The Nation - Latest Comments in This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Cat in Seattle — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:43:16 -0000

With your thinking there would also be less "surplus" kids to pay YOUR Social Security when you are old so reduce yours when you need it most. There wold be less "surplus" kids to fight in YOUR wars when you are too old, and hey, less "surplus" kids to take care of YOU when you can no longer do it. So you change you own damn adult diapers, because you don't need any more "surplus" kids" dammit! Git our yer cane and attach a shovel to it so you can dig that new water main outside your door because less "surplus" kids mean there is nobody but YOU to do it, 80 years old or not. And of course you certainly weren't a "surplus" kid when you were born, eh?

Raising kids is a JOB, it is not a hobby because the next generation is our future. While many do not want over population, I would say whomever is brought to this earth should be invested in and treated as if they matter because they will take care of us when we can no longer do it.

Cat in Seattle

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

nation_moderator — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:56:37 -0000

Hi everyone,

This is a heads up that tomorrow, March 16th at 11 AM Greg Kaufmann will
be participating in a real-time discussion with our commenters. To
participate, just go to his most recent "This Week in Poverty" post at
11 AM tomorrow and post a comment.

Thanks!

Sarah

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:17:25 -0000

Koroviev
i missed the assholes on wall street part sorry, your gripe is with the politicians that agree to turn the money over to these corporations, now you know why both dems and repubs do it dont you?

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:11:23 -0000

koroviev
ALL those items you described are insidious, i would be surprised if RUFF DID not agree with what you have outlined. Today we have a name for what you described and it is Crony Capitalism.
its kinda like the Halliburton situation during the BUSH administration, but don't try and make a parallel, the corruption is WAY different this time Halliburton begins with an H and GE begins with....... please don't bring it up again, this Administration told us they would not do what you outlined, and frankly i believe them

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

koroviev — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:12:27 -0000

Whoa!! Rewarding bad behavior? Hmmm, wouldn't Obama creating Jeoffrey Immelt the jobs czar after Immelt tapped the taxpayers for billions of bailout dollars be rewarding bad behavior.

Wouldn't giving Immelt (GE) a bailout when they could've issued discounted stock to cover the loss be reinforcing bad behavior? Well, GE stock price would've went down and they would've diluted their shareholders but that's as bad as starving or not having heat.

Wasn't it reinforcing bad behavior to bail out the Goldman Sack and the JP Morgan et al... only to let them continue trading high risk leveredged securities?

Why do you think the US bailed out the Mexican Peso? Why do you think the US pumped billions into foreign (European) banks? Why did the Govt. bail out AIG? Because the as*holes on Wall St. didn't want to take a haircut.

Please rethink yourself. All you have to do is look and you will see that this country devotes too much money and resources to ensure big corporate and financial interests don't suffer a dip in their stock price.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Ruff — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:34:31 -0000

All of the stories on this website have a common theme.
I believe all the folks that we chastise for being "liberals" actually do mean well. They stand up for the least of us, and there is something to be said for that.
I give you all an "A" for caring, but I give you an "F" for execution. The least of us will never be uplifted by anyone but themselves.
You demonize those that succeed because others do not. You claim that the ones that carry the burden of the least of us via taxes are not paying their fair share. You create an environment that takes away incentive and puts people in the mindset that others will and should pay for their American dream, and those others are also pricks who care not. You also reward bad behavior and look the other way when you get more of it in return. You hold different people to different standards and make excuses for those that can't cut it. You prop them up and actually do more to grow a dependent society than the opposite.
The predominant liberal tenets are:1. It is always someone else's fault.2. Those that succeed are bad (except of course for yourselves and Hollywood elites).3. There are people out there working to make sure others will pay for everything. Those people belong to the Democratic party.4. There are people out there (many of which are paying for everything you get) that want to hold you down. They can only succeed if you fail. They are Republicans. Don't let them trick you.5. Bad behavior is excusable under the above circumstances.
You would do so much better if you went with these:1. This is the USA. No where on the earth does anyone have the freedom to make their own success.2. This is the USA. Not everybody succeeds. Life is not always fair, but don't give up. Keep on trying.3. No one owes you anything.4. Aspire to be successful as those folks the liberal idiots demonized. Truth be told, they want you to succeed too, because then they will carry less of a burden, and the burden they carry will be plenty for those that really need it.5. Bad behavior is not excused under any circumstances.
There are plenty more.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

carneadesofga — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:06 -0000

Amen and indeed! Fault the good people for circumstances out of their control. Oh, some need to spur themselves but they are the few.
We naturalists,embracing determinism, note that is the case affecting us all!
Those misanthropes need to refine their evolved moral sense! Compassion is moral; their seeming lack of it harms people.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

carneadesofga — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:55:50 -0000

Spencer-Randism- so-called Social Darwinism- rules the Goofy Ole Party! What atavism to agree with Herbert Spencer and Ayn Rand!
Sen. Ayn Rand Paul. The Ryan plan would take us back to those bad old times! What idiocy!
And the poor don't need those jerks to prattle about they need to learn to work when they already work hard or did so! Ging-bitch is such a bigot!

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

carneadesofga — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 12:50:04 -0000

Tell Obama-Biden to get the supplemental income into TANK! We must get them to do what they want to do as FDR told his supporters to put pressure on him and- the Democratic Party and Congress also.
Morgan-LynnGriggs Lamberth; Lord Griggs

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Phil Perspective — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 22:15:21 -0000

Did you read the last sentence of her comment?!?

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 00:37:19 -0000

Cat

first; you will never and have never heard me advocate the elimination of all assistance, i have said and i know you
read, that i recognize some people NEED help so stop throwing it at me. I also know that you don't think for one
minute i don't recognize the plight of the woman and I am sure men, you
have outlined, so stop hitting me over the head with that.

The woman whose husband
turns into Godzilla had no clue, although I’m sure it happens I can’t believe they
are ALL SURPRISED.

The children ARE our
future, and from the parenting happening today the future is bleak!

Depending on my
children? I haven’t told you this but I think like a concervative but raised
them like a liberal and screwed them up, my diapers will go unchanged and I
WONT BLAME ANYONE ELSE BUT ME.

I just don’t buy into
the blame the poor so it’s easier to be comfortable; my guess is most people unconsciously
ignore the poor.

Care of elders and
spouses, what are you looking for? I see many families taking care of their parents,
to the end; they feel that’s what they should do.

In 1996 I was in a
bubble, just working hard and trying to support a family, not even noticing the
world I was in.

You keep insisting the
poor worked their tales of for nothing, how is that possible, if you’re saying
the poor should have been compensated better, well better than what?

People are flawed
animals for sure, it seems today we here the whoa-is-me a lot more than we used
to, we hear the “I did everything right why me”? I like to say “retrace your
steps” and the ever famous line “life IS not fair” get your ass in gear and
rise above it.

What I see in my town is
the upper and middle class doing most of the volunteering of time and money. We
seem to expect nothing from the poor, they have enough issues, it’s the upper and
middle class that provide the funds for the poor children to even participate. I
am grateful for their efforts.

If the day comes that I have
to sit in front of someone as you speak of and I am looking for assistance and
they hit me with MY line, and IT IS all my fault, I will agree with them 100%,
if I qualify for help they better give it if not then they shouldn’t, I WILL
NOT blame them if they shouldn’t.

What’s with the lunch
bucket analogy? I certainly have no
problem with the helper thinking about my bad choices hopefully it will be a
lesson.

There is not the
faintest guarantee that we do not experience desperation, for many it is
desperation that motivates them, why don’t YOU see that.

Recognition for what I have
done, it’s nice but not necessary, if it brings me more money (freedom) to
better my family’s life than great.

it seems as though you and I
are seeing different circumstances.

i see groups of KIDs
pushing baby carriages around the city, using EBT cards to buy
lunch, for every dollar that the taxpayers commit to and spend on these
KIDS just makes MORE.

i think about the babies and
say what a future they have. if you investigate you will
most likely find their parents are not much older than the KIDS. THE
MAIN REASON for this phenomenon is the taxpayer MONEY AND THESE ARE
CHOICES. i firmly believe we have hurt more than we have helped with
this welfare system. there is no doubt in my mind you understand and agree with
this statement.

saying the poor work
harder than anyone, is a major unfounded rumor

here is what I take from
our conversing, there are a lot more “victims of life” that need help then I thought,
you did not bother to educate me on the freeloaders that want help.

Keeping some families
together is much better, I am sure that works the opposite way also, but you
failed to mention that.

Corporations suck even
those that give to the less fortunate when they DON’T have to.

Middle and upper class
people suck, even though the little the poor get come from them.

The poor work the
hardest of the entire group, and only do the dirty work, and are purposely held
back by someone.

You never acknowledged
that many of the poor work their way up to cleaner more safe jobs on their own

Guys are assholes (I assume
and embellished a little)

Women are victims,
except the middle and upper class

Most of the country purposely
ignores the poor and even exploit them as a goal

One
of your favorites the poor pay most of the taxes

You
never said a word about the welfare life style and how destructive it is

You
never mention men in this world

You
never acknowledge the positive impact on a person that being poor can be the
biggest motivator.

Then
you give me hope there is a God; and that he will help me, I would reprimand
him for not helping those that ALREADY truly need, THEN I would tell him I’m
all set move on.

I
am curious, I think you want a form of communism; the garbage man makes the same
as the engineer, so they can live the same, nobody does any dangerous work or
everybody does the dangerous work. Or we have the Chinese do the dangerous
work.

Then
you finish with; Buh-bye, is that “levity” or “sarcasm” or “so there”

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

maryann26 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 18:43:08 -0000

I think GalLiberal is being sarcastic. She said she voted for Reagan and has regretted it ever since. Never voted for a Republican..... Her comment says this message was brought to you by the Republican Party, which is exactly how the Republicans portray everyone who faces any adversity and needs help.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Cat in Seattle — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 16:17:00 -0000

What an ignoramus.
The poor pay the the highest rate of taxes in every state in the US: Check out your state here:
http://itepnet.org/state_re.... I bet you are one that believes in "trickle down economics" (I am sickened here). Guess what you idiot, there are such things as "trickle down taxes" as well. This is where the Feds make drastic cuts and then the states raise their taxes to meet what they no longer get. While YOU sit on your ass and pretend YOU are doing it all, in fact you do not make the sacrifice or give as much because (I am going to yell here) THE POOR PAY THE HIGHEST RATE OF TAXES THAN ANY OTHER CLASS... I am wondering if you are not a resident of one of those conservative states who collect TWICE AS MUCH FEDERAL MONEY as Liberal states while their poor starve. They are really doin' it right aren't they? Uhhh have you forgotten a little proclamation by the founders of this country? You know that "silly stuff" they wrote such as this country should be "by the people and for the people..." They did *NOT* say, "By just the Conservatives and for the Conservatives ..."

Boy are you a picture of compassion, just like REAL Conservatives! Their preachers pretend they worship God when in fact all they do is worship money, money, money. They live in mansions, use fear to fleece the gullible for their opulent mega-churches, and then use the "poor little black babies" to get more money for themselves. Such as Pat Robertson, that liar who took $1Million supposedly "for the poor little African babies." Then he flew the money to Africa in his private jet (without a gingle Bibnle anywhere but LOTS of financial papers) where he used it to buy gold from mines that little children are forced to labor. Now that I am sure is what you call a REAL Christian and Conservative, right?

Got some Jayzuz, you know that "lazy brown man" you people like to joke about behind closed doors?? Read what He told the rich man who asked how he could get to heaven in Matthew 19: 21-24:
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”But nobody will not have to tell you to go to hell, we'll let Someone Else do that. Cat in Seattle

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

AmericanGirl — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 13:13:22 -0000

GalLiberal- Please make an effort to think before spewing out mindless rubbish.

This message was brought to you by the People of America.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

AmericasThirdParty — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:39:34 -0000

Sarah Hart here. I truly feel for so many people in poverty. I personlly know how it feels to be a child in poverty, but I guess I should consider myself lucky because I turned 18 in 1996, the same year that the TANF welfare reform was put in place. Now, many more families are in poverty and funding is being cut.
I feel that I understand both sides of this issue, because I can understand the government's point of view as well. Governments are in a financiawl crunch of their own. Many states are bankrupt and the Federal Government is nearly $15trillion in deht and sliding deeper everyday. So, they cut the poor because their vocal constituents say, "people should work for any money they get." Meanwhile, the US has lost millions of jobs.
What is the solution? We need to rethink our entire economy, starting with how we provide services to the poor.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 11:37:01 -0000

Morning again Cat in Seattle

if you have not read my last reply, move down the page I
started your piece over again and want to address it section by section.

1 NONS AND OTHERS
1 A, I cannot see how anyone gives “hundreds of thousands and keeps millions”, if you are insinuating that by donating they actually earn money, that’s not true. All donations do is “potentially” lower your tax bracket. These people you are referring to are probably the 15% bracket so if they donate 1 mill they save .15 mill. I gladly thank them for their donation.
The second part of A this sounds backwards to me, the poor are poor because of these jobs.
1 B, its their money, hire who they want, “living off the backs of the poor”; I can tell you that if it where me and the “poor” felt like you do I would shut down my organization and let my bank account grow.
1 C, sounds like snobs, BUT that is life everywhere, most humans are guilty of this it’s in us. SO WHAT, be grateful these even exist.
1 D, again backwards someone earns more so that’s why they are middle class.
1 E, if they receive government money and don’t spend, it becomes profit which they do NOT DO, that government money has to be doled out.
1 F, free labor allows them to give out more, they are NON PROFIT, that means at the end of the year they have a zero balance.
Bottom line here I you have found fault with snobby organizations that give to the less fortunate of us.

2 BUSINESS
A, cheap labor, huge profits for the CEOs, you make business sound evil. The basic principles of business is to spend less than you earn, or you are in the bread line again. If you treat the employees bad enough they should work somewhere else or become your competitor, THEY have that power.
Cheap goods for the middle class…. Its cheap goods period… once again the cart is before the horse,
B, the tax breaks, now you have me, I always griped about these, now I see the advantages, BUT IT’S A DOUBLE EDGE SWORD. I want people to WORK, for a zillion reasons, that’s why I have changed my mind. Profiting of the cheap labor, don’t assume all labor is cheap, please, and yes profit off the labor or shut the doors.
C, I doubt that “class” or even “cheap services and goods” is even mentioned in the discussions, you forgot the MOST IMPORTANT word “JOBS”
D, do little? How about JOBS? Profits spent locally, how about when all is said and done the profits are 20% percent of the business (that’s high for many), that means 80% could be spent locally, this does come into the discussions about tax breaks. Another note; and its important! MANY corporations large and small donate locally and participate locally in community projects, I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT!
E, I don’t understand, sounds like a corrupt situation and I am not surprised the government is involved.
F, again the poor are poor because they can’t or won’t work elsewhere. One side note and I would never categorize the shoppers by class it seems irrelevant. The American people decided years ago that the less expensive goods manufactured elsewhere would stretch their budgets AS THEY DID. Now millions of them are unemployed for the same reason. My parents told me what would happen and that WE the people would be responsible for our own demise. You see each household is a corporation; decisions are made every day with the same survival or greed tendencies as the big guys.

3 SOCIETY….
A, quite profitable, I don’t see it, maybe quite easy
B, I can’t say, but you might be right, the biggest difference is the rich don’t ask anyone else to support them. Substance abuse NEEDS to be addressed for sure.
C, prison Industrial Complex, how about prison system? It makes sense the poor will dominate the ranks, but you keep insinuating the “POOR” is a birth to death sentence, I don’t agree.
As a taxpayer I would change the prison system also, I would bet much different than you would.
Again corruption is the order of the day, especially when the incompetent government is involved.
Again what makes the upper and middle is not a stamp on the forehead at birth it is the level to which someone is in based on income.

4 HOUSING
A, sounds wonderful kinda
B that IS wonderful
C, I see where you are going and I am getting sad (truly)
D, offered to people with the means to participate, it just happens that the poor did not have the means to participate. No incentives I know what you’re saying, I can feel what you are saying, but I’m gonna blow that one UP. The incentives are the CHILDREN, are you telling me the poor don’t see them as the INCENTIVES. I went from teary eyes at A to being PISSED off at D.
E, no hope, if that’s a result of someone ability or inability to better themselves, that sucks, life IS not FAIR and doesn’t have to be.
F, sad but true, there are situations like this, you examine them and tell me the root cause for any particular situation, I am going out on a limb and saying it’s not society, its not corporations, it’s most likely the persons choices or going back to his or her parents.
G, nothing is affordable when your poor or you wouldn’t be poor, the world and even the poor work on a system of “PAY TO PLAY” (that doesn’t sound very compassionate).
Again it never enters a persons mind “except yours” that those that have want to hold back those that don’t have.
H, the government has nothing to give, you mean the taxpayer gave these out. I am not sure what they are but I probably would not be in favor anyway.
Anyone giving away his or her PRIVATE money to those less fortunate can without constraints or guidelines. IF in the case of affordable mortgages by companies, that implies payback, they should ONLY go to those who can pay them back period. I don’t see those in the poor category meeting the PAYBACK requirement.

5 WORK
A, I think when we use the term work in these contexts we are only talking “paid work”, NO ONE on the face of this planet (OK maybe a handful) thinks care giving is doing nothing. If the discussion is paid work and care giving is not paid it is not part of the discussion. Again life is not fair, and does not have to be.
B, I hear you loud and clear, For those woman and I’m sure men you speak about they are HERO’S, they are silent hero’s again life is not fair, and does not have to be.
C, I don’t get the raise poor children……, if you’re thinking “non paid” care givers should be paid, that is an idea that has been knocked around for a while. If you want the taxpayers to do this then make your case, it’s a tough one for sure.
D, Free work; I don’t agree; if your caring for your family ITS YOUR, OR MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILIES OBLIGATION PERIOD, It does not matter how tough it is, you own it.
E, sorry, but again life IS not fair and does not have to be, not everybody starting at the point you imply ends up as you imply.
F, Even more sorry, but again life IS not fair and does not have to be,
G, now understanding the foundation of your reasoning, I am truly sorry. I do have tears, I could shut up and just listen, but out of respect for your effort I won’t.
H, Even more sorry, but again life IS not fair and does not have to be,
I, understand, agree but what can be done that won’t turn into a life style?

6 THE POOR….
A almost afraid to disagree with you any more, but here I go. I believe Americans are the most genetrous people on earth, some things maybe misguided but I am still proud to be an American. I believe MOST of the poor DO have the ability to achieve, the tax payers and YES corporations spend a bunch of money in that effort. Remember 330 million people its tough to get anything perfect.
B, Don’t see it but I will start looking.

7 THE GOVERNMENT……
The title is VERY loaded, again the government does very little correct, however it usually has good intent.
“Sell” children to middle and upper class, you mean to people who can afford them.
A, I hate to short this statement because it IS LOADED, and I mean LOADED, I would HOPE there are more positive outcomes as bad outcomes. Your idea of helping the birth family, to retain the children is done every day ALREADY, the taxpayers make it happen, its not perfect because of PEOPLE. I hate to be a jerk and keep saying life is not…….
B, True but they have the almighty cash. That both the poor the middle and the rich worship.

8 BACK TO THE NONS AND OTHERS….
A, expecting anything from these groups is just plain wrong and when they deliver even if not perfect you NAIL them.
B, profiting, I doubt it, this country does and spends for the less fortunate, remember the common denominator of the GOOD and BAD are PEOPLE, we are not flawless.

Cat, if this is about you; I am sorry for your experiences, although you have a tremendous knowledge of the unintended consequences of PEOPLE. I have not walked in your shoes, not even close, yet I feel I have to close with what I believe. Nobody owes me no matter what my predicament, I owe my children no matter what the predicament. I will NOT blame anyone for my predicament.

With your wealth of knowledge (or experience) please share this will anyone and everyone, it is PRICELESS!

PLEASE STOP BLAMING OTHERS, show us, tell us how we can affect change that is POSITIVE, tell us about the unintended consequences of OUR giving and lack of giving

MOST RESPECTFULY STEFF
FIRST
a

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

aznative — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:29:00 -0000

Thank you Cat for your wonderful words. I know many people who have fallen by the way side or who are a day away from what you have described, it is a very scary place to be, and I would not wish it on anyone, especially the children.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

aznative — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:20:32 -0000

So its the the poor peoples fault that they find themselves in this situation, spoken like a person who has always had a safety net, who has always had enough to eat. Grow up and quit making generalizations. Its not as simple as you make it sound. There is no black and white in the poor community, as there is no black and white in life. For goodness sake, volunteer at a food bank or job fair or the many places the poor come to or from, then come back here and write about your experience, hopefully it will be dramatically different.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

aznative — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:12:08 -0000

Yeah man, just let those children starve to death, sarcasm off. People like you need to be chained to a post near one of those tiny trailers, with hungry children sleeping in chairs, for forty days, with no food, so you can experience first hand what they go through. So you can see your twisted words in action. Then we will see how you feel about those you so casually threw under the bus.

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Cat in Seattle — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 10:02:22 -0000

It is very kind of you to at the very least try to listen. As for "blaming the low income parents" who bring children into the world, I am an activist and see the falling middle class every day. You are expecting these women to be psychic and "know" the future. while poor women do amazing things, here is some news: most of them are *not* psychic.

Over 80% of the women on TANF were married before they were faced with the prospect of applying for it. Were they supposed to somehow "know" they were going to be in that situation when they and their husbands conceived their children? Was she supposed to "know" he was going to be laid off 10 years down the road, get a fatal illness, or run off with the secretary and refuse to pay child support?

Oh I see, that 70% of TANF recipients are domestic violence victims, women are supposed to just "KNOW" this charming man who took such a "special interest" in her and married her would beat the hell out of her? You know, she should just have known ahead of time about the guy who forced her to give birth at home so no medical people would see the bruises from the rapes and beatings she suffers ~ her husband who won't even let her go out and get the mail, she should have just "known" he would do that. This is all her fault because this "fine and upstanding man," a pillar in the community who "works" "providing" for her while she "doesn't work" caring for their kids? Then when he is hauled off to prison for almost killing her and/or their kids and she limps into the welfare office, well, it is "all her own fault" she should have just KNOWN this man would try to kill her and the kids, I see. .

Raising children should be considered legitimate work. While you may think "nobody owes you anything" these same children are our future that affect YOU. They are the next generation who will pay YOUR Social Security and take care of YOU when you can no longer do it. They are going to be the ones who run our infrastructure and fight in our wars. If nobody "owes you anything" perhaps you should buy a cane with a shovel to dig those ditches in front of your house for sewage repairs and be prepared to change your own diapers.

If you depend on your own children to do all that, good luck, they will be pretty busy out there trying to survive and raise their kids too. If you depend on buying that service, you WILL expect your care givers to do it for little or nothing with no consideration as to the suffering they endure while caring for you. Without the cheap labor and contributions of the poor who provide middle class jobs and tax breaks as gate keepers for the unable to work, clean your surroundings, make your meals, care for your home, grow and harvest your food, tend your gardens, who will then take care of you when you can no longer do it, you would be bereft and left on the streets in filth.

It is no surprise that the institution of poverty is not recognized. This is why there is a wide class divide between not only the rich and the poor, but the middle class and the poor. Blaming the poor for being so is a way to keep comfortable and not face the realities of how you depend on the poor to sustain the middle class every day with cheap labor and services without having to face the misery and early death rates those jobs entail in the Poverty Industrial Complex. By never considering the raising of the next generation as true "work" not worthy of support, you are only condemning those generations of children to the gutter instead of supporting their mothers.

The care of elders and spouses IS the same "work" for people who made the world we live in possible as well. To not support this work, then why aren't you out there begging our legislatures to spend $Billions more to fund more dirty uncaring institutions to throw Grandma or Hubby into? Since "nobody owes anything to anyone" instead of giving them the loving care they deserve, then her daughter and his wife can go out there and say, "Do you want fries with that?" Of course when it comes to caring for the care givers, throw 'em out on the street, nobody owes 'em anything for the $Billions they saved their communities!!!!

As for the falling middle class. Haven't you read the news or are you in a bubble? In 1996 when Welfare DeFormed was enacted the middle class was out there calling for the blood of the woman in poverty. Of course they ignored the thousands of times more tax dollars given away for the wealthy Welfare Queens while doing this. At that time welfare was less than 4% of the budget. Now it is less than 2% of the budget. At that time the Military Industrial Complex alone used 47% of the budget ~ in peacetime.

This disparity did not suddenly happen 5 years ago, it has been going on for 30 years or more. Those of us against it tried to tell the middle class, "You are next," but we were laughed off the stage by the very people coming to us now. Why that would NEVER happen to their precious little hides!

The middle class did not see it because only the poor were suffering its consequences, not them. Now that THEY are facing the same treatment and lack of resources and they come to people like me whom they ridiculed for the work I do. They are finding it is true there is an institution of poverty they are mired in and they are screaming, "Help me! This is not fair! I worked hard! I did everything right!" As if the poor didn't do all the right things too while working their tails off for nothing???

While the middle class likes to consider themselves so much "better" than the poor, it is the middle class who are just as guilty of drug use and alcoholism, if not more able to afford them. Most of the poor cannot afford that stuff and they don't have time because they are scrambling to make ends meet. It is the middle class clogging up the health system with their "ails" far more than the poor ~ whose "ails" are the results of the crappy work conditions they were condemned to work.

But the difference is the poor who "nobody owes anything" to are just thrown out on the street after the middle class and rich are finished with them. The poor go to their church/synagogue/mosque too, they work their tails off far more than the middle class ~ and reap little or nothing yet still volunteer as best they can in their schools and communities under almost impossible conditions to allow such civic work. They pay a higher rate of taxes than any other class to their great sacrifice, they are the people who hold up the whole infrastructure with their "cheap" labor and services,and after doing all this themselves, they are the ones whose children fight our wars, they are the ones providing children for this endeavor to carry the middle and upper classes into the future. Even the disabled and unable to work provide jobs for the middle class as gate keepers to the resources they need ~ and again pay taxes at a higher rate than the middle class.

Hey if it is comfortable I do wish you well because I would not wish on you what I am seeing thousands of other beginning to live. Where they come to the horrible realization in the midst of it that poverty IS an Institution. Just hope that after all the work, sacrifice and taxes you've paid, when you come to someone like me, you do not face a person with your attitude who will just shrug their shoulders and say with sad eyes, "Life just isn't fair. Sorry but this is all your own fault. You made the "choice" to be poor because you were not psychic enough to know this would happen to you 20 years ago, you did not save anything even though it was because your rent took your whole paycheck and you just did not work hard enough, so I cannot help you."

Then may you not have to watch as this "helper" throws their lunch container that some poor person made under dangerous conditions in the garbage some poor person will empty with the food they bought from a low wage worker. May you not remember that while doing this this "helper" will be thinking that certainly THEY did not make such "bad" choices as you did without a thought as to who is doing this work for little or nothing that they take for granted. As you stand there desperate for not only assistance, but recognition for all you have done, may they not say with a fake smile, "But don't worry GOD will take care of you! Buh-bye!"

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 02:20:30 -0000

Cat in Seattle
first and foremost i want to applaud your effort, your passion and compassion, that is a boat load of info, thank you again.
i find i am in disagreement with MOST of what i read, NO OFFENSE.
large non profits give away money and help people, i see that as a good thing, the religious are another issue, but once again i see that as a good thing.i don't understand you tax schedule, its not what i look at every year NOT EVEN CLOSE.your understanding of the tax law differs from mine, Bill Gates is obligated to pay taxes on his income for any particular year if he earned pay for example he pays up to 35%, long term capitol gains is 15% but i think you know this already.now he has deductions, i have no clue what they are, if he earns 10 million dollars and only pays 2% then he has given all but 20k away, how could anyone complain about that, "thanks Bill for being so generous, the 9.9 million will help a lot of poor people i am sure. even though you are not obligated in any way to give them a penny.if the poor are paying 15% or more its because they earned enough to pay it, minus their deductions.please help me to understand your point on this.who cares who runs these organizations it is their money. if these people are giving away something they don't have too GOOD FOR THEM, they SHOULD fell good about themselves. YOU should feel good about them too. how can you take some ones generosity and find ANY fault worth mentioning. the point about how much money it costs compared to the money benefit is a GREAT point and also very sad. the issue you bring up is exactly the same one i have for our government. i dont know how to change the greed of ANY individual, rich or poor.not to blow you off, because thats the LAST thing i want to do. i will finish tonight with something that is in my being and it may help you see where i am coming from.I truly believe no one owes me anything and never has, other than my children whom owe ONLY because i helped bring into this world, i owe nobody anything.anything i give to others for whatever reason is my choice alone.i will continue with your document tomorrow if you don't mind, again that you for your thoughtfulness

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:34:09 -0000

maryann26
poverty in America is a shame, for that there is no doubt. i have never heard anyone say different, it IS a national disgrace.
i contend our efforts (trillions of $) to eliminate poverty only guarantee it.
this is my point

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Steff — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 01:30:40 -0000

mntleo2
thanks for the info on Barack, i hope i still can be impressed with his achievement. but all your comparisons are food for thought in another discussion
Sorry i don't understand the "institution" reference
thanks for the ignorant and stupid comments, i don't think i am either or. i don't think you really think i am either or.
i don't see how the poor and or poverty benefit anyone
there are millions of reasons people of all classes ignore the poor, just as there are millions of reasons people of all classes help the poor.
i do believe there are people who truly need help, but to me they are few.
the children growing up in these conditions have a hell of a time living in and breaking out of this life, as far as blame, i do blame parents, because most of them knew they could not afford to feed the children, they most likely knew the life the children would live and YET they still brought them into this world. they knew they where depending on others to work and pay taxes for them to live. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THEM? (sorry for yelling)
"the middle class staying silent" because they are next, what does that mean?
who lives of the backs of the poor, its truly the other way around

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Cat in Seattle — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:56:07 -0000

Maryann26: Denial is *not just a river
in Africa ..." You do not believe the poor benefit anyone other
than the super rich? Let me count the ways:

How is this true?

1. Large non-profits and religious organizations.
A. While they are tax havens for rich "philanthropists" who can give
their "chump change" of $hundreds of thousands and keep $millions. the middle class who give also enjoy tax breaks as well as the tax money the government pays to these large nons, allowing the middle class to ignore the issues of poverty and pretend the poor are at fault.
B. And let us not forget that the middle class also
shop at the large "collectible and 2nd hand stores" where the poor
employed in McJobs not even making the rent ~ some who are working off their
TANF income at less than $1.00 an hour.
B. The upper income hire their spouses and relatives to manage
their large foundations and "direct" these large nons in 6 figure
salaries. Everyone feels real good about how "humane" they are while
living off the backs of the poor.
C. In most of these nons you can literally ascend the stairs to
heaven. At the bottom where the poor are hired to give service to other
poor, there is broken furniture and old computers to the the nicer MIDDLE CLASS management as gatekeepers to the poor, to the top where there is
original art and modern furniture ~ with wages to match each level. D. According to Guidestar, nobody questions that these non-profits alone
receive in government funding and donations approximately $55-66,000 per client
when they they spend on the average of $2000 in direct services. Much of this
is government money. While it is true that it is expensive to run offices
and buildings, one might question how it is that the director makes 6 figures
while their lowest wage workers cannot even afford to pay the rent. So
HOW are these organizations so wonderful again???? E. They are able to depend on free labor with
"volunteers" such as with Jobs Opportunities mothers (TANF) where the
worker "works off their welfare benefit" at below minimum wage, as
well as non-paid court ordered labor ~ whose "employers" do not have
to observe labor laws and they have absolutely no obligation to hire them for
this free labor after they are done using these workers.

2. Business
A. The ability to hire cheap labor in order to reap huge profits for the
CEOs
B. Often these businesses are given tax breaks and grants for
"being so nice" as to make McJobs for the poor while profiting off
the cheap labor
C. More tax breaks by cities and municipals given to these businesses
D. In fact most large businesses do little to support the local economy,
they do not bank locally and their profits are not spent locally
E. See "1 F" above, some of these businesses are given free work
by becoming "private contractors" with the government because they
are "so nice" as to give a low income person some work for free
(slave labor).
F. The middle class patronize these "cheap labor" places that cause
only more misery for the poor in punitive jobs that won't even pay enough to
keep on the lights.

3. Society and blaming the poor
A. It is quite profitable to blame the poor for everything from the health care
system to hunger, to drugs, to housing. B. While drug addiction and alcoholism by the upper classes is just as bad,
it is traditional to blame the poor for their "bad choices" when they
are domestic violence victims, unable to afford the high rents, have no family
who can help them (as much as they would like to do so), are unable to find
work or work for low wages, unable to feed themselves and their kids, and/or
have serious barriers to working for a wage C. The Prison Industrial Complex. The poor are far more likely to be
incarcerated than the rich. In private prisons (who are able to choose
the healthiest most stable prisoners and reject the rest) they use laborers for
literally pennies an hour to create products for their prison owners. Not only
do these prisons extract $millions in government money and tax breaks, they
also make even more profit off their labor force. More and more of the
prison industry is done with private contracts by privately owned companies.

4. Housing. In the 1970s there was a program called "235" where
it subsidized mortgage payments much like Section 8 does now. This
enabled the poor to own their own houses. The benefits from this were
many. Families were able to become stable instead of having to move every
several years as renters do. Their children could grow up in the same
neighborhood, there was an investment that no renter could have that a home
owner could in their communities for infrastructure, schools, and government
structure.
A. After 235 ended, HUD housing was then offered to the THE MIDDLE CLASS AND upper classes at
pennies on the dollars with sweet tax breaks in order to become landlords,
leaving the poor behind with no incentives to improve their surroundings. The
poor are suffering to this day with homelessness increasing by the day and no hope
of ever earning a liveable wage or owning their own homes no matter how hard
they work.
B. While there are many efforts to keep MIDDLE CLASS people in their homes.,
housing for the poor is either gentrified into being unaffordable for MIDDLE
CLASS PEOPLE ~ or taken completely away.
C. Through government loans, grants and other programs THE MIDDLE CLASS got
affordable mortgages, and a stairway to the heavenly home ~ but never the poor.

5. We need to re-think what is called "work" and what is called
"doing nothing". Paid work is "work" but care giving is
"doing nothing". According to labor statistics (mostly) women
lose on the average of over $275,000 in paid wages because they have to make
the agonizing choice of care giving. these are not just women who have
children. Women also make these choices whether to work for a wage or
care give for their parents and relatives, and then for their spouses.
F. If our society were to build institutions to replace this
"free" work, it would cost $Billions ~ and merely be a subsidiy for
big business to pay more crappy wages while their worker ignores their loved
one. Yet a woman who "does nothing" will seldom be supported
for doing this work except by other family members and they pay dearly if they
find themselves without that support such as becoming widowed or divorced

G. It should amaze anyone at the staggering amount of formerly middle
class, middle aged homeless women who lived that bad dream. Many of them
have degrees and a long work history, but nobody will hire them. But
since as care givers they "did nothing" all those years, they are too young to
retire and too old to hire, so there is nowhere to turn for assistance unless they
can prove they are disabled. Many of them raised families and contributed to
their communities, but if their husbands found a better life with their
secretaries or become ill and die themselves (using up all the retirement
savings, etc), these women are left with nothing after "doing
nothing" all those years.
H. Older men also suffer when they become unemployed or sick and used up
all their resources. See G above. While they make $1.00 for every women's
75 cents, they are not hired for being "overqualified". If they
are not "disabled enough" they will not see any assistance
either.

6. The poor benefit the upper classes in other ways
A. By pretending being poor is a "choice" rather than an
institution, the upper classes and so-called "benefit institutions"
are not compelled to change anything
B. By refusing to see they could be next, the denial of poverty as an
institution keeps these institutions and upper classes with just an edge of
un-named fear to keep themselves "in place" and everything running to
their benefit while being blind to the damage they cause with the poorest.

7. The poor pay the highest rate of taxes in every state in this nation. In my state the poor pay upwards of 17-019% of their meager wages. The MIDDLE CLASS pay about 10% of their and the richest pay about 2% of their income.
a. In my state where Bill Gates lives, if he alone paid what the poor paid our state would be out of our deficit and would actually have about $2Billion to spare. Mr Gates supported a tax hike for the rich in this state but THE MIDDLE CLASS VOTED IT DOWN because they could not stand the thought of paying even half of what the poor paid. They ALL depend on the poor to pay the most taxes.
8. I am investigating at this time the VERY classist, racist
institution of CPS as my "epitome" of classism, where it seems to be
just fine to rip children from poor families and "give" them to upper
income families with the attitude that even if this is a mistake, it is
in the best interest of the child to live in middle class instead of with the families who love them. In fact these taken kids suffer a 5-7X more likely chance of
being abused than if left in their homes with services. A. The government financing of this attitude is reaping millions in The
Poverty Industrial Complex by creating another "complex", The Foster
Care and Adoption Industrial Complex, generating billions to take children and
"sell" them to upper income couples.
B. Most of these $millions
are reaped by upper and middle class people who get subsidies for "being so nice" to care fo poor kids. C. The problem is that this attitude
obfuscates the many statistics that exist showing that only about 10% of
these taken kids are in true danger the other 90% would thrive if the
familiy were given services and the child left in the home. This was admitted
by the CPS system, a model of most other state's CPS systems, the CA DSHS in
the case "Humphreys vs County of Los Angeles and that taken kids if left in the home with services fare far better
than if taken.

Therefore agencies like CPS
do little to "save" anyone but themselves and their middle class
workers, they do not serve the low income population correctly in such a way as
to give a far greater margin of success.

Instead they profit themselves from their
"solutions" that do little for the disabled, the child or
their families ~ mostly by refusing to listen.

If they but truly heard the voices within and
the true nature of poverty as an institution something could be done
about it to change the foundations of something that actually causes abuse
and thus a form of PTSD among the poor that upper classes never feel.

If they then admitted their own part and did
something more meaningful, it would vastly change this corrupt
System.

Instead
they let their community leaders cry about the limited resources to actually
give these opportunities to the low income, while taking it with their left
hands to enrich themselves ~ and then marginalize and blame the poor when in
fact it is themselves who are benefiting from poverty by literally living off
the backs of the poor.

On 3/9/2012 7:30 PM, Disqus wrote:

Maryanne and Steff:

i said I would write about the Institution of Poverty and how it benefits you. Denial is *not just a river
in Africa ..." You do not believe the poor benefit
anyone other than the super rich? Hahahahahahaha! Let me
count the ways:

1. Large non-profits and religious organizations.

A. While they are tax havens for rich "philanthropists" who
can give their "chump change" of $hundreds of thousands and keep
$millions, the middle class get significant tax breaks as well as the tax
money they pay to these large nons. Let us not forget that the middle class
also shops at those large "collectible and 2nd hand stores" where the
poor employed in McJobs cannot even making the rent ~ some who are working off
their TANF income at less than $1.00 an hour.

B. The upper income hire their spouses and relatives to manage
their large foundations and "direct" these large nons in 6 figure
salaries. Everyone feels real good about how "humane" they are while
living off the backs of the poor doncha know.

C. In most of these nons you can literally ascend the stairs to
heaven. At the bottom where the poor are hired to give service to other
poor, there is broken furniture and old computers to the middle floors where
the middle class work, to the top where there is original art and modern
furniture ~ with wages to match each level.

D. Middle class people are given livable wages as "middle
management"

E. According to Guidestar, nobody questions that these large non-profits who receive $Millions in government funding along with their tax-deductible donations. They take in approximately $55-66,000 per client
and only spend on the average of $2000 in direct services. Much of this
is government money. While it is true that it is expensive to run offices
and buildings, one might question how it is that the director makes 6 figures
while their lowest wage workers cannot even afford to pay the rent. So
HOW are these organizations so wonderful again for the poor????

F They are able to depend on free labor with
"volunteers" such as with Jobs Opportunities mothers (TANF) where the
worker "works off their welfare benefit" at far below minimum wage, as
well as non-paid court ordered labor ~ whose "employers" do not have
to observe labor laws and they have absolutely no obligation to hire them for
this free labor after they are done using these workers.

2. Business

A. The ability to hire cheap labor in order to reap huge profits for the
CEOs ~ and cheap goods for the middle class

B. Often these businesses are given tax breaks and grants for
"being so nice" as to make McJobs for the poor while profiting off
the cheap labor

C. More tax breaks by cities and municipals given to these businesses so they can give the middle class cheaper services and goods.

D. In fact most large businesses do little to support the local economy,
they do not bank locally and their profits are not spent locally

E. See "1 F" above, some of these privately owned businesses are given free work
by becoming "private contractors" with the government because they
are "so nice" as to give a low income person some work for free
(slave labor).

F. The middle class gladly patronize these "cheap labor" places that cause
only more misery for the poor in punitive jobs that won't even pay enough to
keep on the lights. (See any motel, WalMart, gas station, fast food, mini mart, grocery stores, etc).

3. Society and blaming the poor

A. It is quite profitable to blame the poor for everything from the health care
system to hunger, to drugs, to housing.
B. While drug addiction and alcoholism by the upper classes is just as bad,
it is traditional to blame the poor for their "bad choices" when they
are domestic violence victims, unable to afford the high rents, have no family
who can help them (as much as they would like to do so), are unable to find
work or work for low wages, unable to feed themselves and their kids, and/or
have serious barriers to working for a wage
C. The Prison Industrial Complex. The poor are far more likely to be
incarcerated than the rich or middle class. In private prisons (who are
able to choose the healthiest most stable prisoners and reject the rest) they
use poor laborers for literally pennies an hour to create products and services for their
prison owners' profit. Not only do these prisons extract $millions in government money
and tax breaks, they also make even more profit off their labor force.
More and more of the prison industry is done with private contracts by privately
owned companies whose only decent wages are for THE UPPER AND MIDDLE CLASSES.

4. Housing. In the 1970s there was a program called "235" where
it subsidized mortgage payments for the poor much like Section 8 does
now.

A. This enabled the poor to own their own houses ~
even when on welfare. The benefits from this were many.
B. Families were able to become stable instead of
having to move every several years as renters do.
C. Their children could grow up in the same
neighborhood, there was an investment that no renter could have that a
home owner could in order to participate in their communities for
infrastructure, schools, and government structure.
D. After 235 ended, HUD housing was then offered to
the upper AND MIDDLE classes at pennies on the dollars with sweet tax
breaks in order to become landlords, leaving the poor behind with no
incentives to improve their surroundings.
E. The poor is suffering to this day with homelessness
increasing by the day and no hope of ever earning a livable wage or owning
their own homes no matter how hard they work.
F. While there are many efforts to keep MIDDLE
CLASS people in their homes, even rent subsidies are shrinking ever day for
the poor.  G. Affordable neighborhoods are either
gentrified for MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE and made unaffordable for the poor ~ or
taken completely away from the poor in order to sell them to THE MIDDLE
CLASS so they could become landlords to the poor.
H. Through government loans, grants and other
programs THE MIDDLE CLASS got affordable mortgages, and a stairway to the
heavenly home ~ but never the poor. God forbid if 235
were to be re-enacted today ~ even with the thousands of tax-deductible empty homes and buildings that are a blightin every city in this nation! 5. We need to re-think what we call "work" and what is called
"doing nothing". We think ONLY paid work is "work" but care giving is
"doing nothing". BAD thinking!

A. According to labor statistics (mostly) women
lose on the average of over $275,000 in paid wages because they have to
make the agonizing choice of care giving.
B. These are not just women who have
children. It is also women who care give for their parents and
relatives, and then for their spouses.  C. All are forced to
make the agonizing choice between working for a wage or caring for their
loved ones. But the poor are the hardest hit of all in these choices. We seem to think everybody else in the world should raise poor children except their own parents ~ and get paid for it. Still the poor spend a good part of their day in care for their loved ones too ~ with no support whatsoever.
D. While paying nothing in wages, if our society were to build institutions to
replace this "free" work, it would cost $Billions ~ and merely
be a subsidiy for big business to pay more crappy wages while their worker
ignores their loved one.
E. Yet a woman who "does nothing" will
seldom be supported for doing this work except by other family members and
they pay dearly if they find themselves without that support such as
becoming widowed or divorced
F. It should amaze anyone at the staggering amount
of formerly middle class, well educated middle aged homeless women who
lived that bad dream. Many of them have degrees and a long work
history and nobody will hire them.
G. But since they "did nothing" all those
years, they are too young to retire and too old to hire, so there is
nowhere to turn for assistance unless they can prove they are disabled. God forbid if they were compensated in return for this 24/7 hard work by being supported for all they have done for free!
H. Many of them raised families and contributed to
their communities, but if their husbands found a better life with their
secretaries or become ill and die themselves (using up all the retirement
savings, etc), these women are left with nothing after "doing
nothing" all those years.
I. Older men also suffer when they become
unemployed or sick and used up all their resources. See G above.
While they make $1.00 for every women's 75 cents, they are not hired for
being "overqualified". If they are not "disabled
enough" they will not see any assistance either.

6. The poor benefit the upper
classes in other ways

A. By pretending being poor
is a "choice" rather than an institution, the upper classes and
so-called "benefit institutions" are not compelled to change anything.

B. By refusing to see they
could be next, the MIDDLE CLASS denial of poverty as an institution keeps these institutions
and upper classes in place with just an edge of un-named fear to keep the intentionally ignorant middle class where they are to keep everything running to their benefit while being blind
to the damage they cause with the poorest.
7. The government financing of this attitude is reaping millions in
The Poverty Industrial Complex by creating another "complex", The
Foster Care and Adoption Industrial Complex, generating billions to take poor children
and "sell" them to middle and upper income couples.

A. Most of these $millions are reaped by middle class people while the poor are blamed for not working hard enough
to afford the rent. The middle class "buy" these children and get subsidies to house them. They are intentionally blind to the refusal that not only would it be 1000% cheaper in tax dollars to help the birth family instead, they traumatize these children for life patronizing adoption agencies making $Millions for their government subsidized services. And let's not EVEN mention the corrupt family court system with their 6 figure judges and paid MIDDLE CLASS staff who not only ignore the Constitution, but profit from it while doing so. .
B. The problem is this attitude obfuscates the
many statistics that exist showing that only about 10% of these taken
kids are in true danger. Maybe it is a shock to the dumbest but ...not only poor kids are severely abused. Many upper class families inflict child abuse every day. The other 90% of these low income kids would thrive if their family were
given services and the child left in the home and again IT WOULD BE 1000% CHEAPER. But hey these subsidies do benefit the MIDDLE CLASS so who cares, right?
C. This was admitted by the California CPS system,
a model for most other state's CPS systems. They have found this in "Humphreys vs County of Los Angeles" that taken kids if left in the home with
services fare far better than if taken and that because of the blatant corruption shown to be routine in family court, their whole CPS system was not to be trusted according to the 9th Circuit Court. But again ...it employs a helluva lot of MIDDLE CLASS people to take poor kids.

8. Therefore these non-profits and agencies do little to "save" anyone but themselves and their middle class
workers. They do not serve the low income population correctly in such a way as
to give a far greater margin of success, actually wanting failure to ensue because it employs the middle class.
A. They contract with other "middle class" agencies at far more than if the government did it themselves, where the"middle class" is doing the gate keeping for the poor.

B. They all profit from their
"solutions" that do little for the disabled, children or
their families ~ mostly by refusing to listen to the ones suffering from these "solutions."

If the middle class but truly heard the voices within and
the true nature of poverty as an institution something could be done
about it to change the foundation of something that actually causes abuse
and thus a form of PTSD among the poor that upper classes never feel. If they could admit their own part in perpetuating poverty perhaps something more meaningful could be done and it would vastly change this corrupt
System.

The middle class is as much to blame as the rich. They are letting their
community leaders cry about the limited resources without saying a word or doing a thing because they benefit themselves. They are taking the resources with their left hands to
profit with jobs, and agencies and large non-profits ~ and then marginalize and pretend poverty is a "choice" claiming there is "not having enough resources" when in fact it is
themselves who benefit as well as the rich.
Cat in Seattle

Re: This Week in Poverty: Welfare Reform—From Bad to Worse

Sergeant2 — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:25:10 -0000

If the net result is a decrease in the surplus population, well, is that such a bad thing.