Mocking The Poor

[wenglund]

Of course it was not meant to represent the population as a whole. The point of the video was to show that it can be taken advantage of and that no one is doing anything about it.

 

Cal, this video just show one example of some one fully able to make their own way but through loop holes in the system has taken advantage of it. He does not purchase booze or loto tickets.

 

One need but watch a few episodes of Judge Judy to get a good sense of welfare abuse in this country. Some of the real-life cases are appalling.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[wenglund]

While preventing fraud is good we do need to be careful that we do not spend even more money hunting down fraud that is not cost-effective.

If we truly want to save money the best fraud to go after is income tax fraud which probably costs the government about 400 billion dollars a year. While some are willing to throw money at welfare programs to stomp out fradulent claims very few are eager to beef up the IRS. Obviously it is not solely an economic motive.

 

Whether there is politically-motivated selective concern for fraud or not, if you think income tax fraud is super bad now, just wait until Obamacare hits full stride. (See HERE)

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[The Nehor]

Whether there is politically-motivated selective concern for fraud or not, if you think income tax fraud is super bad now, just wait until Obamacare hits full stride. (See HERE)

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Not buying that article. Mostly because the bias and agenda ooze out of it. The hack writer attributes all kinds of motives. What happened to Forbes that they take this kind of drek as economic analysis?

[thesometimesaint]

Since I am not one, I can't speak to your stereotypical depiction of southern "extreme right" views.

 

What I can speak to is my own pragmatic perspective that, in spite of good intents, government welfare programs create a number of unintended negative consequences that hurt the most the people the programs are intended to help the most, including inadvertently creating a disincentive for them to work. 

 

And, unlike with your series of bald assertions, I have gone through the effort of researching claims on both sides, and I have substantially documented my conclusions (see HERE and HERE and HERE), and I have also gone the extra mile and provided a number of plausible explanations for why the government may be the wrong tool for the right job (see HERE).

 

But, people are free to tune out whatever doesn't comport with their world view, and keep on throwing hard-earned taxpayer money at counterproductive entitlement programs--that is, until the government runs out of other people's money and can no longer  borrow against their children's future.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

 

No man made or man operated system is ever going to be perfect. There will always be some whom game the system.

 

The trouble with what you posted as your research is exclusively from the political right in this country. You dismiss any contrary evidence as lies. That is not being as honest researcher.

 

I've never advocated for simply throwing money at our social problems. I have consistently said that well thought out and implemented government programs, along with well thought out and implemented private charity programs are integral parts of the solution to poverty.

[wenglund]

Not buying that article. Mostly because the bias and agenda ooze out of it. The hack writer attributes all kinds of motives. What happened to Forbes that they take this kind of drek as economic analysis?

 

I am not sure to what extent, if any, Forbes has changed, or the contravening confirmation bias of some of its readers has become more pronounced. But, I shan't wildly speculate so as to avoid hypocrisy.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[wenglund]

No man made or man operated system is ever going to be perfect. There will always be some whom game the system.

 

The trouble with what you posted as your research is exclusively from the political right in this country. You dismiss any contrary evidence as lies. That is not being as honest researcher.

 

I've never advocated for simply throwing money at our social problems. I have consistently said that well thought out and implemented government programs, along with well thought out and implemented private charity programs are integral parts of the solution to poverty.

 

First of all, I am not operating from a position where I expect perfection from fallible humans. Rather, as explicitly indicated, I have a reasonable and pragmatic expectation that we not indulge counter-productivity and throw good money we don't have, after bad.

 

Second, if you actually read through my research and click on the links, you will find that I draw substantially from left-wing outlets, I freely acknowledge when the left has a point, and I rarely if ever use the word "lie."

 

There is much irony in the dismissive straw man you just constructed.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[thesometimesaint]

First of all, I am not operating from a position where I expect perfection from fallible humans. Rather, as explicitly indicated, I have a reasonable and pragmatic expectation that we not indulge counter-productivity and throw good money we don't have, after bad.

 

Second, if you actually read through my research and click on the links, you will find that I draw substantially from left-wing outlets, I freely acknowledge when the left has a point, and I rarely if ever use the word "lie."

 

There is much irony in the dismissive straw man you just constructed.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

 

By exclusively pointing out problems, and using the political right solutions you are in effect expecting perfection. Even the Church recognizes the futility of such arguments.

 

Sure; I'm all for pragmatic solutions that actually work. Christ said the poor will always be with us. He was stating the pragmatic obvious. It wasn't a statement about how things should be.

 

I've read your "research". It is a regurgitation of the same old Social Darwinism of Gilded Age Laissez Faire economics.

[wenglund]

By exclusively pointing out problems, and using the political right solutions you are in effect expecting perfection. Even the Church recognizes the futility of such arguments.

 

Sure; I'm all for pragmatic solutions that actually work. Christ said the poor will always be with us. He was stating the pragmatic obvious. It wasn't a statement about how things should be.

 

I've read your "research". It is a regurgitation of the same old Social Darwinism of Gilded Age Laissez Faire economics.

 

I appreciate you reading my articles even if through a remarkably distorting lens.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

There are several factors that influence a successful transition out of poverty. Education, opportunity, resources, even plain old luck plays a part.

Can you expand on what you mean by resources.

Opportunity it is a big one. And so is education.

[thesometimesaint]

Can you expand on what you mean by resources.

Opportunity it is a big one. And so is education.

 

It varies from individual to individual. For some it could be a lack of transportation to and from the job site.IE; If you live in a big city getting around the city usually isn't that big of a deal. Everything from personal cars, to buses, to trains, I've even seen some cities where helicopters are used by the well off.  Most poor in this country actually live in rural areas with few local resources.To another it could be lack of appropriate child care. IE: Grandma is fine as long as she can and will do it. We can't say that if we solve just one lack of resources problem there aren't others that are equally solved.

Edited January 24, 2014 by thesometimesaint

[thesometimesaint]

I appreciate you reading my articles even if through a remarkably distorting lens.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

 

That's all any of us here have is our own opinions. Supported or not.

[Calm]

Of course it was not meant to represent the population as a whole. The point of the video was to show that it can be taken advantage of and that no one is doing anything about it.

 

Cal, this video just show one example of some one fully able to make their own way but through loop holes in the system has taken advantage of it. He does not purchase booze or loto tickets.

thanks for the info...

[Calm]

One need but watch a few episodes of Judge Judy to get a good sense of welfare abuse in this country. Some of the real-life cases are appalling.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Sorry, but I don't buy Judge Judy as real life.

[thesometimesaint]

Sorry, but I don't buy Judge Judy as real life.

 

But But I saw it on the T.V. it must be real.

[The Nehor]

One need but watch a few episodes of Judge Judy to get a good sense of welfare abuse in this country. Some of the real-life cases are appalling.

 

You do realize those are specifically selected for shock and entertainment value right? Assuming a Judge Judy contestant is an average welfare recipient is like assuming people on Jerry Springer represent the average American.