To eradicate poverty and solve most social problems, President Kennedy believed the United States needed to

To eradicate poverty and solve most social problems, President Kennedy believed the United States needed to

• A. To control runaway inflation.
• B. To grow the economy.
• C. To redistribute wealth through its tax policy.
• D. To have a strong military presence.

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that expanding the economy is the way to reduce poverty and address social problems. Kennedy believed that when the economy grows—creating more jobs and higher wages—people gain the means to lift themselves out of poverty, and government has more tax revenue to fund essential services. His approach focused on stimulating growth through policy measures like tax cuts to encourage investment and spending, rather than relying on direct redistribution of wealth or excessive defense-focused spending. While controlling inflation and maintaining national security are important, they don’t get at expanding opportunity for the broad population the way robust economic growth does. So, growing the economy is the lever Kennedy saw as the most effective path to solving widespread social issues.

The main idea is that expanding the economy is the way to reduce poverty and address social problems. Kennedy believed that when the economy grows—creating more jobs and higher wages—people gain the means to lift themselves out of poverty, and government has more tax revenue to fund essential services. His approach focused on stimulating growth through policy measures like tax cuts to encourage investment and spending, rather than relying on direct redistribution of wealth or excessive defense-focused spending. While controlling inflation and maintaining national security are important, they don’t get at expanding opportunity for the broad population the way robust economic growth does. So, growing the economy is the lever Kennedy saw as the most effective path to solving widespread social issues.