As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, we have an opportunity to revisit not only the ideals we celebrate, but the promises we have yet to fully realize.
In this guest column for Spotlight on Poverty & Opportunity, I reflect on one founding phrase we don’t talk about enough: the commitment to “promote the general Welfare.”
Welfare was never meant to be a narrow label, but a question of how we are faring as a people. My hope is that this anniversary year invites us to reclaim welfare as well-being, and to see the systems that help people find stable ground as part of the democratic infrastructure our future depends on.
Thank you to Spotlight on Poverty & Opportunity for creating a thoughtful, nonpartisan space for dialogue about poverty, opportunity, and economic mobility. At a time when too many people still struggle to find stable ground, their work helps keep attention focused on both the realities people face and the solutions within reach.
