American social policy, and the debate about poverty and inequality, are constrained by assumptions about politics: That only universal programs will win political acceptance and programs targeted toward the poor will always be poor programs. That the modest American welfare state was built in two great waves, The New Deal and The Great Society, the likes of which we’ll never see again. That tax credits and incentives are a subtler and more effective way of delivering benefits than direct government programs.

On Thursday, June 21, the New America Foundation will hold a discussion on American welfare policy featuring two Democracy authors, William & Mary Professor Chris Howard and New America’s Mark Schmitt, along with New America’s Margy Waller.

The event will be held at the New America Foundation, located at 1630 Connecticut Ave., NW, 7th Floor, in Washington, D.C.

To RSVP for this event, reply to communications@newamerica.net with name, affiliation, and contact information.