13026. THE FAILURE TO ERADICATE POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES. An analysis of why the United States has failed to eradicate poverty. Considers whether the persistence of poverty can be attributed to the government's inconsistent and/or ineffective efforts to eliminate it, or whether the problem is simply intractable, or whether the failure stems from some other reason. Focuses on possible solutions in the implementation of paternalistic welfare policies as advocated by Mead (1992, 1997) and other conservative analysts. 14 pages, 16 footnotes, 5 bibliographic sources.