Final answer:
Johnson's "Great Society" is considered successful by some due to its significant role in reducing poverty levels, improving health care through Medicare and Medicaid, and expanding education opportunities, despite criticisms regarding increased government dependency and national debt.
Step-by-step explanation:
Some feel Johnson's "Great Society" succeeded because it had a measurable impact on reducing poverty and improving the lives of many Americans. Notably, the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid proved to be landmark successes in health care, enhancing the quality of life for the elderly and poor. The implementation of these programs, along with the expansion of Social Security benefits and welfare payments, was instrumental in cutting the percentage of people living in poverty nearly in half by the end of Johnson's administration. Furthermore, the increase in federal funding for education empowered a greater number of people to pursue higher education.
One of the principal arguments from those who felt the Great Society programs succeeded is that these efforts did result in a dramatic decrease in the percentage of people, especially African Americans, living in poverty. Although there were conservative critics who argued that these programs expanded federal government responsibilities excessively, leading to a dependency on government aid and an increase in national debt, proponents of the Great Society highlight the long-lasting benefits that these programs provided in the realms of health, education, and welfare. These successes lend credence to the belief that Johnson's ambitious slate of programs had far-reaching positive effects on American society.