Crossing Divides: New Common Ground on Poverty and Economic Security

Major ideological divisions endure in public policy debates over poverty and economic security. The last decade has seen fierce battles over welfare, health care, Social Security and Medicare, taxes, and other issues critical to the lives of low-income families and individuals. However, a growing convergence of views between liberals and conservatives in key areas—such as the importance of work and personal responsibility, the need to help working families, and the need to help communities and individuals build wealth—suggests the potential for a new political consensus in coming years.