Government programs supposedly provide a social safety net, but politicians are, in fact, largely indifferent to the well-being of the poor, because poor voters turn out in lower numbers and do not finance America’s expensive election campaigns. Indeed, the evidence strongly suggests that US politicians tend to listen and respond only to their richer constituents.
深信个人主义、自由市场的美国就不同了。家庭几乎得不到现金支持。政府项目本可以提供社会安全网，但事实上，政客对穷人的福祉大多漠不关心，因为贫穷选民数量较低，也不能为美国昂贵的选举活动贡献资金。事实上，证据有礼地表明，美国政客往往只听得到有钱选民的声音并作出回应。所谓的社会安全网也因此遭受打击，美国穷人亦然。