How Third Reconstruction Ended Poverty in America

Come Face to Face with the Truth: Debunking Social Inclusion Misconceptions

Edward L. Kingsley

The controversial proposal that was published last week and bears the title "Comprehensive Top-Down Solution for Combatting Poverty and Low Wages" implores Congress to recognize that over 140 million Americans are currently living in poverty, which is "morally reprehensible." The document also acknowledges that the US federal budget is a reflection of the nation's priorities and values.

While policies supporting comprehensive bottom-up poverty reduction have gained traction in countries such as Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, the United States has yet to embrace this approach. Regardless of whether these countries are governed by center-right parties (like Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway) or center-left parties (like Canada, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden), they all believe in ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to live a dignified, independent life free from economic influence.

In Europe, these types of economies are often referred to as "social markets" or "social democracies." However, these terms are less commonly used and understood in the United States, particularly by right-wing news outlets like Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, which disseminate misinformation about social inclusion by labeling these mainstream ideas as "socialist" and sowing fear among less-informed Americans.

Here's a straightforward explanation of how an inclusive economy works: Every child has access to quality healthcare, childcare, and education. By leveraging collective bargaining and public employment standards, every worker earns a fair wage, including vacation time, family leave, and sick days. Encouraging civic participation and maintaining simple and straightforward voter registration processes helps ensure that citizens make informed decisions. People are able to work productively but also enjoy time with their families and leisure activities.

Countries with inclusive economies typically generate more government revenue (as a percentage of GDP) than the United States, allowing governments to reduce income inequality and invest in high-quality public services and infrastructure.

Renowned statistics reveal that in several key aspects of life, the United States lags behind many inclusive economies. These statistics include lower life expectancy, higher poverty rates, no guaranteed paid sick leave, more work hours per year, and, yes, less overall happiness.

To truly understand the benefits of an inclusive economy, one must examine the history of its implementation.

The First Reconstruction (1865-1877)

The first Reconstruction era came about after the Civil War when newly freed African Americans, for the first time in the South, enjoyed the right to vote. Using their political power, they initiated public education in the region. However, this brief thrust towards equality was brutally cut short when white supremacists returned to power, introducing a system of racial segregation designed to keep African Americans in a subordinate position through vagrancy laws, lynchings, and violent repression.

The Second Reconstruction (1940s-1960s)

During this period, many of the racially discriminatory laws that characterized the earlier era were torn down by the civil rights movement, but the underlying racism that fueled that era was not entirely eradicated. This was followed by a shift in Republican Party policies under Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, which saw the mass incarceration of young, black men, often as a new form of modern slavery (as depicted in the film "13th").

The foundations of a social democratic society are based on the principle of equal rights for all citizens before the law and in the market economy. However, the United States has been embroiled in a constant struggle to put this "very American" concept into practice.

From the outset, the original authors of the Constitution did not include a system that promoted racial or gender equality. Instead, they established a system that enslaved African Americans, oversaw ethnic cleansing and genocide against indigenous peoples, and denied women the right to vote or basic legal protections. When immigrants arrived, wealthy elites attempted to coopt some of them by using the politics of white supremacy, while pushing others into a vast underclass of poor and non-white people.

Historically, Europe has grappled with its share of class, gender, and religious divisions, all sources of conflict and hatred. However, racial-based policies in America are a relatively new development. In fact, Nazi Germany learned from American policies such as discriminatory immigration laws and genocidal wars against indigenous peoples. Adolf Hitler was an avid reader of Karl May's novels about the war against Native Americans, which had paved the way for settlers to occupy the West.

The Third Reconstruction

The latest poverty statistics released by the US Census Bureau paint a grim picture, with poverty rates for non-Hispanic whites at 7.3% in 2019, before the pandemic began. For African Americans, these rates are significantly higher at 18.8%, while they stand at 15.7% and a staggering 20.3% for Hispanics and Native Americans and Alaska Natives, respectively. Researchers at Columbia University have reported that poverty worsened in the early months of the pandemic.

The proposed resolution put forth by the House of Representatives aims to combat poverty from the bottom up by focusing on strengthening the rights of poor and marginalized communities. The first mechanism involves ensuring that poor and marginalized communities have the right to vote. Rich white Americans have historically attempted to maintain power by suppressing the vote of poor and marginalized communities, and they are doing it again by enacting new voter suppression laws.

The second mechanism involves reversing the long-term decline in organized labor, which has been caused by the ongoing economic war against labor unions. The third mechanism involves establishing fair labor standards, enforcing anti-discrimination laws, and requiring living wages, paid holidays, vacation time, and good working conditions. The fourth mechanism involves supporting social programs and ensuring that access to education and healthcare is guaranteed as fundamental, constitutionally protected rights.

According to W.E.B. Du Bois, America's foremost historian and brilliant orator, the failure of the first Reconstruction was characterized by wealthy white elites, landowners in the South and capitalists in the North, who divided the working class by offering poor whites a chance to move ahead by pitting them against poorer blacks. Du Bois believed that poor whites were the "swing vote" in American politics: Would they cast their ballots based on their own economic interests or align with the wealthy white oligarchy?

The same tactic is being used today by white supremacists, who are trying to persuade poor whites to vote against labor unions, decent wages, modern infrastructure, healthcare, and fair taxes, using the lies of the federal government as a smokescreen.

Conclusion

The purpose of the Third Reconstruction should be to bring an end to the dominant position of wealthy white oligarchs once and for all, creating a society in which equality before the law reigns in voting booths, schools, hospitals, and places of work.

A majority of Americans now support policies that strengthen social barriers, such as an active government that supports healthcare, education, infrastructure, and other public investments and services. If new attempts at voter suppression fail to keep poor people from voting, the Third Reconstruction will likely succeed. As the saying goes, "The third time's the charm."

Bonus Content

In light of the recent proposal for comprehensive bottom-up solutions to reduce poverty and improve living standards, it is crucial to dispel common misconceptions about social inclusion. Misunderstandings surrounding DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) can lead to biased practices, stagnant progress, and systematic disparities. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about DEI and how to address them:

1. Misconception: The primary focus of DEI is on identity, not merit.
2. Reality: DEI efforts aim to eliminate biases in the hiring process, ensuring that all qualified candidates are given equal consideration. This does not mean lowering standards, but rather providing equal opportunities to cultivate a diverse pool of talent.
3. Misconception: DEI initiatives create division or reinforce stereotypes.
4. Reality: DEI fosters an environment of respect, belonging, and support, acknowledging differences while breaking down barriers between groups. While acknowledging different identities, it promotes unity by addressing systems that perpetuate inequality.
5. Misconception: DEI only benefits minorities or alleged "woke" agendas.
6. Reality: DEI benefits all individuals, regardless of race, gender, or background, by creating fair and equitable practices. Studies show that DEI initiatives can benefit white populations as well, such as by lowering negative health outcomes in states with greater racial diversity[1][2].

To combat poverty from the bottom up, it is crucial to address these misconceptions and promote inclusive practices along the way.

Sources

[1] Laird, C., & Wessler, R. B. (2020). Reducing Racial Disparities in Birth Outcomes: Evidence from State Policies. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 40(2), 331-368.

[2] Humphries, D., & Sojka, M. (2020). The Role of DEI in Organizational Success. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 29(1), 51-82.