- Oct 6, 2008
- 125,095
- 60,651
1. Generally, it is believed that there is a common, universal definition to the terms we use in debate. This is not always the case. The terms 'poor,' and 'poverty' are such exceptions, and the confusion is perpetuated by the Left, as the image many have tugs at the heartstrings.
2. My definition is far more narrow than that advanced by the government welfare industry. I define 'poor' as no home, no heat, no food. This Dickensian view will reveal that this level of poverty is almost entirely illusory. Why, then is the welfare industry term conflated with this view?
So that they can continue to dun society of $1 trillion a year, with no decrease in the 'need.' The industry need clientele to continue in their jobs, and the politicians need the view to corral votes.
A $trillion? "That amounts to $20,610 for every poor person in America, or $61,830 per poor family of three." Scribd
a. That supports a huge government bureaucracy: Robert Rector, of the Heritage Foundation, has shown that less than less than twenty cents of each dollars actually gets into the hand of the people society is trying to help. "Uncle Sam's Plantation," by Star Parker, p.5
3. Star Parker describes several kinds of poor folk. The working poor, or the 'economically challenged,' are folks we see every day: the bus boy in our favorite restaurant, the gas station attendant, gardener, theater ticket-taker, janitor in the office building, and the one who bags our groceries. These folks are getting by, but a little extra would be a big help.
a. What keeps them in their situation? More often than not, they lack confidence in a competitive environment and are therefore vulnerable to accepting a lesser position.
4. These are the folks shortchanged by the hand-in-glove government-union schools, and this makes them less competitive. It is the economically challenged who are the ones most negatively affected when the government involves itself in the affairs of the free market with legislation such as minimum wage. "Living wage" is a great sound bite on the evening news, but, in reality, narrows the opportunities in the business environment.
Small businesses on tight budgets together with government mandates means raising prices and/or lay-offs. Even those economically challenged who keep their jobs find that their soap and toothpaste cost more. The real beneficiary is government, which polishes its image, and gets more tax revenue from the higher prices.
a. In the extreme, small business in poor neighborhoods will close, leaving fewer businesses in such neighborhoods, resulting in what are called 'economic deserts.'
5. The loss of even a day's pay is a hardship. Utility company says "service will arrive between nine and five." The economically deprived have to miss an entire day of work. Who suffers?
6. Vehicle registration is about to expire. Renewal fee has increased. "You must appear at our office to reapply. Office hours, 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday. Late payments subject to penalties." The economically deprived have to miss an entire day of work. Who suffers?
7. "This letter is to inform you that condom distribution will begin at your child's junior high school. Instructions will be part of all health ed classes. Parental concerns and questions will be addressed in the school library this Wednesday morning at 10 a.m." The economically deprived have to miss an entire day of work. Who suffers?
8. We feel for these people. They try. But in our empathy, we tend to excuse their role in their plight. Yes, life has made them weary, 'what difference do my decisions make....I'll never get ahead."
Many look to religion as superstition, an excuse...e.g., "God must really be mad at me....He don't do for me like He do for you."
It excuses one from making efforts on their own behalf.
a. "Reverend Ike (June 1, 1935 July 28, 2009[1]) was an American minister and electronic evangelist based in New York City. He was best known for the slogan "You can't lose with the stuff I use!"[2] His preaching is considered a form of prosperity theology.[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Ike] "He lectured on Thinkonomics (his own version of economics based on the premise that poverty, a lack of luck, poor health, etc., are the result of incorrect attitudes, a lack of confidence, a lack of faith and a failure to get in touch with the "presence of God within each of us.") and sold prayer cloth to rub on lottery tickets, betting slips; he had weekly Blessings of the Cadillacs. "
From the Novel "Red on Red," by Edward Conlon.
b. These, the weary, lack the confidence to believe that they have the ability to make their lives better. They don't understand that a small attitude readjustment could open them up to big opportunities. Rather, the problems of self-doubt make them vulnerable to politicians and social experimenters and scammers of many varieties.
9. Another factor that keeps many of the poor deluded is their misguided trust. Most of them put too much confidence in the word of elected officials. They believe so strongly that they hand over their children for the government to educate, their freedom in exchange for government mandated rent-control, their vote for pie-in-the-sky.
So sincere is this trust that they do very little personal planning for their own future.
From "Uncle Sam's Plantation," by Star Parker.
10. And, speaking of those politicians in whom the poor place their trust:
" Liberals and conservatives have thundered rhetoric at each other for years, but we finally have some facts. CNN gave the US Census rankings for cities with the most poverty and showed how long these cities have been run by Democrats:
Detroit, MI, 1961; Buffalo, NY, 1954; Cincinnati, OH, 1984; Cleveland, OH, 1989; Miami, FL, forever; St. Lewis, MO, 1949; El Paso, TX, forever; Milwaukee, WI, 1908; Philadelphia, PA, 1952; and Newark, NJ, 1907.
Five of our poorest cities have been led by Democrats for more than 45 years. The two other cities on the list, Miami, FL and El Paso, TX have never had Republican mayors. Not ever."
Democrat Disaster Cities | Scragged
2. My definition is far more narrow than that advanced by the government welfare industry. I define 'poor' as no home, no heat, no food. This Dickensian view will reveal that this level of poverty is almost entirely illusory. Why, then is the welfare industry term conflated with this view?
So that they can continue to dun society of $1 trillion a year, with no decrease in the 'need.' The industry need clientele to continue in their jobs, and the politicians need the view to corral votes.
A $trillion? "That amounts to $20,610 for every poor person in America, or $61,830 per poor family of three." Scribd
a. That supports a huge government bureaucracy: Robert Rector, of the Heritage Foundation, has shown that less than less than twenty cents of each dollars actually gets into the hand of the people society is trying to help. "Uncle Sam's Plantation," by Star Parker, p.5
3. Star Parker describes several kinds of poor folk. The working poor, or the 'economically challenged,' are folks we see every day: the bus boy in our favorite restaurant, the gas station attendant, gardener, theater ticket-taker, janitor in the office building, and the one who bags our groceries. These folks are getting by, but a little extra would be a big help.
a. What keeps them in their situation? More often than not, they lack confidence in a competitive environment and are therefore vulnerable to accepting a lesser position.
4. These are the folks shortchanged by the hand-in-glove government-union schools, and this makes them less competitive. It is the economically challenged who are the ones most negatively affected when the government involves itself in the affairs of the free market with legislation such as minimum wage. "Living wage" is a great sound bite on the evening news, but, in reality, narrows the opportunities in the business environment.
Small businesses on tight budgets together with government mandates means raising prices and/or lay-offs. Even those economically challenged who keep their jobs find that their soap and toothpaste cost more. The real beneficiary is government, which polishes its image, and gets more tax revenue from the higher prices.
a. In the extreme, small business in poor neighborhoods will close, leaving fewer businesses in such neighborhoods, resulting in what are called 'economic deserts.'
5. The loss of even a day's pay is a hardship. Utility company says "service will arrive between nine and five." The economically deprived have to miss an entire day of work. Who suffers?
6. Vehicle registration is about to expire. Renewal fee has increased. "You must appear at our office to reapply. Office hours, 8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday. Late payments subject to penalties." The economically deprived have to miss an entire day of work. Who suffers?
7. "This letter is to inform you that condom distribution will begin at your child's junior high school. Instructions will be part of all health ed classes. Parental concerns and questions will be addressed in the school library this Wednesday morning at 10 a.m." The economically deprived have to miss an entire day of work. Who suffers?
8. We feel for these people. They try. But in our empathy, we tend to excuse their role in their plight. Yes, life has made them weary, 'what difference do my decisions make....I'll never get ahead."
Many look to religion as superstition, an excuse...e.g., "God must really be mad at me....He don't do for me like He do for you."
It excuses one from making efforts on their own behalf.
a. "Reverend Ike (June 1, 1935 July 28, 2009[1]) was an American minister and electronic evangelist based in New York City. He was best known for the slogan "You can't lose with the stuff I use!"[2] His preaching is considered a form of prosperity theology.[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverend_Ike] "He lectured on Thinkonomics (his own version of economics based on the premise that poverty, a lack of luck, poor health, etc., are the result of incorrect attitudes, a lack of confidence, a lack of faith and a failure to get in touch with the "presence of God within each of us.") and sold prayer cloth to rub on lottery tickets, betting slips; he had weekly Blessings of the Cadillacs. "
From the Novel "Red on Red," by Edward Conlon.
b. These, the weary, lack the confidence to believe that they have the ability to make their lives better. They don't understand that a small attitude readjustment could open them up to big opportunities. Rather, the problems of self-doubt make them vulnerable to politicians and social experimenters and scammers of many varieties.
9. Another factor that keeps many of the poor deluded is their misguided trust. Most of them put too much confidence in the word of elected officials. They believe so strongly that they hand over their children for the government to educate, their freedom in exchange for government mandated rent-control, their vote for pie-in-the-sky.
So sincere is this trust that they do very little personal planning for their own future.
From "Uncle Sam's Plantation," by Star Parker.
10. And, speaking of those politicians in whom the poor place their trust:
" Liberals and conservatives have thundered rhetoric at each other for years, but we finally have some facts. CNN gave the US Census rankings for cities with the most poverty and showed how long these cities have been run by Democrats:
Detroit, MI, 1961; Buffalo, NY, 1954; Cincinnati, OH, 1984; Cleveland, OH, 1989; Miami, FL, forever; St. Lewis, MO, 1949; El Paso, TX, forever; Milwaukee, WI, 1908; Philadelphia, PA, 1952; and Newark, NJ, 1907.
Five of our poorest cities have been led by Democrats for more than 45 years. The two other cities on the list, Miami, FL and El Paso, TX have never had Republican mayors. Not ever."
Democrat Disaster Cities | Scragged
