Poverty

[BOLO]

As long as they disappear.

[Peanut]

Liberal have nothing to offer other than a collapsing universe.

- Silly mortal...muhahahahaha

[rush22]

" Forty-six per cent of all poor households actually own their own homes."

= 54% cannot afford to shelter themselves

"Seventy-six per cent of poor households have air conditioning."

= New homes come with standard air conditiong. Older homes have air conditiong left at the house.

"The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens and other cities throughout Europe."

= Homes are larger in the US due to urban sprawl.

"Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 30% own two or more cars."

= Work is found so far away from home that transportation is needed.

"Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television. Over half own two or more color televisions. Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player. Sixty-two percent have cable or satellite TV reception."

= The proletariat are living out fantasies provided to them by the bourgeoisie.

"84% of the poor report their families have "enough" food to eat, while only 3% say they "often" do not have enough to eat."

= 16% of people cannot afford to buy enough food to live.

"There are two main reasons American children are poor: Their parents don’t work much, and fathers are absent from the home.

Don't work much? Well, in case you hadn't noticed, it is quite hard to find a job when all you have is a high school education. Did you know that the manufacturing industry lost more than 2 milllion jobs in the last four years, and is at its lowest level since the Great Depression, almost 50 years ago? Temp agencies (that skim wages off the top), are one of the fastest growing industries.

In good economic times or bad, the typical poor family with children is supported by only 800 hours of work during a year. That amounts to 16 hours of work per week.

Cite a government source on that one. That means a single mother making $8/hour as a secretary makes only $6,400 a year. Or a mother and father both working for $8/hour make only $13,800 per year. That equals 10 years for a house, and 4 years for two cars. If they marry at 20, than at age 35 they will be able to afford a tiny house and two cars--if they live in a field, and eat no food for those 14 years.

"Still, in a sense, the poor will always be with us. The liberal grievance industry needs an abundant supply of apparent victims to keep its motors running. Without a permanent victim class, liberals cannot survive. Thus, in liberal imagination and rhetoric, the microwave must always be bare."

No, without a permanent victim class, 'conservatives' cannot hold onto power. What do you think credit cards are for?

[TNRighty]

How ignorant. Not owning your own home doesn't mean you cannot afford shelter. Typical liberal nonsense..."If you don't own your own house then you're sleeping in a box". Thank you for making my point for me. And yes, it is hard for an 18-year old with nothing but a high school degree to start out making $50 grand a year. That's life. Get an education. Don't go to the workplace with marginal job skills and whine when you aren't making the money you want.

Those stats on the lack of work in poor families came from the 2002 US Census. It was quoted in the article I linked you to. Yes, you are correct, a woman who works 16 hours a week at $8 per hour will make about $6400 a year. If her husband does the same they'll take home about $12,800 per year. True, but that's not the point. The point was that people who work no more than 16 hours per weak are lazy. If those same two people worked a 40 hour week, their household income would be about $32,000 per year.

Really don't know what you're trying to say with the credit card thing. Like most of what you said, it made little sense.

[strawberry2025]

I agree with Joebialek, although determining the bottom limits would be a great endeavor. Let's face one simple truth at a time. No one "decided" to be born. That is a decision that is made by one's mother and father. To be effective in the evolution of humanity and the elevation of the quality of life on earth, each generation should always strive to provide a better future for those human beings that "they" decided to bring into the world. The last few generations have spent enough time on science and technological advancements with great success. I think that it is time to concentrate on human empathy for one another as this is definately one area that we could use to improve upon.

As all times must pass away, so too will ours...no civilization lasts forever, nor does any country. History proves so. History also provides the answers to the questions if one seeks hard enough.

[scummybear]

No one "decided" to be born.

So that excuses you from participating in your life? Unbelievable.

To be effective in the evolution of humanity and the elevation of the quality of life on earth, each generation should always strive to provide a better future for those human beings that "they" decided to bring into the world.

You make it sound as if being born is a burden, rather than a gift. A burden that should be carried by society rather than a life being taught independence and autonomy.

The last few generations have spent enough time on science and technological advancements with great success. I think that it is time to concentrate on human empathy for one another as this is definately one area that we could use to improve upon.

What does science and technology have to do with empathy?
Your not helping anyone by showing them how to take advantage (permanently) of the welfare state.

As all times must pass away, so too will ours...no civilization lasts forever, nor does any country. History proves so. History also provides the answers to the questions if one seeks hard enough

You're right, history has shown that Socialism doesn't work. All attempts to construct Utopia have failed. The reason it has failed, is that people have tried to promote the "It's OK, you didn't ask to be born" philosophy.

[Matter]

While we're using Statistical snapshots to justify a contention....

so that you can justify why America has an increasing poverty rate (ever since Bush came into power, mind you) and support of his war OF terror.

Let's do a quick review of poverty #'s, shall we?

www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/poverty02/pov02fig1.jpg[/img]

It seems that Mr. Bush is doing better during a recession than Bill Clinton during the Bubble economy. In fact, Mr. Clinton almost matched the 40 year high for # of folks in poverty.

Matter's Disclaimer: I'm familiar with economic cycles; I'm utilizing this simplistic economic example to prove a point.

Gimme a break.

OK. But only this time. ;D