The 5 Evils of Society

April 20, 2026

“If you are not sure where you are or where you belong, walk in like you own the place.” Self

In 1942 the British economist, William Beveridge, was commissioned to study and write a report about society’s most impacting social issues. Beveridge was a social welfare advocate and a liberal. His report summarized what he considered to be the greatest needs for government to address regarding the welfare system in England.

His findings were called “The 5 Evils.” They included “Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor, and Idleness.” He believed government should address these “evils.” Perhaps he was right, perhaps not. France has the largest ($$$) welfare system in the world, yet France is not an economically strong country.

I have developed my own “5 Evils” for the US. using the framework from Beveridge. Mine include:

1. Poverty-Blacks have a lower household income than Asians and Whites. That is because a majority of Black households have a single wage earner, the mother, and she often works part-time. When the state minimum wage is raised, employers reduce the workforce. Fraud in the welfare system is being discovered everywhere. Tattoos are expensive. A sleeve cost about $1800. Long eye lashes are also expensive costing about $150 per month. Bad choices. Drug usage strongly impacts poverty. Cause and effect!
2. Disease-new diseases are on the rise in the US, including yellow fever, chickenpox, measles, polio, TB, E. Coli, and in some cases, HIV. Unvaccinated immigrants have entered this country and are in the schools. Our ER’s are overwhelmed. Our local healthcare system is reporting 33% non-payers.
3. Ignorance-the US has too many NEET’s. They are non-educated, non-employed, and non-trained people. Currently the US has 9-10 million young people not looking for employment, many are living in their parent’s basements. The parents can cover their medical insurance until age 26. Big mistake. Baltimore has 11 high schools without one student passing the math competency exam. That is outrageous. Where is the Governor of Maryland? Students in college are allowed to borrow $100,000’s for college. At least 1/3 are delinquent in paying it back. Almost 1/3 college students do not work in the summer, and many take a “gap year” after graduating. Many foreign students with debt are fleeing the country. And-colleges are still offering nonsense degrees like Women Studies, Equity, Ancient Greek, Advertising, French Literature, and even High School Football Coaching, Online classes encourage laziness and cheating. Trade schools should be booming and supported.
4. Idleness-working from home 5-6 hours a day, smoking weed makes you lazy, video gaming (job hunting activity declines by 35% when the new “Call of Duty” is released), sports betting, Door Dash is so easy and costly, credit cards debt is at record levels. Young people use online grocery shopping and home delivery, Uber, valet parking, and their favorite term is “Add to Cart.” Young people do not even dress. I see many in pajamas and slippers.
5. Squalor-living in unclean places. Directly related to income, idleness and laziness. Rent control accelerates poor conditions, high crime areas are often in the poorest neighborhoods so lockup the criminals and cleanup the streets.

Of course, this is an overcomplication, but the points are still made.

PS-The national teachers unions could play a significant role impacting the above. Instead, their focus and money is directed to politics and getting Democrats elected. The NEA donated $23 million to Democrats last year. Not one $$ to a Republican candidate. And-they spent $3 million in lobbying efforts.