Poll Finds Americans Lack Faith in Global War on Poverty

A survey sponsored by a Christian aid organization found that most Americans do not believe the worst global poverty can be eradicated in a generation, the Religion News Service writes.

The poll of 1,052 U.S. adults, conducted in December, found that regular church attendees overwhelmingly express concerned about the world’s poorest people but only 41 percent believe it is possible to end extreme poverty in the next 25 years. The overall figure was 32 percent, with less observant Christians, people of other faiths, and nonbelievers more skeptical of anti-poverty efforts.

More than half the respondents said they do not know which aid organizations to trust and do not have faith in the governments of poor nations. Scott Todd of Compassion International, which sponsored the poll, said most people are unaware that “a steep rise in transparency, efficiency, and democracy have led to improvements” in aid delivery.