"It's risky business to superficially quote Jesus!"

Maybe the author didn't heed his own advice?

 

Actually the scripture is taken from Dueteronomy which was written well before the birth of Christ, but your point is still well taken. This is one quote from a 300 page book, I cannot help but be superficial, but I think the discussion has been good.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_changing_face_of_poverty_in_america

 

I apologize that this is not from the Heritage foundation.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_changing_face_of_poverty_in_america

 

I apologize that this is not from the Heritage foundation.

:lol: I found this on the web site that brings into question the magazine's objectivity.

 

We founded the Prospect out of a conviction that the conservative undertow in American political life is profoundly influenced by the dominance of conservative media and think tanks. Our conservative counterparts have played a critical role in pulling the entire national debate to the right. We intend to take it back.

If this is what conservative dominance looks like to the author then what would liberal dominance of the media look like?

 

The poverty level is relative and comparing poverty rates between different eras is pointless. The government classifies many people today as living below the poverty line who would have been considered middle class in the 1950s or 1960s. The goal posts are constantly moving for political purposes, IMO. Poor people cannot afford $100 basketball shoes, iPods, and cable TV.

:lol: I found this on the web site that brings into question the magazine's objectivity.

 

If this is what conservative dominance looks like to the author then what would liberal dominance of the media look like?

 

The poverty level is relative and comparing poverty rates between different eras is pointless. The government classifies many people today as living below the poverty line who would have been considered middle class in the 1950s or 1960s. The goal posts are constantly moving for political purposes, IMO. Poor people cannot afford $100 basketball shoes, iPods, and cable TV.

 

Then you really don't understand the poverty. have you thought about reading anything by RUBY PAYNE?

Then you really don't understand the poverty. have you thought about reading anything by RUBY PAYNE?

I was born into a poor family and watched my parents work hard to rise above our circumstances. I remember visiting my grandmother when she had no running water and having to brave the snow and ice to walk to the outhouse up the hollow. My understanding of poverty is not theorectical it came through first hand experience.

 

Please do not tell me that I do not understand poverty unless you have lived in a home without running water and can recall your parents coasting down the hills of eastern Kentucky to conserve gas because they were flat broke. Although I was very young, I lived in poverty myself but my parents never gave up hope and never stopped working to reach the middle class and to provide a comfortable home for my brother and me.

 

You can cite all the sob stories and statistics that you want from whatever left wing sources you can find but for able-bodied people, the best remedy for poverty is a healthy capitalist economy with an abundance of available work and a strong work ethic. Socialism is no substitute at all.

I was born into a poor family and watched my parents work hard to rise above our circumstances. I remember visiting my grandmother when she had no running water and having to brave the snow and ice to walk to the outhouse up the hollow. My understanding of poverty is not theorectical it came through first hand experience.

 

Please do not tell me that I do not understand poverty unless you have lived in a home without running water and can recall your parents coasting down the hills of eastern Kentucky to conserve gas because they were flat broke. Although I was very young, I lived in poverty myself but my parents never gave up hope and never stopped working to reach the middle class and to provide a comfortable home for my brother and me.

 

You can cite all the sob stories and statistics that you want from whatever left wing sources you can find but for able-bodied people, the best remedy for poverty is a healthy capitalist economy with an abundance of available work and a strong work ethic. Socialism is no substitute at all.

 

Hoot, I know Ace's circumstances a little, but I'll let him comment on that. What I can say is that I, too, grew up in poverty, but I developed a whole new understanding of it after reading "Understanding Poverty" by Ruby Payne. These aren't sob stories but a 20 year study of a variety of families in generational poverty. It is essentially a scientific study.

Most of our "needy" people have televisions, video games, cell phones, and all sorts of luxuries. Those who have none of these luxuries are generally suffering from addiction or mental illness.

 

Our nation's poor are quite prosperous. Check out the following story:

 

"The following are facts about persons defined as “poor” by the Census Bureau, taken from a variety of government reports:"

 

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjE3NTA4Yjc0NjQxMDA4ZjhlZjczMWM0YWNlM2JhOTg=

Our nation's poor are quite prosperous. Check out the following story:

 

"The following are facts about persons defined as “poor” by the Census Bureau, taken from a variety of government reports:"

 

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjE3NTA4Yjc0NjQxMDA4ZjhlZjczMWM0YWNlM2JhOTg=

I read the article before it was pulled in the other thread and found it very informative. The author makes a good point about illegal immigration contributing to poverty in this country. Yet, the liberals who blame capitalism are often the same people who oppose stopping the flow of illegal immigrants by securing our borders. Misery loves company.

Hoot, I know Ace's circumstances a little, but I'll let him comment on that. What I can say is that I, too, grew up in poverty, but I developed a whole new understanding of it after reading "Understanding Poverty" by Ruby Payne. These aren't sob stories but a 20 year study of a variety of families in generational poverty. It is essentially a scientific study.

I can recommend several books that recount first hand stories of people who climbed out of poverty to become successful, contributing members of society - no thanks to government anti-poverty programs.

 

IMO, more can be learned about how to solve the poverty problem in this country by studying success stories such as those of Dr. Thomas Sowell, former Congressman James Rogan, and Justice Clarence Thomas than having career academics study the problem. However, too often instead of praising these three men for setting good examples for young people in similar circumstances, they have been smeared because they share a conservative ideology.

I didn't say I knew how to fund it, I said I thought it was a good idea. How do the Swiss do it??

 

 

Military service for Swiss men is obligatory according to the Federal Constitution, and includes 18 or 21 weeks of basic training (depending on troop category) as well as annual 3-week-refresher courses until a number of service days which increases with rank (260 days for privates) is reached. Service for women is voluntary, but identical in all respects. Conscientious objectors can choose 390 days of community service instead of military service. Medical deferments and dismissals from basic training (often on somewhat dubious grounds) have increased significantly in the last years. Therefore, only about 55% to 60% of Swiss men actually complete basic training.

 

Also after they are finished with their tour of duty, they are required to take home their kit and assault rifle. Every year they have to qualify with it and are encouraged to practice on their own time.

Then you really don't understand the poverty. have you thought about reading anything by RUBY PAYNE?

 

 

Dr. Ruby Payne's work is brilliant and in many ways essential for those people entering into the educational profession who will be working with individuals coming from a generational and cultural poverty background.

Our nation's poor are quite prosperous. Check out the following story:

 

"The following are facts about persons defined as “poor” by the Census Bureau, taken from a variety of government reports:"

 

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjE3NTA4Yjc0NjQxMDA4ZjhlZjczMWM0YWNlM2JhOTg=

 

That's quite the eye opener.

I can recommend several books that recount first hand stories of people who climbed out of poverty to become successful, contributing members of society - no thanks to government anti-poverty programs.

 

IMO, more can be learned about how to solve the poverty problem in this country by studying success stories such as those of Dr. Thomas Sowell, former Congressman James Rogan, and Justice Clarence Thomas than having career academics study the problem. However, too often instead of praising these three men for setting good examples for young people in similar circumstances, they have been smeared because they share a conservative ideology.

 

I would certainly be willing to read those books, but please don't discount Payne's book as being biased in either direction. It is simply a "framework for understanding poverty." It doesn't give any recommendations, such as entitlement programs/welfare, etc, it simply gives a look at patterns and behaviors. It truly is enlightening. I'd be glad to trade a copy of it with a copy of a book that you recommend, if you are interested.

How much of your own money, after taxes, do you voluntarily give to the "poor"?

 

If this helps you 10%

From the book - "Everything Must Change"

 

"the poor you will have with you always" is often used to aruge against the elimination of poverty . . .

 

'Quoting Jesus' words from matthew 26:11 to defend a complacency toward the poor becomes manifeswtly ridiculous when one looks at the passage of the Old Testament jesus is himslef quoting: Deuteronomy 15. After saying, "There will always be poor eople in the land," the text says, "Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward . . .the poor and needy in your land: (v 11). And eiarlier in the chapter (v.4), we read, "However, there should be no poor among you." because the land can produce an abundance for all if that [b]abundance is fairly distributed through a just legal system - or to use our term in this bookd a [/b]just equity system.'

 

"It's risky business to superficially quote Jesus!"

 

Isn't the bolded shocking. Surely God is a capitalist, but this suggests otherwise. hmmmm

 

I cannot find this in my Bible either