SENDING TROOPS TO MEMPHIS
THE EQUIVALENT OF SENDING COAL TO NEWCASTLE
The decision by the Trump administration to deploy federal agents and National Guard troops to Memphis, Tennessee, as part of a crime crackdown, has been met with significant controversy. For many critics, the move is a glaring example of an intervention that ignores the deep-seated socioeconomic roots of violence, likening it to the proverb "sending coal to Newcastle"—a superfluous and unnecessary action.
The deployment, supported by Tennessee’s Republican leadership, was directed at curbing high rates of violent crime, specifically homicide and vehicle theft. However, local activists and opponents argue that a militarized presence does little to address the systemic failures—decades of disinvestment, concentrated poverty, and lack of opportunity—that drive crime in the first place.
The Failure of Militarization to Address Root Causes
Memphis, a city with a rich history of civil rights struggle, already faces a persistent and disproportionate burden of poverty, particularly within its Black community. When the state and federal government respond to this complex problem with troops and law enforcement surges, it risks several negative outcomes:
Erosion of Trust and Civil Liberties: Deploying armed personnel, especially when bypassing local police command, often heightens community tension and erodes the already fragile trust between residents and law enforcement. The ACLU of Tennessee has expressed concerns, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with decrees designed to protect residents’ First Amendment rights against unwarranted surveillance and interference.
Addressing Symptoms, Not Disease: The key drivers of violence—poverty, lack of mental health resources, high unemployment, and inadequate education—are not solved by arrests. These structural issues require long-term, sustained investment in areas like job training, housing stability, and youth programs. An influx of troops acts as a temporary patch on a deeply torn social fabric.
Historical Precedent of Ineffectiveness: Past federal law enforcement surges, while sometimes leading to a temporary dip in certain crime categories, have historically failed to deliver sustainable, long-term public safety improvements without accompanying community-led, public health-focused solutions. The crackdown risks being a politically motivated, high-visibility action that offers little enduring benefit to the city's most vulnerable residents.
In essence, sending troops to a city like Memphis—where the violence is intrinsically tied to the "forever war" on poverty (as discussed in Part 2)—is a strategy that bypasses proven, preventative measures. It is a costly, provocative, and ultimately inadequate gesture that fails to provide the true "coal" that Memphis needs: economic opportunity, equitable funding, and community empowerment.
Part 2 POVERTY AND VIOLENCE IN THE U.S.: A "FOREVER WAR" NO ONE WANTS TO WIN
Poverty in the United States remains a persistent, systemic crisis—a true "forever war" declared by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 but whose decisive victory has been elusive due to cyclical political will, structural inequities, and policy rollbacks.
History, Causes, and Current Situation of U.S. Poverty
The U.S. social safety net was formally established with the Social Security Act of 1935 and significantly expanded during the War on Poverty in the 1960s with programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Food Stamps (now SNAP)
Key Historical and Structural Causes:
Income Inequality and Wage Stagnation: Since the 1970s, the top 1% have captured most economic gains while real wages for low-wage workers have stagnated.
Systemic Racism and Segregation: Historical practices like redlining concentrated poverty in minority communities, limiting access to wealth, education, and health resources.
Policy Rollbacks: Conservative pushback, exemplified by major cuts under the Reagan administration and recent efforts to slash programs like Medicare and Medicaid (such as the estimated $930 billion proposed by some Trump administration plans), constantly threatens the stability of the safety net.
Current Situation (Approximate 2024 Data):
Official Poverty Rate: Approximately 10.6% of the population, affecting about 35.3 million people.
Racial Disparities: Poverty remains heavily racialized. The official rates for Black (approx. 17.1%) and Hispanic (approx. 16.9%) populations are roughly double that of White (non-Hispanic) individuals (approx. 8.1%).
The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM): At approximately 12.9%, the SPM shows that non-cash benefits like SNAP and housing aid are critical—but still insufficient—in lifting millions above the hardship line.
Effects of Poverty on Minority Communities and Key Sectors
Poverty's burden is amplified within minority communities, creating intergenerational cycles of disadvantage:
UCLA Evidence of Success: Safety Nets Work
Research from UCLA and others demonstrates that the "War on Poverty" programs were highly effective when implemented robustly.
Federal Safety Net Programs: Initiatives like Head Start and SNAP significantly reduced poverty, improved educational attainment, and enhanced economic self-sufficiency.
Long-Term Benefits: Head Start participants were more likely to complete high school and college.13 Early access to SNAP improved educational attainment, neighborhood quality, and reduced physical disability.
Impact of Recent Expansions: The temporary expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) during the COVID-19 pandemic nearly halved child poverty in 2021, proving the efficacy and scalability of direct financial support.
Poverty and Gun Violence: A Direct Link
Poverty is a significant driver of gun violence, functioning as a destabilizing force in communities:
Homicide Rates: High-poverty counties see 25-30% higher homicide rates compared to low-poverty areas.
Concentrated Disadvantage: Economic strain, lack of legitimate economic opportunities, and social disorganization (weak community ties) foster conditions where violence, gang activity, and illicit markets thrive.
Disproportionate Risk: Black youth face an 18x higher risk of gun homicide compared to white youth, reflecting the concentration of deep poverty in these communities.
Government Actions to Reduce Poverty
Instead of, or in addition to, militarized crackdowns, a multi-pronged approach based on evidence is needed:
Expand and Modernize Tax Credits: Make the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fully refundable and available monthly to provide stable income floors.
Invest in Human Capital: Ensure universal Pre-K and equitable K-12 school funding to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
Raise the Minimum Wage: Index the federal minimum wage to inflation to ensure full-time work provides a living wage.
Housing Stability: Dramatically increase funding for rental assistance and affordable housing construction to reduce housing instability and homelessness.
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE: CURRENT POVERTY, GUN VIOLENCE, AND WAYS THE TRUMP GOVERNMENT COULD ACTUALLY HELP
Memphis is a city with immense cultural heritage but also a profound and concentrated struggle with poverty and its downstream effects on public safety. The deployment of troops, as a short-term, enforcement-focused measure, is a poor substitute for the sustained, evidence-based economic and community development needed.
Memphis: The Current Crisis in Numbers
The root of Memphis's public safety challenge is not a lack of police or military presence, but a shortage of opportunity and stability.
How a Federal Administration Could Actually Help Memphis
Instead of a temporary, militarized "crackdown," the federal government could provide strategic assistance that aligns with proven poverty and violence reduction strategies:
By prioritizing investment, health, and opportunity over enforcement, a federal administration could move beyond symbolic "coal" and provide the real, sustained resources Memphis needs for durable peace and prosperity.
