The Rural Poverty Commission: Ten Years Later

Excerpts from the article: More than a decade has elapsed since the Rural Poverty Commission submitted its final report—The People Left Behind—to President Lyndon Johnson. In its report, the Commission charted an ambitious course to deal with the problem of rural poverty, detailing some 158 separate recommendations. Although there is room for argument over the extent of the problem and where combating it fits among current national priorities, poverty persists in sufficient magnitude to give it a high rank. This is particularly true in rural areas, where the problem is often less visible and the conventional solutions have been less effective. After 10 years, it is appropriate to look at the work of the Commission and assess its impact on Federal policy. Did the Commission ask the right questions? Were its recommendations heeded? Did the Commission make a difference? Is the course charted by the Commission still relevant?