Poverty overstated in US?

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: shrumpage

Originally posted by: CHOPPER GOD
Don't have kids...stop ordering pizza's and get rid of that 100$ a month cell phone bill and cable TV....and start being a good steward of your money....

Please don't tell me that it's my responsibility to spend less than I earn..cuz that's..that's just crazy responsible talk....hmm..whose fault is it then....I know immagrant workers..no wait...Chineese engineers...ok republicans fault....no wait...Screw this man...I AM A M E R I C A N.....I've been raised on entitlement thinking and I DESERVE 11$ an hour to sweep floors. I DESERVE to get a pay raise 'just because I've been a good boy and worked a whole 6 months at your company and only called in sick twice..........I'll have to really figure this one out as I pick which shirt to put on this morning while the kid in africa doesn't even have a shirt.

P.S. next time I have 4 days notice of a hurricane comming to town... I will get my a$$ on a freakin skateboard..anything..and get inland...I'll show you mother nature, I'll rebuild in the same PLACE that you destroyed last time...the fact that the bottom part of my state is shaped like a hurricane's arch is surely coincidence...I'm American..and that was MY HOME and I DESERVE to live there mother nature..you hear me you...why I outta rebuild in the same place and teach you mother nature...whats below sea level mean anyway?

Born out of wedlock and ignoring Gods DESIGN for family...WHAT! surely THATS not the problem...lets keep looking elsewhere to put the blame...Hop in kids..get in the car that (with gas, insurance and payment) is 1/3 rd of my income and lets spend 14$ at McDonalds again...hurry up Johnny..get in.....bring your nintendo with you...JOHNNY ! Give your sister her cell phone back..RIGHT NOW ! ! ! ! Thats it...If you keep that up, mommys not gonna give you rides to school everyday and your gonna have to ride your Cannondale mountain bike to school....and all the kids will make fun of you!

:thumbsup:

Dump the cell phone.

dump cable.

dump any extra mothly expense you don't need.

buy used.

don't eat out.

don't buy designer coffee.

don't go out to bars.

don't have kids.

Destroy your credit cards (except for maybe one)

improve yourself - education/job wise.

and move if you have to.

You can get ahead.

Six years ago i was a struggling single parent living month to month - working a dead end job. Now i'm have a great job, own a home, remarried and have more kids - not rich by any means - but very content where i'm at.

It didn't happen over night i spent many hours studying, gaining certs, got myself in to school at least part time, finally wrapped up an AA degree. It took a bit of sacerifce, some luck and support of my folks - but it can be done.

Even thogh i'm doing much better, i refuse to buy a new car, shop at thrift stores and garage sales, and limit when we eat out.

What i see happen to people ( and at one point myself) is they get an "okay" job. Something pays the rent, maybe afford a just enough perks that they don't have an incentive to move on - and they just get 'stuck.'

Thats the way to do it!! Chopper God was absolutely correct!

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: CHOPPER GOD

Originally posted by: Todd33
Take your God spouting intolerance elsewhere CHOPPER GOD. What was that about casting the first stone? Oh ya, Christians are never-ending hypocrites and frauds.

Hi todd33..how are ya doin today
....what am I 'intolerant' of again?
I am not against the 'poor'..I am only intolerant of the poor who have made and continue to make bad decesions that keep them or make them poor.

PEOPLE can be hypocrites and frauds, Christians included...I however am not a fraud or hypocrite concerning my relationship with Christ although I DO agree with you (Yes really I do) there are many phonies who give Christ a bad name....but thats off topic..

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: StarGazerVSP
The U.S still has the highest Real Median Income in the world.

Wrong. Norway is number 1 among "large" countrys in Purchasing power parity.
and has a much more evenly distributed income via the Gini Index, so median income would be substantially higher in norway then the US. On top of that, the US is not more productive than other developed coutries, we just work more.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

The government for standard for being poor doesn't take into account modern consumption patterns. If ir recall, they are still using cumsumption patterns from the 50's as the standard. Also, i saw fgures from recent years that show that medium real income has been falling.

Originally posted by: bobdelt


America is still the best country to make a livable wage.

completely and utterly untrue.

Really? which country has a lower poverty rate? Which country has a higher standard of living? Which country has a higher median income than the us?

Have you even been out of the country? Even the UK doesnt have nearly as good of a quality of life as the US. I'm trying to get a job abroad, and my UK buddy keeps telling me it would be the biggest mistake of my life, because my quality of life would plummet.

I have addressed this. Several countries, namely sweden and norway enjoy higher standards of living and work less. Other countries have similar median standards to american, and they work less. Statistics show that america has a far more skewed income distribution than any developed country, having a higher average frankly doesn't mean sh!t at that point.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: CHOPPER GOD

Originally posted by: Todd33
Take your God spouting intolerance elsewhere CHOPPER GOD. What was that about casting the first stone? Oh ya, Christians are never-ending hypocrites and frauds.

Hi todd33..how are ya doin today
....what am I 'intolerant' of again?
I am not against the 'poor'..I am only intolerant of the poor who have made and continue to make bad decesions that keep them or make them poor.

PEOPLE can be hypocrites and frauds, Christians included...I however am not a fraud or hypocrite concerning my relationship with Christ although I DO agree with you (Yes really I do) there are many phonies who give Christ a bad name....but thats off topic..

And im glad that your idea of helping them is to tell them to stop being idiots. You don't even help those who want to go to college, and make it extremely difficult.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

Anecdotal evidence is worthless. Bring some statistics and we'll talk.

 

[umbrella39]

What a funny thread. :roll: at OP.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

The government for standard for being poor doesn't take into account modern consumption patterns. If ir recall, they are still using cumsumption patterns from the 50's as the standard. Also, i saw fgures from recent years that show that medium real income has been falling.

Originally posted by: bobdelt


America is still the best country to make a livable wage.

completely and utterly untrue.

Really? which country has a lower poverty rate? Which country has a higher standard of living? Which country has a higher median income than the us?

Have you even been out of the country? Even the UK doesnt have nearly as good of a quality of life as the US. I'm trying to get a job abroad, and my UK buddy keeps telling me it would be the biggest mistake of my life, because my quality of life would plummet.

I have addressed this. Several countries, namely sweden and norway enjoy higher standards of living and work less. Other countries have similar median standards to american, and they work less.

Statistics show that america has a far more skewed income distribution than any developed country, having a higher average frankly doesn't mean sh!t at that point.

Skewed unless you are in the top benefitting from screwing the bottom.

 

[bobdelt]

Originally posted by: shadow9d9

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

I am sure people will go run out and find that proof for you.. as soon as YOU offer proof to back up YOUR claim...

I asked you to show me, and this is the response I get? Very nice of you to captalize those pronouns. I couldn't have read that if you didn't.

Unemployment rate in europe is almost 10%, under 6% in the US.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=100&v=69

According to that site, only one northern european has less poverty. Not to mention that the whole idea of comparing poverty between contries is bogus, since someone who is considered to be living in poverty in the US, might not be considered living in poverty in other countries.


What other countries can a homeless person end up getting the loans to go to college, and end up in a top 10 law school. From my understanding, (I dont proclaim to know everything unlike you, thats why I go online, to learn, instead of you, who goes around just telling people theyre wrong without elaborating), from my European friends, that that doesnt happen in the UK. Their government doesnt give guarenteed loans to students, if you come from a povered family, you wont go to a top school. I do know, that in the US, it is very easy for someone to get the loans, to go even to a big fancy private school.


Also, on that list, we had the highest immigration rate, except for Ireland, of the 20 countries I looked at. Nobody moves to a povered country. Especially since that is was probably (not sure) legal immigration, nobody flys half way around the world, to go to a country, that they dont think offers them the best opportunity.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: shadow9d9

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

I am sure people will go run out and find that proof for you.. as soon as YOU offer proof to back up YOUR claim...

I asked you to show me, and this is the response I get? Very nice of you to captalize those pronouns. I couldn't have read that if you didn't.

Unemployment rate in europe is almost 10%, under 6% in the US.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=100&v=69

According to that site, only one northern european has less poverty. Not to mention that the whole idea of comparing poverty between contries is bogus, since someone who is considered to be living in poverty in the US, might not be considered living in poverty in other countries.


What other countries can a homeless person end up getting the loans to go to college, and end up in a top 10 law school. From my understanding, (I dont proclaim to know everything unlike you, thats why I go online, to learn, instead of you, who goes around just telling people theyre wrong without elaborating), from my European friends, that that doesnt happen in the UK. Their government doesnt give guarenteed loans to students, if you come from a povered family, you wont go to a top school. I do know, that in the US, it is very easy for someone to get the loans, to go even to a big fancy private school.


Also, on that list, we had the highest immigration rate, except for Ireland, of the 20 countries I looked at. Nobody moves to a povered country. Especially since that is was probably (not sure) legal immigration, nobody flys half way around the world, to go to a country, that they dont think offers them the best opportunity.

Our governemnt doesnt do that anymore either.

80% cuts on garunteed loans this year.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Only in America, can you drive a new Cadillac to the welfare office.

Yeah if you are a Pimp or a Drug Dealer. There's nobody living soley on Welfare who can afford or even qualify to finance a new Caddy.

 

[bobdelt]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

The government for standard for being poor doesn't take into account modern consumption patterns. If ir recall, they are still using cumsumption patterns from the 50's as the standard. Also, i saw fgures from recent years that show that medium real income has been falling.

Originally posted by: bobdelt


America is still the best country to make a livable wage.

completely and utterly untrue.

Really? which country has a lower poverty rate? Which country has a higher standard of living? Which country has a higher median income than the us?

Have you even been out of the country? Even the UK doesnt have nearly as good of a quality of life as the US. I'm trying to get a job abroad, and my UK buddy keeps telling me it would be the biggest mistake of my life, because my quality of life would plummet.

I have addressed this. Several countries, namely sweden and norway enjoy higher standards of living and work less. Other countries have similar median standards to american, and they work less. Statistics show that america has a far more skewed income distribution than any developed country, having a higher average frankly doesn't mean sh!t at that point.

There is a difference between mean and median! Most stats use median, because its more robust than mean. Medians arent skewed.


So a bunch of people told me I was wrong, asked me to back up myself, and so I went and did it. And now the thread dies? Is that how this works? I did my part, I want to hear the rebuttle.

 

[shadow9d9]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: shadow9d9

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

I am sure people will go run out and find that proof for you.. as soon as YOU offer proof to back up YOUR claim...

I asked you to show me, and this is the response I get? Very nice of you to captalize those pronouns. I couldn't have read that if you didn't.

Unemployment rate in europe is almost 10%, under 6% in the US.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=100&v=69

According to that site, only one northern european has less poverty. Not to mention that the whole idea of comparing poverty between contries is bogus, since someone who is considered to be living in poverty in the US, might not be considered living in poverty in other countries.


What other countries can a homeless person end up getting the loans to go to college, and end up in a top 10 law school. From my understanding, (I dont proclaim to know everything unlike you, thats why I go online, to learn, instead of you, who goes around just telling people theyre wrong without elaborating), from my European friends, that that doesnt happen in the UK. Their government doesnt give guarenteed loans to students, if you come from a povered family, you wont go to a top school. I do know, that in the US, it is very easy for someone to get the loans, to go even to a big fancy private school.


Also, on that list, we had the highest immigration rate, except for Ireland, of the 20 countries I looked at. Nobody moves to a povered country. Especially since that is was probably (not sure) legal immigration, nobody flys half way around the world, to go to a country, that they dont think offers them the best opportunity.

Actually you never asked me for anything. I didn't make a previous post in this thread. I pointed out that you didn't back up your own claims, so how could you expect others to rush to do so...

 

[shadow9d9]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: shadow9d9

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

I am sure people will go run out and find that proof for you.. as soon as YOU offer proof to back up YOUR claim...

I asked you to show me, and this is the response I get? Very nice of you to captalize those pronouns. I couldn't have read that if you didn't.

Unemployment rate in europe is almost 10%, under 6% in the US.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=100&v=69

According to that site, only one northern european has less poverty. Not to mention that the whole idea of comparing poverty between contries is bogus, since someone who is considered to be living in poverty in the US, might not be considered living in poverty in other countries.


What other countries can a homeless person end up getting the loans to go to college, and end up in a top 10 law school. From my understanding, (I dont proclaim to know everything unlike you, thats why I go online, to learn, instead of you, who goes around just telling people theyre wrong without elaborating), from my European friends, that that doesnt happen in the UK. Their government doesnt give guarenteed loans to students, if you come from a povered family, you wont go to a top school. I do know, that in the US, it is very easy for someone to get the loans, to go even to a big fancy private school.


Also, on that list, we had the highest immigration rate, except for Ireland, of the 20 countries I looked at. Nobody moves to a povered country. Especially since that is was probably (not sure) legal immigration, nobody flys half way around the world, to go to a country, that they dont think offers them the best opportunity.

Here is why that means nothing... Unemployment does not relate to poverty in Europe because of their welfare systems. European countires have high poverty rates because people get paid to stay out of work for quite a while, hence no motivation to get another job.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Only in America, can you drive a new Cadillac to the welfare office.

Yeah if you are a Pimp or a Drug Dealer. There's nobody living soley on Welfare who can afford or even qualify to finance a new Caddy.

He failed to mention that Caddy is 30 years old but hey feed the hate against the poor by the rich.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: bobdelt


But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

Why don't you lead YOURSELF out of ignorance?
I am sick and tired of all these lazy ignorant people who won't lift a finger to get themselves out of ignorance. They always think others should do it for them, or worse, the Government!

Listen, there are plenty of oportunities in this country to climb out of ignorance and improve your situation, quit expecting a hand-out.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: shadow9d9

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

I am sure people will go run out and find that proof for you.. as soon as YOU offer proof to back up YOUR claim...

I asked you to show me, and this is the response I get? Very nice of you to captalize those pronouns. I couldn't have read that if you didn't.

Unemployment rate in europe is almost 10%, under 6% in the US.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/r.aspx?t=100&v=69

According to that site, only one northern european has less poverty. Not to mention that the whole idea of comparing poverty between contries is bogus, since someone who is considered to be living in poverty in the US, might not be considered living in poverty in other countries.

LOL. Thats your source? most of northern europe isn't even listed Do you see France, germany, sweden, italy, spain, norway even on that list?

What other countries can a homeless person end up getting the loans to go to college, and end up in a top 10 law school. From my understanding, (I dont proclaim to know everything unlike you, thats why I go online, to learn, instead of you, who goes around just telling people theyre wrong without elaborating), from my European friends, that that doesnt happen in the UK. Their government doesnt give guarenteed loans to students, if you come from a povered family, you wont go to a top school. I do know, that in the US, it is very easy for someone to get the loans, to go even to a big fancy private school.

First, I would love to see a homeless person get some loans to pay to go to the University of Michigan. If you can find me a example of that, i would be very impressed. Additional, in many countries, school is free (more or less, there is always opportunity cost and living expenses), so availablity of loans for students is really.... meaningless. Oh and nice personal attack. I bet your mother is proud.

Also, on that list, we had the highest immigration rate, except for Ireland, of the 20 countries I looked at. Nobody moves to a povered country. Especially since that is was probably (not sure) legal immigration, nobody flys half way around the world, to go to a country, that they dont think offers them the best opportunity.

Many countries do not allow many immigrants at all, and don't have to worry about a flood of immigrants from the country next door.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

Originally posted by: bobdelt

Originally posted by: miketheidiot

The government for standard for being poor doesn't take into account modern consumption patterns. If ir recall, they are still using cumsumption patterns from the 50's as the standard. Also, i saw fgures from recent years that show that medium real income has been falling.

Originally posted by: bobdelt


America is still the best country to make a livable wage.

completely and utterly untrue.

Really? which country has a lower poverty rate? Which country has a higher standard of living? Which country has a higher median income than the us?

Have you even been out of the country? Even the UK doesnt have nearly as good of a quality of life as the US. I'm trying to get a job abroad, and my UK buddy keeps telling me it would be the biggest mistake of my life, because my quality of life would plummet.

I have addressed this. Several countries, namely sweden and norway enjoy higher standards of living and work less. Other countries have similar median standards to american, and they work less. Statistics show that america has a far more skewed income distribution than any developed country, having a higher average frankly doesn't mean sh!t at that point.

There is a difference between mean and median! Most stats use median, because its more robust than mean. Medians arent skewed.


So a bunch of people told me I was wrong, asked me to back up myself, and so I went and did it. And now the thread dies? Is that how this works? I did my part, I want to hear the rebuttle.

You completely missed what I said. Yes I am aware that there is a difference between a mean and a median. That is why I made the distinction in my post. When people talk about how much american R teh pwn!!!1 they usually drop mean figures, which are skewed by the fact that slightly over half the income in the US goes to just 20% of the people, a ratio far higher than other industrialized countries. This hides the fact that your average american earns roughly the same as your average citizen of other developed countries, despite working signifigantly more hours.

 

[GroundedSailor]

Originally posted by: bobdelt


What other countries can a homeless person end up getting the loans to go to college, and end up in a top 10 law school. From my understanding, (I dont proclaim to know everything unlike you, thats why I go online, to learn, instead of you, who goes around just telling people theyre wrong without elaborating), from my European friends, that that doesnt happen in the UK. Their government doesnt give guarenteed loans to students, if you come from a povered family, you wont go to a top school. I do know, that in the US, it is very easy for someone to get the loans, to go even to a big fancy private school.

I have one child studying in college in the US and another studying in the UK. Let me assure you the fees in UK are way less than the college fees in US. And yes students in UK do get loans if they need them.

Unlike the US, higher education is heavily subsidized by the govt in UK.

 

[Used Rugs]

Did you know our country pays corporations welfare too? Yes the USA gives away WELFARE to profitable corporations. More then 10x to corps than it pays out to its citizens.
Sad fact. What a waste of money.

 

[CPA]

Yes.

 

[marvdmartian]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Only in America, can you drive a new Cadillac to the welfare office.

Yeah if you are a Pimp or a Drug Dealer. There's nobody living soley on Welfare who can afford or even qualify to finance a new Caddy.

He failed to mention that Caddy is 30 years old but hey feed the hate against the poor by the rich.

Once again, drivel and fantasy abound.

Let me tell you a story, friend. Back in 79 (the "old days"), I was working part time as a stockboy at my local grocery store. One day I saw a woman who was NOT a minority going around the grocery store with her kids, loading up two grocery carts sky high with groceries. When she went to check out, I was called up to bag the groceries and help her out with them. I remember her grocery bill came out to over $300.......and that was back in the days when you could feed a family of 6 for a week on less than $100, easily! So a $300 grocery bill was ENORMOUS!!
When it came time to pay, I saw this woman pull out a booklet and hand it to the cashier. I was young and innocent, and had never seen food stamps used before, but saw that she paid for all but ~$25 with these vouchers, then paid cash for the remainder. I remarked that she must have a large family with these many groceries, and she remarked something to the effect of, "You have no idea!" I then told her that if she could push one cart, I'd take the other, and help load her groceries into her car.
She led the way out of the store, and started heading over to one side. I saw an old clunker of a station wagon, and assumed (since she had so many kids and was using food stamps) that it was her car, and headed in that direction. Imagine my surprise when she told me no, this was her car, and pulled her cart up behind a brand new Caddy! I know it was brand new, because it still had the paperwork in the side window, showing the price of the darn thing!! She proceeded to load her groceries in her new Caddy, loaded up her kids, and thanked me for my help, then drove off in her car.

When I got back into the store, I remarked about her using food stamps to pay for her groceries, and yet driving a new Cadillac to my manager, who was also the store owner's son. He told me to get used to it, she's not the only one shopping in that store with that situation, by far, and that there were plenty of (as he put it, NOT my words), "Welfare hags on food stamps, living off our tax dollars and driving new cars".

So you see? There's exceptions to just about anything you consider to be a rule. And there's people out there abusing the system, and collecting welfare and/or food stamps, that don't deserve it. I realize that's a difficult thought to roll around in your mind, but it's true........and just because you don't believe it's so doesn't make it untrue, okay? :roll:

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: bobdelt
Well I have a homeless friend in Australia, 3 friends who left Canada to work in the US, all of whom claim Canada is a $h*t hole, dont know anybody from Northearn Europe, but I doubt living standards are much better. Keep in mind most countries in Europe have unemployment rates that dwarf the US.

But please, show me, lead me out of my ignorance, teach about Canada, Australia, and Europe about how much greater it is than US, about how there is less poverty and people earn much more money.

I've never meant a Canadian who says Canada is a shithole, and I live here. What are the odds your friends with 3 of them
How did you meet a homeless buddy in Australia? How often do you talk?

 

[HombrePequeno]

Originally posted by: Used Rugs
Did you know our country pays corporations welfare too? Yes the USA gives away WELFARE to profitable corporations. More then 10x to corps than it pays out to its citizens.
Sad fact. What a waste of money.

Generally corporate welfare is given during recessions when companies aren't so profitable. I guess you could consider tax breaks as forms of welfare but then you'd have to say that tax deductions for consumers are also a form of welfare.

I do agree that corporate welfare is a huge waste of money considering how ineffective it is. The money would be better off not being spent.

 

[Eos]

Originally posted by: bobdelt
http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7853537

"The poverty rate is over a percentage point lower than it was when Mr Clinton signed the infamous bill. Child poverty has fallen even more dramatically."

"Among those who worked for some or all of 2005 only 6% were officially poor; for those who did not work at all, the poverty rate was over 20%."

"points out that official poverty calculations exclude taxes paid and government benefits received as well as non-cash income such as fringe benefits or the rent saved through homeownership. This leads to a growing mismatch between the official poverty rate and spending by those at the bottom, which has risen though the poverty rate has held steady."

"Obesity is now the chief nutritional woe facing America?s poor."


So America's poor, dont work, spend more money than they used to, and eat way too much. That doesnt sound too poor to me. The average povered person has as much living space as the average american in the 1980's.

America is still the best country to make a livable wage.

Individuals control their own destiny, and I feel that most poor are either just lazy, or they blame everything on someone. Look at Dick Cheney, he most certainly did not come from a wealthy family. I also have a friend who was homeless now going to a top 10 law school. If you have the will, and dont expect handouts, and work hard, it will pay off for you. There's no excuse for nobody to go to college these days, loans are very easy to get.

That is, unless you drop out of school and have kids at 17. But then again, its their own fault their poor and it shouldnt be society's burden to support their mistakes.

You don't have to eat a lot to be obese. Lack of exercise is more of a factor than overeating.