What are the causes and solutions to American poverty?

[Hesh]

I'm writing a report to a bigwig about my perception of poverty with ideas of how to solve the problem.

Any suggestions for recommendations I could offer?

I will consider your theories and try to include them in my writing.

Hopefully this submission will help make a difference in the world!

Thank you for contributing your insights.

[illriginalized]

Free Education.

[dabbmw2002]

liberalism..............conservatism

[drjjg]

The amount of money siphoned off by bankers in the form of interest(in a lot of cases, pure usury) is BY FAR the greatest flaw in our economies. Just the public debts alone(both federal and state) cost HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS annually in unnecessary interest. Money that could either have stayed in consumers pockets(further bolstering other sectors of the economy), or at least been spent on something tangible, rather than nothing.

Money creation should be democratically controlled.

[Archangel12580]

Originally Posted by dabbmw2002

Cause = liberalism..............Solution = conservatism

Beat me to it.. fixed it for you.

[otisthebat]

there is no solution. there will always be poverty. as a country we will never come together to rid the lower class of incentives to be in poverty.

[Penile_Dementia]

don't know... which states have the fewest starving and homeless people? Which states have the most? I don't know, just asking, but that should offer some clues

[otisthebat]

Originally Posted by Fran_McCarthy

don't know... which states have the fewest starving and homeless people? Which states have the most? I don't know, just asking, but that should offer some clues

in the united states poverty doesnt mean what it does in the rest of the world. outside of america poverty is litterally starving, struggling to keep yourself alive let alone your kids.

in america poverty is eating fast food every day, handmedown clothes for the kids, local channels only, living in a **** apartment. some people are comfortable living like that, which is the problem.

[IraHays]

"Avoiding long-term poverty is not rocket science. First, graduate from high school. Second, get married before you have children, and stay married. Third, work at any kind of job, even one that starts out paying the minimum wage. And, finally, avoid engaging in criminal behavior."

- Walter Williams

[Penile_Dementia]

Originally Posted by otisthebat

in the united states poverty doesnt mean what it does in the rest of the world. outside of america poverty is litterally starving, struggling to keep yourself alive let alone your kids.

Rest of the world? How about the continents of Europe and australasia? I'd bet there's far fewer people starving and homeless in scandinavia than there is in California...

Originally Posted by otisthebat

in america poverty is eating fast food every day, handmedown clothes for the kids, local channels only, living in a **** apartment. some people are comfortable living like that, which is the problem.

No homeless people in America? I've heard LA especially is absolutely shocking to visit, I've heard it described as a schizo first world/third world metropolis from more than a few people

Though I do see the OP is talking about relative poverty.

[otisthebat]

Originally Posted by IraHays

"Avoiding long-term poverty is not rocket science. First, graduate from high school. Second, get married before you have children, and stay married. Third, work at any kind of job, even one that starts out paying the minimum wage. And, finally, avoid engaging in criminal behavior."

- Walter Williams

definitely not rocket science, but a lot of people are retards so it might as well be astrophysics to them.

[otisthebat]

Originally Posted by Fran_McCarthy

Rest of the world? How about the continents of Europe and australasia? I'd bet there's far fewer people starving and homeless in scandinavia than there is in California...

are europe and australia the only other places in the world?

No homeless people in America? I've heard LA especially is absolutely shocking to visit

point out in my post where i said anything about homeless people

bold.

[Penile_Dementia]

Originally Posted by otisthebat

are europe and australia the only other places in the world? .

No brah you should know this by now. They definitely are a reasonable slice of the pie of "rest of the world" tho (with east asia too)

Originally Posted by otisthebat

point out in my post where i said anything about homeless people

wat

Anyway , I take it poverty doesn't just mean people living in ****ty apartments, even in America. Anyway, I was talking about absolute poverty, which clearly does exist in america, op prob talking bout relative poverty my bad

[Penile_Dementia]

states (+ district) with highest poverty: (2007)

Mississipi
Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico
Alabama
Washington DC

States with lowest poverty (2007)

Alaska
Connecticut
Hawaii
Maryland
Minnesota
Utah
Wyoming
New Hampshire

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0104529.html

[Mant1z]

Its a no brainer.

It's America's Capitalism & money that has destroyed this country. It has caused greed. Along with the greed, people are now in serious threat of identity theft,extortion, etc... You have huge corporations with billion doing "nothing" to assist. Companies "ONLY" donate money if their getting a tax write off. If their was no tax right off, and publicity out of it. They would never do it.

Also, the thought among people who dont want to try and knowing that their government will bail them out. Even companies know their own government will bail them out.

Prime examples of Capitalism: Wal-Mart. The thought that we can make billions and pay our employees 7.50 an hour to survive on. Now, I understand that these are "low skill" jobs. However, the greed behind the company is the main cause. Wal-Mart aint the only company that is conistently doing this. There's thousands. When a companies profits triple or quadruple in a years time. But, they wont give you a raise to help you and your family?

The problem is that if the government gave all citizens paid college for better skills. Then we would have people coming out of the "low skill" workforce and eventually the market for the 'higher skill" jobs gets flooded. Then there would be nobody to do the "low skill". Or you would have people that have a degree in something refusing to take the "Wal-Mart" job, and sitting on unemployment.

This is one of the reasons why Unions are so great. Unions arent gonna rape you like "wal-mart". Safeway employees are all union and they make a ton more money then say a way busier "Wal-Mart Supercenter".

Having 2 parties in democrats and republicans is also a major cause for its eventual collapse. Each party thinks that they are correct, and you cant tell them otherwise. One thinks that their on a higher level because of their morals supposedly being so much better.

These 2 parties "DONT" want to agree with each other. They "WANT" to fight each other. If their was no fighting, then they would be one big party. WHich in some cases would completly ruin the idea of voting for presidential candidates.

If you had 2 guys running for president that both agreed on every single topic of concern. Who would you vote for? Would it make a difference? Nope, why? Because it still doesnt make a difference to this day if you vote. I wish that the entire country would "NOT" vote one year. Show our government that we the citizens are in control, not them.

But, it will never happen, becaue people are conceited and think that their way of thinking is so much better then someone elses. People are so closed minded and are not willing to see a different point of view. Its quite sad....

They call America the "Great Melting Pot". The Melting Pot is getting over-cooked & starting to cook itself.

[Bnk]

http://www.heritage.org/research/welfare/bg2064.cfm

The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various gov*ernment reports:

* Forty-three percent of all poor households actu*ally own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.

* Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

* Only 6 percent of poor households are over*crowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

* The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

* Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.

* Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.

* Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

* Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.

[Penile_Dementia]

Originally Posted by Mant1z

This is one of the reasons why Unions are so great. Unions arent gonna rape you like "wal-mart". Safeway employees are all union and they make a ton more money then say a way busier "Wal-Mart Supercenter".

dunno about america but over here Unions have absolutely crippled private and public industries and the taxpayer... great for their direct employees getting paid loads extra for doing nothing extra, not so great for the rest of the country. The most direct and obviously seen effects are not the only effects that are occuring...

now unions can be a force of good but they can be a force of a lot of bad too, especially in a depression. They are perfectly capable of raping for the benefit of their workers at the expense of productivity, the business owner, the consumer and the taxpayer

it's not so black and white

[HitItHard]

Originally Posted by Mant1z

Its a no brainer.

It's America's Capitalism & money that has destroyed this country. It has caused greed. Along with the greed, people are now in serious threat of identity theft,extortion, etc... You have huge corporations with billion doing "nothing" to assist. Companies "ONLY" donate money if their getting a tax write off. If their was no tax right off, and publicity out of it. They would never do it.

Also, the thought among people who dont want to try and knowing that their government will bail them out. Even companies know their own government will bail them out.

Prime examples of Capitalism: Wal-Mart. The thought that we can make billions and pay our employees 7.50 an hour to survive on. Now, I understand that these are "low skill" jobs. However, the greed behind the company is the main cause. Wal-Mart aint the only company that is conistently doing this. There's thousands. When a companies profits triple or quadruple in a years time. But, they wont give you a raise to help you and your family?

The problem is that if the government gave all citizens paid college for better skills. Then we would have people coming out of the "low skill" workforce and eventually the market for the 'higher skill" jobs gets flooded. Then there would be nobody to do the "low skill". Or you would have people that have a degree in something refusing to take the "Wal-Mart" job, and sitting on unemployment.

This is one of the reasons why Unions are so great. Unions arent gonna rape you like "wal-mart". Safeway employees are all union and they make a ton more money then say a way busier "Wal-Mart Supercenter".

Having 2 parties in democrats and republicans is also a major cause for its eventual collapse. Each party thinks that they are correct, and you cant tell them otherwise. One thinks that their on a higher level because of their morals supposedly being so much better.

These 2 parties "DONT" want to agree with each other. They "WANT" to fight each other. If their was no fighting, then they would be one big party. WHich in some cases would completly ruin the idea of voting for presidential candidates.

If you had 2 guys running for president that both agreed on every single topic of concern. Who would you vote for? Would it make a difference? Nope, why? Because it still doesnt make a difference to this day if you vote. I wish that the entire country would "NOT" vote one year. Show our government that we the citizens are in control, not them.

But, it will never happen, becaue people are conceited and think that their way of thinking is so much better then someone elses. People are so closed minded and are not willing to see a different point of view. Its quite sad....

They call America the "Great Melting Pot". The Melting Pot is getting over-cooked & starting to cook itself.

LOL omg this is a horrible post!

u can't be serious?

do you know what CORPORATISM is? do you realize how much money and subsidies our government has given walmart?

the problem is NOT CAPITALISM.

the problem is people will NOT accept responsiblities to better themselves and CORPORATISM via the government

[illriginalized]

Originally Posted by Bnk

http://www.heritage.org/research/welfare/bg2064.cfm

The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau, taken from various gov*ernment reports:

* Forty-three percent of all poor households actu*ally own their own homes. The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.

* Eighty percent of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.

* Only 6 percent of poor households are over*crowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.

* The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe. (These comparisons are to the average citizens in foreign countries, not to those classified as poor.)

* Nearly three-quarters of poor households own a car; 31 percent own two or more cars.

* Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions.

* Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception.

* Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.

Great post. Favorite website too

[frankenstein]

Originally Posted by otisthebat

in the united states poverty doesnt mean what it does in the rest of the world. outside of america poverty is litterally starving, struggling to keep yourself alive let alone your kids.

in america poverty is eating fast food every day, handmedown clothes for the kids, local channels only, living in a **** apartment. some people are comfortable living like that, which is the problem.

Indeed. Poor in the USA means you're probably fat. Quite the opposite of 100 years ago even in the USA. There will always be poor people. People aren't stuck in an socio-economic class for their entire lives either. Plenty of people in their 20s and 30s are on the poor side but end up just fine by their 40s. If not, they made some bad decisions along the way. Heck, some people go back and forth several times in their lifetimes.

The 'war on poverty' has been going on since LBJ and poverty rates have not gone down. Clearly a new approach is needed. It lies more with parents than govt, so it's something that can't be well coordinated on a large scale. There's nothing the govt can do that they haven't already done (the Constitution is a nice frame work) but that won't stop the promises and grandstanding. He who believes them is a fool.

[texlonghornz2]

Originally Posted by Mant1z

Its a no brainer.

It's America's Capitalism & money that has destroyed this country. It has caused greed. Along with the greed, people are now in serious threat of identity theft,extortion, etc... You have huge corporations with billion doing "nothing" to assist. Companies "ONLY" donate money if their getting a tax write off. If their was no tax right off, and publicity out of it. They would never do it.

Also, the thought among people who dont want to try and knowing that their government will bail them out. Even companies know their own government will bail them out.

Prime examples of Capitalism: Wal-Mart. The thought that we can make billions and pay our employees 7.50 an hour to survive on. Now, I understand that these are "low skill" jobs. However, the greed behind the company is the main cause. Wal-Mart aint the only company that is conistently doing this. There's thousands. When a companies profits triple or quadruple in a years time. But, they wont give you a raise to help you and your family?

The problem is that if the government gave all citizens paid college for better skills. Then we would have people coming out of the "low skill" workforce and eventually the market for the 'higher skill" jobs gets flooded. Then there would be nobody to do the "low skill". Or you would have people that have a degree in something refusing to take the "Wal-Mart" job, and sitting on unemployment.

This is one of the reasons why Unions are so great. Unions arent gonna rape you like "wal-mart". Safeway employees are all union and they make a ton more money then say a way busier "Wal-Mart Supercenter".

Having 2 parties in democrats and republicans is also a major cause for its eventual collapse. Each party thinks that they are correct, and you cant tell them otherwise. One thinks that their on a higher level because of their morals supposedly being so much better.

These 2 parties "DONT" want to agree with each other. They "WANT" to fight each other. If their was no fighting, then they would be one big party. WHich in some cases would completly ruin the idea of voting for presidential candidates.

If you had 2 guys running for president that both agreed on every single topic of concern. Who would you vote for? Would it make a difference? Nope, why? Because it still doesnt make a difference to this day if you vote. I wish that the entire country would "NOT" vote one year. Show our government that we the citizens are in control, not them.

But, it will never happen, becaue people are conceited and think that their way of thinking is so much better then someone elses. People are so closed minded and are not willing to see a different point of view. Its quite sad....

They call America the "Great Melting Pot". The Melting Pot is getting over-cooked & starting to cook itself.

a few things to point out
every firm must b a profit maximizer. to in business administration you base things off of business plans not emotions. 1st and most important rule of finance IF YOUR EMOTIONAL YOU WILL LOSE!. Now, the firm, walmart, is obligated to its bond holders to pay them (if its a coupon bond) and to its "owners" dividends payed to shares outstanding. If they have any money left they pay employees and then reinvest in other stocks bonds etc etc. If walmart pays its employees for a good year, when its not based off of a specific employee doing something specific then it encourages what in economics we call free riders.

Also people need to know there are consequences for messing up financially. If you have credit card debt you have efficetively STOLEN MONEY from Visa or mastercard, i can get into the accounting but id rather not do that right now. Anywhoo, if we lower the limit on the interest rate it will encourage bad behavior, yes i know this is not everyone in debt but it is some people. Lets no encourage bad behavior but encourage good behavior.

[TDE]

Amen to the post about the TVs. Being broke isn't a matter of not having money, but rather not having your priorities straight.

Another thing is sense of entitlement, if poor people learned to act their wage, and lived below their means, they may be able to move up.

[haulingboat]

Originally Posted by Mant1z

Its a no brainer.

It's America's Capitalism & money that has destroyed this country. It has caused greed. Along with the greed, people are now in serious threat of identity theft,extortion, etc... You have huge corporations with billion doing "nothing" to assist. Companies "ONLY" donate money if their getting a tax write off. If their was no tax right off, and publicity out of it. They would never do it.

Also, the thought among people who dont want to try and knowing that their government will bail them out. Even companies know their own government will bail them out.

Prime examples of Capitalism: Wal-Mart. The thought that we can make billions and pay our employees 7.50 an hour to survive on. Now, I understand that these are "low skill" jobs. However, the greed behind the company is the main cause. Wal-Mart aint the only company that is conistently doing this. There's thousands. When a companies profits triple or quadruple in a years time. But, they wont give you a raise to help you and your family?

The problem is that if the government gave all citizens paid college for better skills. Then we would have people coming out of the "low skill" workforce and eventually the market for the 'higher skill" jobs gets flooded. Then there would be nobody to do the "low skill". Or you would have people that have a degree in something refusing to take the "Wal-Mart" job, and sitting on unemployment.

This is one of the reasons why Unions are so great. Unions arent gonna rape you like "wal-mart". Safeway employees are all union and they make a ton more money then say a way busier "Wal-Mart Supercenter".

Having 2 parties in democrats and republicans is also a major cause for its eventual collapse. Each party thinks that they are correct, and you cant tell them otherwise. One thinks that their on a higher level because of their morals supposedly being so much better.

These 2 parties "DONT" want to agree with each other. They "WANT" to fight each other. If their was no fighting, then they would be one big party. WHich in some cases would completly ruin the idea of voting for presidential candidates.

If you had 2 guys running for president that both agreed on every single topic of concern. Who would you vote for? Would it make a difference? Nope, why? Because it still doesnt make a difference to this day if you vote. I wish that the entire country would "NOT" vote one year. Show our government that we the citizens are in control, not them.

But, it will never happen, becaue people are conceited and think that their way of thinking is so much better then someone elses. People are so closed minded and are not willing to see a different point of view. Its quite sad....

They call America the "Great Melting Pot". The Melting Pot is getting over-cooked & starting to cook itself.

I could not find a single point in your post that I agree with.

Capitalism is what has made this country great for 200 plus years. Progressive government involvment in the free market is what has brought us to our knees (example-Freddie and Fannie). The ablity to start and grow business is the foundation of our economy. erode those abilities and watch the ecomony crumble.

Unions cripple a businesses ability to compete. Wal-Mart is the perfect example. Their entire premise (business model) is to buy product in extremely large volume and recieve a discount for doing so. This allows them to bring it ( the product) to market for less than the competition and win business. Keeping employee expenses low plays a part as well. The big 3 auto makers serve as a great example.

Ford, GM, and Chrysler have to pay their employees more per hour plus provide legacy expenses (retirement, healthcare) for employees that no longer contirbute to the company. Toyota, Nissan, and other foreign manufacturers do not have to bare these expenses. To compete the unionized companies must cut costs elsewhere, which in this case has been in the quality of the product. Detroit has been at a clear disadvantage do to union demands, hence the current situation.

In your WalMart/Safeway comparison you stated that the Supercenter was "way busier." People shop at Wal Mart because the prices are lower. The non union store is less expensive than the unionized store and therefore draws more business. Why do you think they are so much less? Answer: See example above.

The 2 party system you described is a joke. They are one in the same. BO may state that he is left and Bush was right. They claim to have different agendas, but when you look at the policies they are one in the same. Bush= big bailout- BO= big bail out. Bush= iraq war- BO= Afgan war, ect. ect. ect.


History is filled with examples of failed programs once government gets involved. American history has shown that capitalism works when government does not meddle.

As far as greddy execs go, if they break the law, they should be tried and punished. Blaming them for current economic failures is diverting attention away for the facts.

[DD66]

Originally Posted by dabbmw2002

liberalism..............conservatism

This

[badbart]

Originally Posted by TDE

Amen to the post about the TVs. Being broke isn't a matter of not having money, but rather not having your priorities straight.

Another thing is sense of entitlement, if poor people learned to act their wage, and lived below their means, they may be able to move up.

Wow common sense

[haulingboat]

Originally Posted by Hesh

I'm writing a report to a bigwig about my perception of poverty with ideas of how to solve the problem.

Any suggestions for recommendations I could offer?

I will consider your theories and try to include them in my writing.

Hopefully this submission will help make a difference in the world!

Thank you for contributing your insights.

Which poverty are you writing about? The poverty in Africa where people starve while flies buzz around them or the manufactured poverty here in American where people eat three squares and watch cable TV in the air conditioned home?

[dr_D]

poor is a a relative term regarding income distribution

poverty is an absolute term- shortage of food, water, shelter etc.

extreme poverty - no or very scarce access to all the essentials

there is a major difference between the definition of poor and poverty. Don't use them interchangably. Someone who is in poverty is poor, but a poor person may not be in poverty

[Jimmy_Hollywood]

Distribution of wealth - The top 5% of our population holds something like 95% of the wealth.

[Hesh]

Originally Posted by TDE

Another thing is sense of entitlement, if poor people learned to act their wage, and lived below their means, they may be able to move up.

Act their wage?

[haulingboat]

Originally Posted by Jimmy_Hollywood

Distribution of wealth - The top 5% of our population holds something like 95% of the wealth.

Correct and you have as much opportunity to join the top 5% as everyone else. For now anyway.