J
josephdavid
Guest
Interesting report:
epinet.org/issuebriefs/222/ib222.pdf
epinet.org/issuebriefs/222/ib222.pdf
- Status
G
Geldain
Guest
No real news here, from where I sit. The increased in population means more people living in poverty. Sad, but true.
J
josephdavid
Guest
So what as society are going to do about it?
G
Geldain
Guest
I can’t speak for society. I’m confident another government program or increased spending is not the answer to the problem.
I would suggest this is an issue better handled at the parish level vs the federal government
J
josephdavid
Guest
yes to an extent I can agree. The problem is the Government is getting lazy. Before it was generous to the poor but wiht poor planning. So the excuse is “give up” stop spending on it and let the states do it. The problem is the State needs the money and the other problem is no one is planning do really doing it.
The poor has to rely on few charities that are basically bankrupt in most cases.
Sorry to sound so fatalistic. But regardless it needs to be a collective effort of both Government and the individual. After all the Government is a collection of individuals representing the indivual and the whole society.
The poor has to rely on few charities that are basically bankrupt in most cases.
Sorry to sound so fatalistic. But regardless it needs to be a collective effort of both Government and the individual. After all the Government is a collection of individuals representing the indivual and the whole society.
J
josephdavid
Guest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A government is the body that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws within a civil, corporate, religious, academic, or other organization or group. In its broadest sense, “to govern” means to administer or supervise, whether over a state, a set group of people, or a collection of assets.
The word government is derived from the Greek Κυβερνήτης (kubernites), which means “steersman”, “governor”, “pilot” or “rudder”.
A government is the body that has the authority to make and the power to enforce laws within a civil, corporate, religious, academic, or other organization or group. In its broadest sense, “to govern” means to administer or supervise, whether over a state, a set group of people, or a collection of assets.
The word government is derived from the Greek Κυβερνήτης (kubernites), which means “steersman”, “governor”, “pilot” or “rudder”.
G
Geldain
Guest
Good.
Lazy? Hmmm. Ineffective and slowed down by bueracratics? I can agree with that.
When was this?
That’s one solution. I prefer that solution to the federal government.
I don’t know of a single state government that has ever said, “we have enough money”.
Which is why I feel poverty issues are always better dealt with locally.
Doesn’t sound fatalistic to me. From where I sit it reads like a desire for socialism–which I respectfully reject as a valid solution to anything.
J
josephdavid
Guest
Socialism as a whol hearted solution? No I do not buy into that either but a mixture of capatilism and socialism may be good.
A little of socialism can keep the few in check to benifit the entire society.
G
Geldain
Guest
Any portion of a bad thing is never a good thing
V
vern_humphrey
Guest
In practice, a little socialism keeps the many in check to benefit the few.
The “bread and circuses” policy of the Roman Empire is a good example.
Z
Zerith
Guest
Oh come on. I am an anti-Socialist. But what America has, is not what anyone in this country would ever envy. All countries in this world are welfare states, the only difference? Different degrees of it. France more so than Ireland, America less so than Ireland.
Ireland has one of the smallest gaps between rich and poor, with a GDP per capita of $42,000 last time I checked (3rd? After America, and Luxembourg? Which is roughly €38,000, no?). Sweden, I think, was rated the best country, with the smallest gap.
America? I think we know America’s record on the gap between rich and poor… What was it? 10 or 15% of America generates over 60% of the wealth/income? I forget the statistic, or where I got it from (Heh, great help, I know.
), but being honest, I was shocked.
We don’t simply throw money at the poor, so they can sit there, doing nothing, recieving a pay cheque - No, we teach them new skills, give them classes/night classes, apprentice-ships etc… We monitor those on the dole, I think it was just under a decade ago when our government decided to test those on the dole, by issuing a notice to everyone, they must come to classes, otherwise no dole… 40% or there abouts didn’t show, and never signed back on the dole (Ie, it was a bluff, albeit, the classes were there)
There is no such thing as a pure “Free Trade” or “Open” economy, similarily, no such thing as a pure Centrally Planned economy, if there were, the former would be literally anarchy, where I could buy you, and own an army, the latter, would be paradise. So this scare of Socialists throughout America just makes no sense, “Oh noes, Socialism!”, certainly, as I said above, I am sternly anti-Socialist, but I won’t be ignorant about it. Certain policies are good and do work (I just dislike their Godlessness and the fact that their entire economic policies are not beneficial to the country, but certain parts can be beneficial, not only in an economic sense, but a social sense, and a charitable sense - Ie, helping those unemployed with 1) The dole and 2) Apprenticeships/classes etc…)
Ireland has one of the smallest gaps between rich and poor, with a GDP per capita of $42,000 last time I checked (3rd? After America, and Luxembourg? Which is roughly €38,000, no?). Sweden, I think, was rated the best country, with the smallest gap.
America? I think we know America’s record on the gap between rich and poor… What was it? 10 or 15% of America generates over 60% of the wealth/income? I forget the statistic, or where I got it from (Heh, great help, I know.
), but being honest, I was shocked.We don’t simply throw money at the poor, so they can sit there, doing nothing, recieving a pay cheque - No, we teach them new skills, give them classes/night classes, apprentice-ships etc… We monitor those on the dole, I think it was just under a decade ago when our government decided to test those on the dole, by issuing a notice to everyone, they must come to classes, otherwise no dole… 40% or there abouts didn’t show, and never signed back on the dole (Ie, it was a bluff, albeit, the classes were there)
There is no such thing as a pure “Free Trade” or “Open” economy, similarily, no such thing as a pure Centrally Planned economy, if there were, the former would be literally anarchy, where I could buy you, and own an army, the latter, would be paradise. So this scare of Socialists throughout America just makes no sense, “Oh noes, Socialism!”, certainly, as I said above, I am sternly anti-Socialist, but I won’t be ignorant about it. Certain policies are good and do work (I just dislike their Godlessness and the fact that their entire economic policies are not beneficial to the country, but certain parts can be beneficial, not only in an economic sense, but a social sense, and a charitable sense - Ie, helping those unemployed with 1) The dole and 2) Apprenticeships/classes etc…)
K
koda
Guest
The problem is so big that it can not be effectively dealt with at a local level. It takes the government to organize and get things done. All socialism is not bad. Nor is laissez faire capitalism a good thing. It amazes me how many people had rather people go hungry and homeless than benefit from any program that might have a bit of socialism in them. The poor loose out and the suffering increases, but, hey, they can comfort themselves by knowing that they don’t live in a soicialist society.
J
josephdavid
Guest
We are pretty much on same page which is encouraging in my view.
As for apprentiships? I work in manufacturing (both as engineer and management). There is virtually no apprentiships and little investment in manufacturing. The manufactures who are thriving in U.S. you find investment in productivity and training. The ones who just ship things off to China do not.
As for apprentiships? I work in manufacturing (both as engineer and management). There is virtually no apprentiships and little investment in manufacturing. The manufactures who are thriving in U.S. you find investment in productivity and training. The ones who just ship things off to China do not.
Z
Zerith
Guest
I didn’t say we don’t have private apprenticeships here. These are for those who cannot get any access to these. For people who may have families, and who are unemployed, who cannot have time to search for a private company, hoping for them to take them on - And, of course, apprenticeships aren’t in every type of business, these would be for unskilled workers - Teaching them basic carpentry, construction… To give these people skills, especially if they have not recieved a full education.
K
koda
Guest
I have a cousin who lives in eastern KY, up in the mountains. There is no industry there. The one small manufacturing plant where she has worked for years (at minimum wage) will be closing soon and moving to Mexico - so even those low paying jobs will be gone. As long as they can get it done cheaper somewhere else, they will. Thus the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. When enough people in this country loose their jobs, their pensions and their health care they might wake up. Until then most people just have tunnel vision - which is sad because with this system all but the wealthy will eventually lose.
J
josephdavid
Guest
Why do we Americans always wait until something bites our 6 before we react?
We see the problem but we ignore it because either it takes away from entertainment or it costs money.
We see the problem but we ignore it because either it takes away from entertainment or it costs money.
K
koda
Guest
People need to get their heads out of the sand. How willl they feel about social programs when it’s them or a loved one who needs the program? This could easily happen. You lose your job or your health care and can’t find another job at all or only one with low pay and no benefits. How do you pay your mortgage? Will you lose your house? What if you get sick? People who don’t need help need to realize that it is only by the grace of God that they are not the ones on the street.
G
Geldain
Guest
Lose what?
J
josephdavid
Guest
Lose their gains. You see life is a circle. How you treat people will eventually come back to haunt/reward you. Both here on earth and in front of Our Father.
With regards to earthly cycles. Look at Wal Mart. Their greed and exploitatioin of workers is beginning to haunt them.
G
Geldain
Guest
What gains?
Really? Is this in the CCC?
I agree completely. This is why we tend to treat people better than we treat ourselves and don’t expect the government to do it for us
explotation of workers? That one always kills me. I know of 4 people personally, who started with WalMart as hourly workers 10+ years ago who are now store managers and district managers. I was married to one of them so I have 1st hand experience of how Wal-Mart generally treats their employees in Ohio, Kentucky, WV, VA, NC and SC.
They treat their hourly workers in general VERY WELL.
Have there been isolated incidents of bad behavior by certain Wal-Mart store managers? You bet. And once the bad behavior/illegal treatment of workers was discovered the guilty people have been fired.
Greed? How so? Should they not make a profit? Greed is a great buzzword for tugging on heartstrings and it acurrately describes certain sinful behavior we are all tempted to engage in. Does greed apply to this issue or this thread? From where I sit only if a person is envious of someone else’s wealth does the word greed come into play.
- Status