bobbolink (1000+ posts) Fri Sep-17-10 05:11 PMhttp://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9153487
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Poverty is Not a Dirty Word
bold mine
Poverty is Not a Dirty Word
by Jim Wallis 09-17-2010
Just a few years ago, I remember how often people would be surprised when I told them that one in six children lived in poverty in America. In the richest nation in the world, how could more than 16 percent of our nation’s children be poor?
Well, it just got worse. The new census numbers just came out and we should not be surprised to learn that in 2009, the numbers grew to one in five children who live in poverty (that’s 15 million children). This, of course, is a national average, meaning that the reality for many of the country’s poorest urban and rural areas is much worse.
Now, 43.6 million Americans live in poverty, more than at any point in the last 51 years. And yet, poverty is still considered a four-letter word in Washington, D.C. Political consultants would probably advise candidates for higher office to let loose a string of expletives before they advised them to start talking about “the poor.†Poverty is a dirty word in every branch of government because all the polling suggests that people don’t want to hear about it and, of course, poor people don’t generally vote or contribute money to political campaigns.
It might just be time for people in poverty to get a better PR firm. Maybe a few focus groups and some market testing could really help with their image and make them a sexier issue for this year’s campaign cycle. Maybe instead of “poor†we could use the term: “wealth impaired.†That might sound better to the ears of policy makers. The middle class gets talked a lot about in D.C. and on campaign trails these days, so how about “lower, lower middle class� What about “not middle class yet�
But, a makeover isn’t going to change the reality for all of the families living in poverty in this country. And since the official “poverty level†hasn’t been adjusted for four decades, the number of poor people is actually much higher. These new numbers should be offensive to all of us, but especially to the faith community since the Bible says that a nation’s “righteousness†will be judged by how the poorest and most vulnerable are doing. Ouch! The new census numbers should make politicians uncomfortable. The word “poverty†should be on the lips of every White House or Congressional staffer and should unabashedly be repeated at the press conferences of both parties until these numbers are turned around.
http://blog.sojo.net/2010/09/17/poverty-is-not-a-dirty-... /
Note to mods.... sojo is fine with their stuff being posted all over...its what they want. Thanks.
Bible says that a nation’s “righteousness†will be judged by how the poorest and most vulnerable are doing
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9153487
If this woman died tomorrow morning, would any of you feel bad? I honestly would sleep better knowing the world is much better off. May be harsh, but that's how I feel.
I don't remember this particular verse, but if it is true, then America is doing quite well indeed. Our poor have it a thousand times better than the poor in most countries. Our impoverished live better than the middle class in many countries.
Yeah, you can thank the imposter piece of garbage occupying the White House for the rising poverty levels. That "stimulus" package?!?!? Lots of good that did with all the pork barrel spending. (And there was A LOT of it!) Did they really think that crap would stimulate the economy?!? Get a ****in' clue! :bird: :censored:
I'd love to throw Bobo into some of the shitholes I had the "privilege" of visiting in my time. See how much she bitches then.
Yeah, you can thank the imposter piece of garbage occupying the White House for the rising poverty levels. That "stimulus" package?!?!? Lots of good that did with all the pork barrel spending. (And there was A LOT of it!) Did they really think that crap would stimulate the economy?!? Get a ****in' clue! :bird: :censored:
The proportion of people living in poverty climbed to 14.3 percent from 13.2 percent, according to a Census Bureau report released today. The number of people classified as poor rose to 43.6 million, the largest number in the 51 years for which the figures have been published.
It's Bobo we're talking about here. The CHW tanks would never get cleaned if you assigned her to it.
I saw some real poor in Panama back in 83 when we were there for training at the jungle school there. If Bobo had to live like that she'd off herself.
That's good enough for me. :II:
Sounds like a win-win to me, too!
When do we send her there? :fuelfire:
I bet we could FedEx her there cheaper then letting her sit in Coach.
Maybe if we welded shut the doors of her Buick, and traded the rear diff for a prop, we could give her enough for a tank of gas and point her in the right direction?
Use a rocket engine . . . :fuelfire: