Home Mobile Archives Reader Blogs Register Login

Friday, December 29, 2006

Thomas Sowell on Poverty

From Thomas Sowells Column yesterday:

Even as they define deviancy downward, many of the progressive intelligentsia define poverty upward, so that people with amenities that even the middle class could only strive for, two generations ago, are still called “the poor” or the “have-nots.” Except for people who can’t work or won’t work, there is very little real poverty in the United States today, except among people who come from poverty-stricken countries and bring their poverty with them.

Talk about “the working poor” still resonates in politics, but most of the people in the bottom 20 percent of American households are not working full-time and year-round. There are more heads of household who work year-round and full-time among the top 5 percent of American heads of households than among the bottom 20 percent.

The left has striven mightily to make working no longer necessary for having a claim to a share of what others have produced—whether a share of “the nation’s” wealth or “the world’s” wealth. They have also striven mightily to inflate the number of people who look poor by counting young people with entry-level jobs, who are passing through lower income brackets at the beginning of their careers, among “the poor,” even though most of these young people have incomes above the national average when they are older.

Comments

He also said:

Even in the United States, most people did not have a telephone or a refrigerator as late as 1930. Today, most Americans living below the official poverty level have not only these things but also color television, air-conditioning, a microwave oven and a motor vehicle.

What is considered “poverty” in this country would be opulence...not only in third world countries, but throughout the ages! Ancient kings did not or could not live as long or as comfortably as the “poor” in the US do today!
A recent study puts anyone with assets of $2200 in the top 50% wealthiest people on earth. Think car, refrigerator, color TV, household furniture, and you get to $2200 pretty darn quick!
Now if the “poverty pimps” would start telling people how well off they are and forget victimization, maybe they could go on and improve their lot in life even more!



A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

Proof on December 29, 2006 at 03:20 pm

It’s our fault if someone spends their money on something they don’t need and don’t have money to buy groceries.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on December 29, 2006 at 03:24 pm

Groceries! Whistler, that remiinds me of a time I was in California, working my butt off to feed my family, pinching every penny...standing in line behind a guy using food stamps to buy his groceries including some of the biggest steaks I’d ever seen (with me buying hot dogs and beans!) and then, to buy the things you weren’t allowed to buy with food stamps (dog food and such) he pulls out this wad of fifty and hundred dollar bills to buy what the food stamps wouldn’t.
It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know that my tax dollars were helping one of us to just get by!



A troll is someone who only wants to stir up trouble, not have an honest debate.  Some signs that a poster is a troll:
* Dodges questions from other posters * Refuses to give sources
* When one of its arguments is shown to be false, either ignores the proof or moves the goalposts.  Heh. (From the LGF faq)

Proof on December 29, 2006 at 03:36 pm

First time I ever saw food stamps being used was at 7-11 and the lady was buying a frozen pizza and a six pack of tab.

You know there’s a problem when the food stamps need to be given out as a debit card because some people didn’t like redeeming the coupons.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on December 29, 2006 at 04:28 pm

TW: Yes, it might hurt their feelings to be recognized as dependents, so let’s give them what others have to earn.  Typical leftie thinking.  It’s all about feelings.


If you don’t know by now, don’t mess with it.

robert108 on December 29, 2006 at 04:38 pm
Avatar for Mickey

Given that we are all given the opportunity for twelve years of free public education , just whos fault is it if someone is living below the national average?

Most of those middle class poor are in debt over their heads because they can’t manage their spending and not because they are not paid a fair wage for their skills.

There are some hard luck stories and in the majority of cases they have a common denominator. Limited skills. And whos fault is that?

Man is part of nature and nature can be harsh.

Mickey on December 29, 2006 at 06:44 pm

Defination of poverty lacking the basic food, shelter and clothing.

You can cloth yourself for $100 a year.

You can eat cheap at about $100 a month.

Shelter is a bit more of a wild card.  However basic needs are pretty basics.  Warm, Dry with running water.

Lacking those would be living in poverty.  Having enough money to afford these items (but spending your money otherwise) is not poverty.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on December 29, 2006 at 06:50 pm

Thomas Sowell tells The Truth.  Read The Ecomomics of Politics and Race .  There, Thomas Sowell solves the “mystery” of poverty and race by pointing out after looking at statistical analysis that the prime indicator of poverty is not race, but age !  Imagine that!


Communism is evil

Chief RZ on December 29, 2006 at 07:30 pm

Ah, youthism.


What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.


The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on December 29, 2006 at 07:37 pm
Page 1 of 1        

Post a Comment


Before commenting, please recite:

Grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Name   
Email   
URL   
Human?
  
 

Upload Image    

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Note: Notifications will only be sent to confirmed email addresses.