edge of poverty, the best remedies remain a growing, job-creating economy and a charitable hand up, rather than a government handout. A larger welfare state and higher taxes only serve to impoverish us all.