Today, for the first time in our history, we have the power to strike away the barriers to full participation in our society. Having the power, we have the duty . . .
We are fully aware that this program will not eliminate all the poverty in America in a few months or a few years. Poverty is deeply rooted and its causes are many. But this program will show the way to new opportunities for millions of our fellow citizens.
No, these aren't words ripped from today's headlines. Wishful thinking. President Lyndon said those words in 1964.
Lyndon Johnson's first job right out of college was that of a teacher. He taught poor Mexican-American children who could barely speak English. He always wanted to do more for his students, saying:
Somehow you never forget what poverty and hatred can do when you see its scars on the hopeful face of a young child.
Poverty is the root cause of our nation's education woes, but poverty is also pervasive throughout our democracy. Poverty is the enemy. Before his presidency was overshadowed by the war in Viet Nam, Lyndon Baines Johnson had started another war: the war on poverty. If Viet Nam hadn't sucked the funding out of that war, this country might have eliminated poverty once and for all. It's time to give it another shot. These are some of LBJ's accomplishment during his short term as President as he encouraged Americans to create a Great Society. From the
U.S. History website:
Job Corps was established to provide valuable vocational training.
Head Start, a preschool program designed to help disadvantaged students arrive at kindergarten ready to learn was put into place.
The VOLUNTEERS IN SERVICE TO AMERICA (VISTA) was set up as a domestic Peace Corps.
The Wilderness Protection Act saved 9.1 million acres of forestland from industrial development.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act provided major funding for American public schools.
The Voting Rights Act banned literacy tests and other discriminatory methods of denying suffrage to African Americans.
Medicare was created to offset the costs of health care for the nation's elderly.
The National Endowment for the Arts and Humanities used public money to fund artists and galleries.
The Immigration Act ended discriminatory quotas based on ethnic origin.
An Omnibus Housing Act provided funds to construct low-income housing.
Congress tightened pollution controls with stronger Air and Water Quality Acts.
Standards were raised for safety in consumer products.
From his 1965 State of the Union speech to the United States Congress:
Beyond this great chamber, out yonder in 50 states, are the people that we serve. Who can tell what deep and unspoken hopes are in their hearts tonight as they sit there and listen. We all can guess from our own lives how difficult they often find their own pursuit of happiness. How many problems each little family has. They look most of all to themselves for their futures, but I think they also look to each of us.
Today, for the second time in our history, we have the power to eliminate poverty in America. Let's do it right this time. Barak Obama, you have some mighty big shoes to fill. We are looking to you and Congress. Add an omnibus jobs bill to the list above, change Wilderness Protection Act to Planet Protection Act, and this is exactly the agenda we should be working to accomplish today. No more wars, just equitable, healthy, sustainable living for all. We can do this.