Only in America

Here's an article in the New York Times about China's (largely successful) program to eliminate extreme poverty in some of its poorest rural provinces. What is striking to me is that the general tone of the article is negative, stressing how expensive and "unsustainable" the program is. There are plenty of things in China about which to be skeptical, but only in America would a program that has successfully helped tens of millions of people out of poverty be presented as something negative.

On a macro level, the US is the richest country ever. But one reason for our incredible income inequality is that subsidies that help the poor are described--even by liberals--as unsustainable, when at the same time much greater (and more permanent) subsidies to the richest individuals and businesses are not questioned. China seems to actually be serious about eliminating extreme poverty, and has devoted real resources to accomplish it. If only America had the same commitment.