Blaming the Poor for Poverty

[marmar]

from Consortium News:



Blaming the Poor for Poverty
November 1, 2013

Unrestrained free markets destroy the middle class, push working people down the economic ladder and concentrate wealth at the top. But promoters of this hyper-capitalism, who dominate the U.S. media debate, simply blame the poor for poverty, as Lawrence Davidson explains.

By Lawrence Davidson


Most of the poverty in the United States is artificially manufactured. It is poverty created in the pursuit of “free market ideals,” expressed in recent times by the imposition of neoliberal economic policies – the sort of policies that cut taxes on the wealthy, do away with fiscal and other business regulations, shred the social safety net, and erode middle-class stability – all while singing the praises of self-reliance and individual responsibility.

As a result we have done very well in making the rich richer and the poor both poorer and more numerous.

How many poor people are there in the United States? According to Current Population Survey (CPS), which puts out the government’s official figures, as of 2012 about 15 percent of the population, or some 46.5 million people, were living in poverty. The rate for children under 18 comes in higher, at about 21.8 percent.

The U.S. government measures poverty in monetary terms. In 2012 poverty was defined as yearly total income of $23,050 or less for a family of four. The figure is adjusted for individuals or other size families. Then there is the depressing fact that “most Americans (58.5 percent) will spend at least one year below the poverty line at some point between the ages of 25 and 75.” ........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2013/11/01/blaming-the-poor-for-poverty/

[gopiscrap]

1. yup, that's because they have no big money voice of advocacy

[WillyT]

2. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[leftstreet]

3. DURec

[adirondacker]

4. I joked with my RW neighbor and told him he obviously didn't work hard enough during his life,

otherwise he'd be, at the minimum, a millionaire. He gave me a glare of amusement.

[Dragonfli]

7. If it was really about hard work, the working poor that work harder and longer would all be rich

While most of the wealthy (I would guess 98% of them) would be begging in the streets.

[adirondacker]

8. That was the point I attempted to make. Instead, he tagged me as "jealous" of the "deserving".

He likes to live in a pretend world, but I enjoy shaking it up a bit.

[Dragonfli]

9. I got what you were saying right away, thanks for saying it to him

even if he is too stupid to process a reality that is all around him,

[adirondacker]

10. All I can do, at times, is be amused.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. Next, say, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?"...

Then poke him with a pointed stick.

[Dragonfli]

5. I miss having a party that was concerned about the poor, we have two parties that continue the

neoliberal policies that create more poor, quite actively in fact (just look at Clinton's deregulation, welfare deform and free trade, and of course Reagan and his spawn that began the whole thing on the other side and would take us to feudal times overnight in their current incarnation).

The party that used to care about the majority of people (now quite poor) will sometimes pretend to champion the "middle class" (a term used to describe comfortable suburbanites making 100 grand and up) but do little in the legislative arena to keep them from actually joining the ranks of the poor majority, so I consider it lip service at best.

Who champions regular people anymore, seriously who?
Do the poor even exist in the two party rich people bubble that we call Washington?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

18. The "Liberal" in "Neo-Liberal" is bullshit anyway....

Conservatives are for making the rich richer and saying, "Screw the poor."

Neo-Liberals say they want to help the poor,...by making the rich richer.

They are promoters of "supply side" and "trickle down" on a global scale and they can't believe there is such a thing as a greedy bastard that exploits the workers or a greedy bank that wants to put a country in debt to control it.

[nomorenomore08]

24. In a way, neo-liberals and other "fiscal conservatives" seem like the ultimate idealists.

Because they honestly believe - or so it would appear - that the unchecked power over others represented by unregulated wealth, doesn't corrupt the elite few into screwing over everyone else. When it obviously does.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

25. They believe the 1% cares what the 99% thinks of them....

It's the old "Do it for the good PR" argument.

Things have changed.

The 1% have become convinced that they don't owe anyone anything and got where they are because they are entitled to it because they are superior to everyone else. To top it off, they have little or no contact with the rest of the public and honestly have come to believe they are the only ones who contribute to civilization.

[Dragonfli]

6. I wish I could rec this 100 times, but will have to settle for 1 and this kick

[adirondacker]

11. It's kind of interesting that posts like this, which discuss the Root cause of many of the problems

featured in other posts, garner few views and recs. Whereas a topic on guns or sex garner an orgy of views, replies, and recs. Makes me want to scream Priorities people!

[Rebellious Republican]

12. You forgot the SOUTH!

Cause everybody knows we are a bunch gun toten, undereducated, illegitimate, incestuous, religious right wing, KKK supporting, homophobics! What did I leave out.

[adirondacker]

14. Attending Olive Garden. :)

[Rebellious Republican]

17. Please you jest, thats high brow, Mr mr. gattis is the best.

[Dragonfli]

15. The south is loaded to overflowing with the poor, perhaps locals can do something locally?

Such efforts would change preconceived views by many that do not understand why such states double down on politicians that do nothing but promote such negative views.

I have met many good progressives from the south fighting the good fight against harsh odds, but one still wonders why they are viewed negatively ofttimes by their own neighbors.

Many in the public eye of the nation unfortunately act in ways and speak in ways that continue the unfair stereotypes, that can not be addressed from New York, it must be done by ya'all.

[Rebellious Republican]

23. We are working on it, Florida did go blue for Obama in 2008 and well 2012 after the fact.

Last edited Wed Nov 6, 2013, 05:54 PM - Edit history (2)

We were still counting votes well after the election had been declared and conceded by Romney in 2012.

Brad Paisley using his spotlight to bring us all together...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xHJ2sbGJbok

Even an Okie from Muskogee wrote a war protest song....

Dixie Chics response to being blacklisted....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IHH8bfPhusM

Willie Nelson, well what can you say about Willie he is just a genuine good person...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=h-OAlUXlYbM

Does Nelson worry about sharing the scorn that the Dixie Chicks received after that group's lead singer's public put-down of President George W. Bush? Will it cause a backlash from conservative country fans?

"I sure hope so," he told the Austin paper. "I don't care if people say, 'Who the hell does he think he is?' I know who I am."

[Rebellious Republican]

27. Man did I ever mess this post up, I think I have it straight now!

[Thucydides]

28. Had me confused there for a moment, have another beer!

[Rebellious Republican]

29. Thanks I think I might just do that. We won in St. Petersburg!

[madfloridian]

30. So proud of St. Pete. That was quite a win.

Good for you guys. Enjoyed the songs you posted.

[Rebellious Republican]

31. Thanks MF, always good to hear from.

[Rebellious Republican]

26. Sorry about the date mix up, I meant 2012.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

19. Well,...you mentioned "sex" so that will make it get a rec or two.

[adirondacker]

20. If I add Lotus imbelicle chord, does that buy me three?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. IUD might.

[Prophet 451]

16. I blame teh Victorians

It was during the Victorian era when that idea of teh "undeserving poor" became popular and, thanks to conservatives, it's never really gone away. The lazy poor person living off teh public dole has become a folk devil in both our nations.

[RainDog]

22. k&r n/t