Social Science and Social Policy

Two Parent Advantage

"The role of social science," he would write, "lies not in the formulation of social policy, but in the measurement of its results." Not in postulating what will work but in demonstrating what does work. And, increasingly, what does not work. 

 

The above paragraph is taken rom George Will's column, including the Daniel Patrick Moynihan quote.  Will explains that policy has results, and social scientists should explain the results (what works), not promote any particular policy (what will work). 

I consider myself a libertarian with some conservative leanings.  I am often told that conservatives do have compassion for the less privileged.  While liberals go on and on telling us everything we should be doing to help those same people.  If I express an opinion about school choice, I am told I do not want poor kids to be educated.  Likewise if I express my disdain for Obama-care, I am told I want granny to die.  Nothing could be further from the truth. Meanwhile their programs intended to raise the poor and uneducated out of the poverty they find themselves in have not succeeded in the least.

Ever since the 1960's and President Johnson's war on poverty, the percentage of citizens living in poverty has not changed very much if at all. (USNews & World Report)

The bottom line is this: If you wait until after you graduate high school to get married, and wait until after marriage to have children, your likelihood of living in poverty is about 10% of what it would be if you change the order of those three events in any way.

Liberals have great intentions.  Despite all the policies they have implemented in 50 years, they just cannot demonstrate the results we all desire.  Maybe it is time to listen to conservatives and libertarians.