Comments on: Poverty: A Growing Epidemic by Zachary Fischer. http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:11:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Mr. Andoscia http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-5552 Mr. Andoscia Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:30:59 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-5552 More balderdash about the poor being poor because they refuse to work and want the government to take care of them. This is simply not true on any level. Indeed, larger segments of the population are working and are still poor. And even those segments that are not, technically poor are having more difficult times making ends meet. Folks like Cato see a problem with dependency on the government, but don't bat an eye about dependency on corporate elites. As for the representatives that the people elect, again Cato is incorrect. Since the Reagan administration there has been a tendency to elect those who espouse free market principles...principles that have collapsed in every society in which they were implemented. More balderdash about the poor being poor because they refuse to work and want the government to take care of them. This is simply not true on any level. Indeed, larger segments of the population are working and are still poor. And even those segments that are not, technically poor are having more difficult times making ends meet. Folks like Cato see a problem with dependency on the government, but don’t bat an eye about dependency on corporate elites. As for the representatives that the people elect, again Cato is incorrect. Since the Reagan administration there has been a tendency to elect those who espouse free market principles…principles that have collapsed in every society in which they were implemented.

]]> By: Cato http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-5549 Cato Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:14:28 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-5549 The low technology jobs are going where the people will work for the lowest pay -- overseas. That makes sense. Unfortunately too many of our citizens have failed (read refused) to prepare themselves for the jobs of the future and our now unemployable. These people are sinking deeper into poverty -- from which there is no easy escape. This is not a failure of our system so much as it is a failure of our citizens to take responsibility for themselves. As the size of our poverty group has increased they have increasingly voted themselves representives that will "take care of them". This care is, of course, government largess. This largest is teaching these poor that work is not necessary and the poor segment of our population is increasing. The coolition between the poor and their elected representives is getting stronger. I fear it will continue to grow and the poor will be rewarded for inactivity and will continue to grow weak. As the self esteme of the poor sinks lower they become increasingly easy pawns for exploitation by elected (and those who would be elected) representives. We need to look to ourselves to work and to dig our way back to economic prosperity. Government help only increases dependency. CATO The low technology jobs are going where the people will work for the lowest pay — overseas. That makes sense. Unfortunately too many of our citizens have failed (read refused) to prepare themselves for the jobs of the future and our now unemployable. These people are sinking deeper into poverty — from which there is no easy escape. This is not a failure of our system so much as it is a failure of our citizens to take responsibility for themselves.

As the size of our poverty group has increased they have increasingly voted themselves representives that will “take care of them”. This care is, of course, government largess. This largest is teaching these poor that work is not necessary and the poor segment of our population is increasing. The coolition between the poor and their elected representives is getting stronger. I fear it will continue to grow and the poor will be rewarded for inactivity and will continue to grow weak.

As the self esteme of the poor sinks lower they become increasingly easy pawns for exploitation by elected (and those who would be elected) representives.

We need to look to ourselves to work and to dig our way back to economic prosperity. Government help only increases dependency.

CATO

]]> By: Mr. Andoscia http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-4793 Mr. Andoscia Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:18:54 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-4793 In fact, no economy has ever prospered without significant influence from the government. Free market principles lead to increased poverty and increased concentrations of wealth in the hands of a few. Indeed, government intervention has been very helpful and solved many problems when directed well. The GI Bill comes to mind. Indeed, every major corporation wants government interference in the marketplace...when it means subsidizing their risks and increasing their profits. Check out the book Bad Samaritans. In fact, no economy has ever prospered without significant influence from the government. Free market principles lead to increased poverty and increased concentrations of wealth in the hands of a few. Indeed, government intervention has been very helpful and solved many problems when directed well. The GI Bill comes to mind. Indeed, every major corporation wants government interference in the marketplace…when it means subsidizing their risks and increasing their profits. Check out the book Bad Samaritans.

]]> By: student http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-4776 student Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:11:23 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-4776 I agree that there is a fault in American people. However, it is much easier to change legislation as opposed to a whole society's mindset. And government intervention is not a myth, by simply looking into history under the time of FDR, who was in favor of direct relief, his system was very successful in its goal of saving the American people. Perhaps the success of a government system by FDR, one of the greatest presidents of our history is why this "myth" persists. I agree that there is a fault in American people. However, it is much easier to change legislation as opposed to a whole society’s mindset. And government intervention is not a myth, by simply looking into history under the time of FDR, who was in favor of direct relief, his system was very successful in its goal of saving the American people. Perhaps the success of a government system by FDR, one of the greatest presidents of our history is why this “myth” persists.

]]> By: student http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-4751 student Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:19:04 +0000 http://livingtextblog.andosciasociology.net/2009/06/20/poverty-a-growing-epidemic-by-zachary-fischer/#comment-4751 The idea that government can step in and solve any issue is a myth, and I do not quite understand how it persists. Government intervention in the free market has shown itself to be a bad idea in just the most recent administration. It places the will of whatever perceived injustices there are over the will of the people, who 'vote' on something using their hard earned money in the free market. In this sense, the notion that a large company is 'hurts the American people' is not accurate. If it truly were the American people would no longer purchase items from that company and the free market would work itself out, given enough time. The other issue is one of poverty. The economy has historically gone through highs and lows every ten to twenty years are so, and in every instance there is a panic because the previous ideas of wealth, and habits learned through financial upturns, hold during time of economic stresses. Everyone feels like they deserve their own home, their own car, their own TV and stereo. If people would only rearrange their priorities for a change, and did something like find a roommate or two, the sense of 'poverty' would disappear entirely. - Aaron M. The idea that government can step in and solve any issue is a myth, and I do not quite understand how it persists. Government intervention in the free market has shown itself to be a bad idea in just the most recent administration. It places the will of whatever perceived injustices there are over the will of the people, who ‘vote’ on something using their hard earned money in the free market. In this sense, the notion that a large company is ‘hurts the American people’ is not accurate. If it truly were the American people would no longer purchase items from that company and the free market would work itself out, given enough time.
The other issue is one of poverty. The economy has historically gone through highs and lows every ten to twenty years are so, and in every instance there is a panic because the previous ideas of wealth, and habits learned through financial upturns, hold during time of economic stresses. Everyone feels like they deserve their own home, their own car, their own TV and stereo. If people would only rearrange their priorities for a change, and did something like find a roommate or two, the sense of ‘poverty’ would disappear entirely.

- Aaron M.

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