I'd rather see your reactions first so I'm not going to say everything that I think now...
Do you believe that we should increase our efforts in welfare or financially aided assistance for the poor?
I believe that there are some cases in which people actually don't get more money so that they qualify to get welfare... does this justify taking it away or increasing its effects? Should we use our tax money on a program like this? Where else could we use the money for? Where else could we obtain the money from?
I am curious on the initial reaction of most people. I understand that I have initially believed that the poor are usually products of their own circumstances and actions. My viewpoint has broadened, however in that I feel I was persuaded to believe the poor were lazy and result of their own actions.... am I wrong either way?
When I think of the rich I can assume they are hard working or that they are given money... 'you need money to make money'. Of course there are several examples of how hard working these people are as there are many "rags to riches" stories like the recent movie with Will Smith (Happyness). Am I wrong to assume then that the media has an affect on our views on the rich and poor and how (possibily) most news stories and stations focus on the more rich, white aspect of news for the 'assumed' middle class?
Stocks, major company standings, expensive clothes, vacation spots... are these really neccesary to the many people who can't afford them? Since we can't afford them should we idolize the people who can? Admire there success and made to bleieve that we too can become rich despite not being able to.
I think welfare should exist, it should just be better apportioned.
I actually wrote a blog on this:
http://www.progressiveu.org/132640-better-welfare-control
ah finally a comment... I'm doing homework and wanted to birng in some..
ok I read it it is interesting.. I am trying to compare it with another welfare. Corporate welfare.
Examples of this is with google in NC, VW, etc. I was hoping you'd hate welfare :(... it should be controlled but rather than giving them money we should invest in better housing (not highly dense ghettos) and manage the money better.
We spend much more helping big businesses than the poverty in our nation. Tax breaks costs us billions in lost revenue. Military companies being paid millions of dollars on bonuses, compnies being offered 1.7% interest loans with no payemnts for so many years and many incentives in order to persuade them to build iwthin a particular state or city.
$1.1 million for dog food and $6.34 million for beer and win were used in 1994 for promotions internationally. We have cut our budget for schools, healthcare, etc but increased in defense spending and not decreased it in useless investment with no return.
Iraq is a huge money gobbler. War profiteering is historical. WWII, korea, vietnam, the gulf war, iraq war, businesses have made millions, brokers have made millions... its crazy!
In a funny stat I read how rich people (making 6 digits) have donated considerably less in % than poorer people. Also they donated less when tax breaks for charitable donations were reduced. What does that say? This is for charitable donations, not investments of sorts.
Should we be giving so many benefits to already successful companies? Or should we save the $167 billion (1995) and use it for education, poverty elimination, and roads?
America's poor live better than any poor in any other given country. There're a million ways to survive and even profit after being poor. I understand there are many homeless but sometimes, I don't believe people have a reason to be completely poor. Everyone has something.
Insert Shameless Self-Promotion Here -- http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ada-castellon
I'm not speaking globally. Mostly your right. There are many places worse off, but I'm simply stating the injustice of the proportion in which the government has given welfare to companies and then poverty.
The countries who are worse off are... well... worse off. We don't have any excuses to have any poverty in our own country as prosperous as we are.
That kind of attitude that at leas they have something helps people justify taking resources for themselves.
also, I'm not speaking solely on the homeless. Additionally I'm implying the persuasive media in letting us assume that our poor is ok and that its their fault. Rich = hard work, poor = lazy. I believe that its circumstance more than anything... what you are born into and your family's assistance in life.