Poverty and Welfare Today it seems as if everyone has a theory about fighting poverty, now it is not necessary to be moving in the theoretical plane. Our country has had successful anti-poverty programs that were effective back a century ago, effective because they were based on these seven points: affiliation, bonding, categorization, discernment, employment, freedom, and God. But a key element in all of them is personal involvement and challenge, both material and spiritual. If folks a hundred years ago could help others to move out of poverty, and then turn their attention to the next group of immigrants and impoverished, why can't we? Did they have more ti