Townsend Plan

The Townsend Plan, proposed in the 1930s by Dr. Francis Townsend, was a government initiative aimed at supporting elderly Americans. It suggested providing all seniors aged 60 and older with a monthly pension, funded by a national sales tax. The goal was to offer financial security to seniors, stimulate the economy through increased spending, and reduce poverty among the elderly. While it gained popularity and influenced social security policies, it was never implemented as proposed. The plan was an early effort to address economic hardship among seniors and influenced later social welfare programs.