Ian WhiteEmployment Poverty
December 21st 2010 13:38
Category: No Category
I've heard much bluster from government benefit opponents who perpetuate the myth that the people in need of assistance are just lazy and need to get jobs. Well those tragically out of touch individuals need to take a long hard look at America today by stepping out of their luxe fantasies and into the impoverished reality of millions. The ill advised philosophy of trickle down economics is rapidly driving this super power to obsolescence. It's not just about the 15 million unemployed in the throes of poverty, it's the employed as well.
The "get a job" demand would perhaps be productive in a society that actually has a more inclusive economy. Perhaps the America of many decades ago, but in that case "get a job" would only apply to whites. In this day and age however, struggle is becoming colorblind. America no longer produces anything. The job's that were once here are being rapidly sent over to China and India. Now a recent study has shown just how grave the climate has become. A 35 year old secretary named Michelle Feliz was interviewed in regards to how she's doing. Feliz is a single mom and doesn't make enough to afford daycare for her 1 year old son or buy new clothes for her teenage daughter and had to apply for food stamps. What will you tell her? Get another job that underpays and forces her to spend less time with her kids and more money on supervision? Marry a rich guy? It would appear practicality and compassion have become water in the palm of law makers, while greed is industrial strength glue. The truth is, the free running white collar criminals and favorable policies on their behalf over the years has resulted in middle class atrophy.
Almost a third of working American families are now considered low income, earning less than twice the official poverty threshold. During the official years of the recession between 2007-09, the percentage of working families in this country considered low income went from 28% to 30% and there hasn't been one political proposal from then to now put forth to address this epidemic. Stimulus money won't stop the bleeding, buying things only benefits retailers. Consumers will continue to feel the force of this manufactured recession since it's still impossible to spend your way out of debt, unless your money goes into winning lottery numbers. Shouldn't have taken anybody by surprise though. Look at all the layoffs and cuts to wages that haven't been adequate for over a decade. Utilities are higher than they've ever been, a 100 dollars buys 50 dollars worth of groceries. The tightened belts are starting to turn our faces blue.
Meanwhile the 6 largest banks are expected to distribute $143 billions dollars in bonuses this year.
The administration's approach to the economy has been completely detrimental to its longterm health despite the trite banner of change. Thus far the financial system is just as wild and unregulated as ever, and the victimized taxpayers got no compensation while the victimizers received billions. The tax cut was the best thing proposed and it ended up going to the rich too, which will add $700 billion to the deficit. This philosophy denotes a lack of understanding of how the system has been maintained, or complete apathy. This economy is a massive trey of food. You have the middle class holding it up while the rich voraciously consume every morsel and the crumbs that fall from the reckless palette stuffing are distributed among those burdened with supporting the robust platter. The middle class are comparable to Atlas actually. Well if the trey holders succumb to the weight, and they will, the world/system will fall, and then nobody eats.
The "get a job" demand would perhaps be productive in a society that actually has a more inclusive economy. Perhaps the America of many decades ago, but in that case "get a job" would only apply to whites. In this day and age however, struggle is becoming colorblind. America no longer produces anything. The job's that were once here are being rapidly sent over to China and India. Now a recent study has shown just how grave the climate has become. A 35 year old secretary named Michelle Feliz was interviewed in regards to how she's doing. Feliz is a single mom and doesn't make enough to afford daycare for her 1 year old son or buy new clothes for her teenage daughter and had to apply for food stamps. What will you tell her? Get another job that underpays and forces her to spend less time with her kids and more money on supervision? Marry a rich guy? It would appear practicality and compassion have become water in the palm of law makers, while greed is industrial strength glue. The truth is, the free running white collar criminals and favorable policies on their behalf over the years has resulted in middle class atrophy.
Almost a third of working American families are now considered low income, earning less than twice the official poverty threshold. During the official years of the recession between 2007-09, the percentage of working families in this country considered low income went from 28% to 30% and there hasn't been one political proposal from then to now put forth to address this epidemic. Stimulus money won't stop the bleeding, buying things only benefits retailers. Consumers will continue to feel the force of this manufactured recession since it's still impossible to spend your way out of debt, unless your money goes into winning lottery numbers. Shouldn't have taken anybody by surprise though. Look at all the layoffs and cuts to wages that haven't been adequate for over a decade. Utilities are higher than they've ever been, a 100 dollars buys 50 dollars worth of groceries. The tightened belts are starting to turn our faces blue.
Meanwhile the 6 largest banks are expected to distribute $143 billions dollars in bonuses this year.
The administration's approach to the economy has been completely detrimental to its longterm health despite the trite banner of change. Thus far the financial system is just as wild and unregulated as ever, and the victimized taxpayers got no compensation while the victimizers received billions. The tax cut was the best thing proposed and it ended up going to the rich too, which will add $700 billion to the deficit. This philosophy denotes a lack of understanding of how the system has been maintained, or complete apathy. This economy is a massive trey of food. You have the middle class holding it up while the rich voraciously consume every morsel and the crumbs that fall from the reckless palette stuffing are distributed among those burdened with supporting the robust platter. The middle class are comparable to Atlas actually. Well if the trey holders succumb to the weight, and they will, the world/system will fall, and then nobody eats.
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Comment by nightlydvdreview
Nightly DVD Review
Cinema Voyage
Green and Healthy
The Writer's Nook
Had to go to the E.R. about 6 or 7 months ago. It was a Sunday night, not a night you would figure should be busy. Unfortunately, it was.
I overheard this conversation, (paraphrased, of course, but to make it easier, I'll just give the names Jane and Mary and put quotes.)
"How'd the your interview go?"
"It went good," said Jane. "It pays too much though."
"Why you say that?"
"Because if I take that job, I'll make too much to get food stamps, and they'll cut off my medicaid."
"Oh... Yeah, I understand that," said Mary.
Later...
"Did you ever get married to Bob?"
"No," said Mary. "If I did, he makes too much for me to get medicaid and food stamps. It's better if he just keeps his mama's address and only keeps a few clothes in the house."
"Yeah," said Jane, "I feel you on that one too."
Both parts of that conversation really happened. I have been on food stamps before and it was shameful for me. So, to take care of my family, I took a second job. If you can't find work, that's fine (as long as you are trying.) But we cannot continue to help those that refuse to try to do better. To do so cripples that person.
For a family of 3, (man, woman, and child) or (woman and 2 children) do you know how much is given for food stamps now? $650.00 mo. THAT is excessive. I only spend about $300/mo for myself, my wife, and my child.
I am all for helping those who try to help themselves, but someone who lives off of the government without trying to better themselves is not helping anyone and is becoming a strain on the economy.
Student loans are available to go to college to learn a trade that makes more money. As are grants for those who want them. Various college funds exist to help. An AA or an AS degree is all that is needed for someone to get a better job. Opportunity is there if it is wanted.
My solution is this. 2 years to get another trade degree? Give them 3 years to get it. After that, cut them off.
Unemployment, they should be given up to 3 years to get another job or get qualified for something else. After that, they are on their own.
Is it harsh? Yes, but it has to be. Otherwise, you will have the masses that will scam the system.
I worked a full-time job, a part-time job, and went to college at the same time. If I can do it and bring myself up from what I was (literally homeless at one point) someone with a roof over their head that they pay $75 per month for can do it too. If the neighborhood they live in is not the best, then work hard and get out.
Although I do see your point, try to see this one too. There ARE MANY who abuse this system. There are many who try to get their kids labelled as Special Education students so they will receive a check each month. I have seen that one first hand too. We need to prosecute the scammers and remove their ability to claim any assistance if they have defrauded the system and it is proven.
Comment by Ian White
A Cynic's-Eye-View
Amuse I
Collective Wit
Daily Wit
My problem with school though is that education should be free to those that want it. There is so little emphasis on education in this country it's appalling. Grants are obscure and hard to get, student loans are nothing more than signups to indentured servitude, and getting into really good school's relies too heavily on nepotism. College should be free, school days and school years should be longer, teachers should be paid more, they should also be better evaluated to weed out the bad ones. The curriculum need an overhaul and there should be more than one teacher in every classroom using proven to be effective teaching methods to address how each individual learns. There is no way we can spend billions on sports, war, and wall street bailouts, but nothing on education reform.
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
As for jobs being exported, this post is very timely because I just got off the phone with my cell company and had to talk to THREE reps to get one I could understand. I hate to sound like a bigot but, between accents and static in the line, things were pretty bad. AND it appears as if the problem still exists!