Should the U.S. government provide an anti-poverty safety net for children similar to the one that exists for the elderly?

Do you think the government should give people direct payments of this kind to keep them out of poverty? Why or why not? Should a person’s age make a difference in whether or not they are eligible for financial assistance? Consult the above chart showing how many older and younger Americans receive government benefits that lift them out of poverty. What do you notice? What do you wonder? Do you think the United States should be doing more to reduce child poverty? If so, which of the programs that Ms. Covert outlines seems like the best idea to you? If not, where do you think the responsibility to reduce poverty falls, other than with the federal government? Ms. Covert writes that the U.S. government is willing to spend money to prevent poverty among the elderly, but is “much stingier” when it comes to children. Why do you think that is? Do you think the United States should provide direct payments to families to help them raise their children? What are some benefits of these “child allowance” policies? Can you think of any downsides? With both in mind, do you think that the expanded child tax credit should have continued past December? Why do you think the child poverty rate in the United States is “a pretty extreme outlier” compared to that of many other countries? Do you think it should consider some of the social programs offered by other countries, such as universal health care or child care, or early childhood education? Ms. Covert raises counterarguments suggesting poverty persists because Americans are “unwilling to work” or because single women have children. How does Ms. Covert push back against these counterarguments? Did you find her reasoning, or any of the counterarguments, compelling? What do you think are some of the long-term consequences of child poverty, which disproportionately affects children who are Black, Hispanic and Native American? What is one statistic that stuck out to you from this piece? Why did it resonate with you?