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WaPo: Waiting for the 8th

specklebang said:
In a way, humor is inappropriate in such serious matters. But I'm compelled to say "50% of the population are below average".

I too advocate a well chosen and adequately rewarded management system in hopes of reducing chronic dependency. But we will never achieve 100% and we face a baby/bathwater situation here. For reasons too long and too uninteresting to detail her, I live among the poor, I am their landlord (7 of them anyway), their neighbor and their casual friend. Most of my assorted associates do work and look for opportunities to make additional income by doing odd jobs. Because of my age, my generally friendly demeanor and my monetary influence, I try to educate people about money. Some ar receptive, some are not.
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We dont need 100%. We just need to remove the positive reinforcement that enables it...make it harder to scam the system, not worth the effort anymore. And we cant reach 100% because there are people incapable of supporting themselves that do need that $$.
 
Lursa said:
Well said.

Re: the bold, I *do* consider 2% of the population to be a very high number...but when I posted I was referring to not being a 'minority' of those on public assistance, not the general population, just for clarification.
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But actually, they are a minority of those receiving public assistance. The large majority of those who receive PA do so for a relatively short period before getting back on their feet, with many of those being within a year.


I only have one solution and it's expensive. Pay MORE to social workers and others in charge of the oversight of the $$ and the *people*. THis will ensure better quality of those working on our behalf (and the horror stories here in my state alone of the terrible quality of social services is an example of that) AND put more qualified people out on the streets working with individuals and families, ensuring they go to training, teaching them how to spend their money more wisely, shopping WITH them, making sure their kids are going to school, doing frequent and surprise home visits, etc. It takes more $$ and more qualified people. Yes, babysitting. I really think that these social services people have a huge responsibility, they require years of training, and should be paid what they are worth...and I dont think they are...which is why we get stuck with so many that suck....or get discouraged and there's not enough to compensate them.

And it will cost ALOT. But it's my hope that it would *break* that cycle and not be necessary after say, 25 years? It's just IMO.
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I agree with you there. IMO, the problem of systemic poverty goes much deeper than a mere lack of jobs skills. These are people who are so deeply mired in a culture that is completely devoid of middle class values and habits that job skills alone is not enough to ensure that they get out and stay out of poverty
 
ksu_aviator said:
The one sentence of hope in the entire article: " 'I'm not wanting to sign over my independence for good,' she said." This little girl understands the real solution to the problem...don't be the problem.
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Yep. That line left me hopeful, for one of them, at least.
 
sangha said:
I agree with you there. IMO, the problem of systemic poverty goes much deeper than a mere lack of jobs skills. These are people who are so deeply mired in a culture that is completely devoid of middle class values and habits that job skills alone is not enough to ensure that they get out and stay out of poverty
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and is aggravated by the existence of public assistance.
 
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