Lyndon Johnson, the story goes, once delivered a speech in New York on the Great Society. Just as he declared America was engaged “in nothing less than an all-out war on poverty,” a small voice from the crowd replied, “Mr. President, we surrender.”

By the mid-1970s it became glaringly apparent that the Great Society efforts to uplift inner city areas were not just a failure, but exacerbated problems. But 30 years later, New Jersey state government continues its heroic efforts in Camden, at a high price in people and dollars. (This is a city where the mayor, upon hearing that Camden had dropped from America's first to its third most dangerous city, exclaimed "You made my day!")

In Manhattan, the only way to tell the post-war luxury towers from the projects of the same era is the color of the brick—the wealthy painted it white. Also, that the poor housing tended to be close to the waterfront (often with spectacular views on the higher floors) which then seemed undesirable for living. Chicago's new "stigma-smasher" is still another attempt to pretend that it's the housing that makes the people, instead of the other way around.

All of which illustrates the optimism—I'd almost say religious belief—inherent in the word "project," and the danger in using the power of the government to tamper with human nature.