The War on Poverty in U-Hauls: When Government Aid Can’t Save a Town

LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/watchdog-on-wall-street-with-chris-markowski/id570687608 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2PtgPvJvqc2gkpGIkNMR5i WATCH and SUBSCRIBE on: https://www.youtube.com/@WatchdogOnWallstreet/featured A heartbreaking Wall Street Journal report from McDowell County, West Virginia exposes the limits—and unintended consequences—of decades of anti-poverty programs. Billions in federal spending, from welfare to Medicare and Medicaid, have failed to revive a county that’s lost nearly 70% of its population. Instead, dependency has replaced aspiration, and entire towns are fading away. In this episode, Chris revisits Appalachia, the legacy of LBJ’s Great Society, and the harsh reality of economic decline. Drawing on Joseph Schumpeter’s “creative destruction” and a blunt insight from comedian Sam Kinison, we ask the uncomfortable question: would it be better to help people move to opportunity rather than endlessly pouring money into places with no future—and even return some areas to nature?