Poverty rate unchanged since the sixties, so Paul Ryan wants state governments to solve the problem

DrewM. writes at Ace of Spades that Paul Ryan notes that we still have the same rate of poverty that we had when the Great Society programs were passed in the 1960s. So what does Paul Ryan want to do about it? Let state governments propose solutions! Drew observes,

Let's get something out of the way up front, "block grants" are a magic incantation conservative reformers like to throw out there to pretend they are "getting Washington out of the way." They aren't.

From whence does this mystical faith in state governments to change the hearts and fates of men come? On constitutional grounds states are often the preferable level of government but on a competency grounds? The advantage of state control isn't improved results but rather limited damage. For every damaging policy California implements there are escape destinations. People don't go to Florida or Texas because they are running super smart and innovative state governments, they go there because they are running relatively small and non-invasive ones.

... State governments are just as a much of a blunt force instrument as the federal government. The only differences are the geographic limits of the damage they can do and the ability of people to move to avoid the worst of it.

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