Part 214. Galbraith, King and Popper.

In The Affluent Society (1958) Kenneth William Galbraith describes an 'underclass' consisting of people in low paid dead-end jobs who nevertheless provide vital services: rubbish collectors, packers, janitors, drain cleaners, shop staff etc. Individuals in well paid employment with comfortable working environments and career progression relied on the work and low pay of the underclass in order to maintain their own comfortable lifestyle. Politically it was hard to sell to the better off the idea that they should pay more tax to lift people out of low wages and also tackle the systemic issues of poor eduction, poor housing, poor health, poor public transport etc. Galbraith observed that the state had the means but lacked the political will to act. Or rather, selfish self interest in the electorate beats altruism.

However the reaction in the USA was not all negative. indeed during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations federal funding was made available to improve living conditions for the poor in society. Information on this is available through a search-engine. The fact is that, partly through the prompting of Galbraith, issues surrounding the causes of poverty did become major political issues and were acted upon.

Martin Luther King Jnr is remembered particularly for his non-violent campaigning and demonstrating for racial equality. This aspect of his work has tended to push into the background his call for radical redistribution of wealth and systemic change in society to tackle poverty, marginalisation and discrimination.  Three examples:

We must recognise that we can't solve our problems now until there is a radical redistribution of economic and political power.....this means a revolution of values and other things. We must see now that the evils of racism, economic exploitation and militarism are all tied together....you can't really get rid of one without getting rid of others....the whole structure of American life must change. 

I am now convinced that the simplest approach will prove the most effective. The solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed matter: the guaranteed income.  The time has come for us to civilise ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.

I am sure that none of you would want to rest content with the superficial kind of social analysis that deals merely with effects and does not grapple with underlying causes.

See Part 211 for comment on Karl Popper.

The thread running through the above is the need for political action now to tackle the systemic causes of poverty.  The task  for churches in the UK is to campaign vigorously so that the message is heard in social media and political circles, but most importantly is acted upon by the politicians. A start has been made: there is a mountain to climb.