15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
15 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

50th Anniversary: America Wastes $22 Trillion In War On Poverty

by Joe Mobley
11 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
According to government surveys, the typical family that Census identifies as poor has air-conditioning, cable or satellite TV, and a computer. Forty percent have a wide-screen HDTV, and another 40% have Internet access. Three quarters of the poor own a car and roughly a third have two or more cars.
the overwhelming majority of poor people report that they were not hungry even for a single day during the prior year.
Washington Has Wasted $22 Trillion In War On Poverty It Can't Win - Investors.com

Happy Anniversary.

Joe Mobley
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    There has NEVER been a real war on poverty! NEVER! Have they tried to improve education? NOPE! They make it WORSE! Did they try to improve respect and competence? NOPE! They make it worse! Did they try to reduce taxes and inflation? NOPE! They make it WORSE!

    THEIR response? They paid people money [to NOT work]. They forced people to hire [INCOMPETENT WORKERS]. They paid ["teachers" more](They say "for education").

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527435].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      Let's look at this differently:

      According to government surveys, the typical family that Census identifies as poor has air-conditioning, cable or satellite TV, and a computer. Forty percent have a wide-screen HDTV, and another 40% have Internet access. Three quarters of the poor own a car and roughly a third have two or more cars.
      Maybe the war on poverty WORKED. Maybe that's why people have cell phones and satellite TV and computers, etc.

      Maybe they just got so used to being call "poor" they still think of themselves that way....

      the overwhelming majority of poor people report that they were not hungry even for a single day during the prior year.
      That's a good thing,
      Signature
      Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
      ***
      Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
      January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
      So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527510].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        Let's look at this differently:



        Maybe the war on poverty WORKED. Maybe that's why people have cell phones and satellite TV and computers, etc.

        Maybe they just got so used to being call "poor" they still think of themselves that way....



        That's a good thing,
        Well, it might be ok if it were sustainable. It ISN'T! It might be nice if they didn't see all the other stuff and say *******I WANT THAT TOO!!!!!!!!*******! If you told most people in the early 70s that the average person would have a portable phone, they would probably think you were nuts. If you told them that even very POOR people would have computers, they would KNOW you were INSANE!

        And giving the poor stuff that doean't cost them anything doesn't make them less poor. It ENCOURAGES them to REMAIN poor. Gee, I wanted to get a radio once, and got a job.

        Steve
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527573].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author discrat
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          And giving the poor stuff that doean't cost them anything doesn't make them less poor. It ENCOURAGES them to REMAIN poor. Gee, I wanted to get a radio once, and got a job.

          Steve
          Steve, those two first sentences I have to admit are very profound and insightful

          I think getting out of Poverty is a state of Mind ,really.

          It is more than just " THINGS "
          Just because people have Cell Phones, Computers, tablets etc.. if you think about it does not mean they are less poor.

          I know the Article said the statistics on the poor are skewed because of the 900+ billion dollars Welfare not tabulated into the "poor" index.

          But actually does that really make it skewed ??

          I just do not think accounting for the 900 billion dollars in welfare automatically equates with having less poor people.

          Poor .... Rich.....its all about being able to sustain a healthy financial lifestyle over a period of time and being self sufficient ( whether that means working for someone or having your own business)
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527621].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author seasoned
            Originally Posted by discrat View Post

            Steve, those two first sentences I have to admit are very profound and insightful

            I think getting out of Poverty is a state of Mind ,really.

            It is more than just " THINGS "
            Just because people have Cell Phones, Computers, tablets etc.. if you think about it does not mean they are less poor.

            I know the Article said the statistics on the poor are skewed because of the 900+ billion dollars Welfare not tabulated into the "poor" index.

            But actually does that really make it skewed ??

            I just do not think accounting for the 900 billion dollars in welfare automatically equates with having less poor people.

            Poor .... Rich.....its all about being able to sustain a healthy financial lifestyle over a period of time and being self sufficient ( whether that means working for someone or having your own business)
            THANKS!


            And EXACTLY! There is an old saying, and you likely heard it at least as much as I have. You give a person a fish, and you feed him for a day. You teach a person to fish, and you feed him for life.

            MY GOD! Computers are CHEAP! And if you don't have one, you can use them for free in MANY places. And the internet is FANTASTIC! GRANTED, there is a LOT of junk, crass stuff, etc... but some stuff is GREAT! And there ARE ways to use it to get ahead, even WITHOUT being an affiliate that acts like a trap door spider lying in wait. The whole idea of a group of people trying so hard to hold others down is certainly mostly garbage. Even if it had ANY truth, people could do many things to get ahead.

            Of course, even in sales and the like there are ways. But if someone simply goes out to do what any person can, they can't expect to get paid a lot to do it. And those that can contribute should. Some jobs take effort, special skills, risk taking, etc... Nobody would do them without adequate benefit. So OF COURSE their income is going to be higher. Rather than being jealous, or lamenting it, JOIN THEM! Does that mean I am going to do hazardous duty, or work around sick people operating where a mistake could cripple a person and destroy my career? NOPE! So I don't make THAT much. I make enough.

            Steve
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527643].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      How could the $22 trillion be wasted if all those poor people have all those things and aren't hungry? Sounds like a success to me.

      Edit: Kay beat me to it.
      Signature
      Over 50 Dating
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527513].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author discrat
        Oh me. This is not going to end well.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527534].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        Let's look at this differently:

        Maybe the war on poverty WORKED. Maybe that's why people have cell phones and satellite TV and computers, etc.

        That's a good thing,

        Really!?

        So it's okay to go to your son's house and steal money from him? Take money away from his family and your grandchild??? And lower the standard of living for them for the rest of their lives? So some sorry b^stard can have flat-screen TV, computer, Internet, etc?

        Sorry mom, you can't move in with us because I had to sell some land to pay the taxes that some politician used to buy votes of his (her) lazy-ass constituents.
        Kay, you are one of the smartest people I know, but that's just ducking fumb!

        Joe Mobley
        Signature

        .

        Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527565].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author Kay King
          I've come to believe it's a useless argument - clearly the war on poverty hasn't worked as it was deisgned to. It has become a way of life rather than the hand up it was designed to be. If it worked we wouldn't have so many poor people after 50 years.

          My view is we have too many programs - and the scattered nature of the programs makes them a boondoggle to administrate and results in over payments to some while other fall through the cracks.

          I don't want people to go hungry - I don't want people to go without basic necessities. I think children need to feel normal rather than deprived if they are to make their lives better. I think cheating is rampant and those cheating don't consider they are doing anything wrong when they work for cash and then apply for benefits.

          But I don't think anything will change. I don't think - in spite of the talk - those in charge want it to change (and by that I mean ALL who are in charge, not just one side or the other.)
          Signature
          Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
          ***
          Dear April: I don't want any trouble from you.
          January was long, February was iffy, March was a freaking dumpster fire.
          So sit down, be quiet, and don't touch anything.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527601].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
            Kay,

            My apologies for my rant.

            Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

            I've come to believe it's a useless argument - clearly the war on poverty hasn't worked as it was deisgned to. It has become a way of life rather than the hand up it was designed to be. If it worked we wouldn't have so many poor people after 50 years.
            This kind of level-headed thinking is one of the main reasons I respect your opinion.

            All the best,

            Joe Mobley
            Signature

            .

            Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527616].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
        Interesting that your idea of success approves of theft from people you don't agree with politically.

        Originally Posted by TimPhelan View Post

        How could the $22 trillion be wasted if all those poor people have all those things and aren't hungry? Sounds like a success to me.

        Edit: Kay beat me to it.
        Joe Mobley
        Signature

        .

        Follow Me on Twitter: @daVinciJoe
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[9527576].message }}

Trending Topics