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Sowell: Poverty and Snow Storms
Creators Syndicate ^ | May 20, 2014 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 05/19/2014 11:42:51 AM PDT by jazusamo

Many years ago, in upstate New York, there was a lady who was caught in a fierce snow storm that produced conditions called a "whiteout." That's when the snow is falling so thick and fast that all you can see in any direction is just sheer white. This lady wandered around in the storm, struggling to try to get home, but there was no way for her to know where home was.

Eventually she collapsed in the snow and died — something like 50 feet from her home that she could not see.

All too often that image comes back to me when I see so many people in poverty wandering off in all directions, either alone or following some of the many local or national messiahs — often not very far from a way out of their poverty but, like the lady who died in the snow storm, unable to see the way.

Some years ago, a dear friend of mine took it upon himself to try to educate a young nephew from a poor and troubled home, taking the lad into his and his wife's own home, and paying for him to go to a private school. The boy was quite bright but he had problems that took up a lot of the time and money of my friend, who had a very demanding job, and could ill afford the time or money that he was spending, in hopes of giving this young man a better life.

(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: poverty; sowell; thomassowell

1 posted on 05/19/2014 11:42:51 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; ...
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2 posted on 05/19/2014 11:43:55 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo

The way out of poverty leads through HARD WORK. Something that those who have a bone deep sense of entitlement have a fanatical aversion to.


3 posted on 05/19/2014 12:23:31 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: jazusamo

Bump.


4 posted on 05/19/2014 12:31:13 PM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (The idea around which “liberalism" coheres is that NOTHING actually matters except PR.)
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To: from occupied ga

You’re absolutely right and sadly the numbers of people with that fanatical aversion to hard work keep increasing.


5 posted on 05/19/2014 12:31:54 PM PDT by jazusamo
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To: from occupied ga

Hard work isn’t fun and isn’t taught by the left. They teach children that they can make it through by staying attached to the government teat.


6 posted on 05/19/2014 12:40:55 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: Blood of Tyrants

My recommendation is join the Navy, serve honorably, get the GI bill, and go to college to become a professional. Work hard and success will follow.


7 posted on 05/19/2014 12:48:03 PM PDT by Citizen Tom Paine (An old sailor sends)
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Please bump the Freepathon or click above and donate or become a monthly donor!

8 posted on 05/19/2014 12:59:28 PM PDT by jazusamo
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To: jazusamo
Sounds like The World According to Maynard G. Krebs
9 posted on 05/19/2014 1:01:33 PM PDT by mc5cents (Pray for America)
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To: Citizen Tom Paine

With the current CIC I dont recommend serving. Ther’re cannon fodder for him.


10 posted on 05/19/2014 1:05:38 PM PDT by subterfuge (Hey NSA snoop, get a real job you idiot!)
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To: jazusamo
He said frankly that he thought he could make it through life without that education, living by his wits, hustling in one way or another.

Very sad. If that's all you saw during your earliest formative years, that's your idea of how life is to be lived.

11 posted on 05/19/2014 1:33:31 PM PDT by ConservingFreedom (A goverrnment strong enough to impose your standards is strong enough to ban them.)
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To: Citizen Tom Paine
My recommendation is join the Navy, serve honorably, get the GI bill, and go to college to become a professional. Work hard and success will follow.

The armed forces won't take him.

No, Uncle Sam doesn’t really want YOU: Military now turns down 80% of applicants

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3156055/posts

12 posted on 05/19/2014 1:41:42 PM PDT by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: jazusamo

So long as we insist on hoisting completely unrealistic role models (NBA players, musicians, no accomplishment socialites, etc.) this is what we should expect.

This is completely un-politically correct, but it’s entirely appropriate to wonder in the white out, just 50 feet from the front door, just to point out WINNERS and LOSERS. If there are more losers, you’ll want to move ASAP.

Likewise: “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.”


13 posted on 05/19/2014 2:08:48 PM PDT by Fitzy_888 ("ownership society")
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To: 2banana

That’s largely a function of who is applying. Many obese, poorly educated and/or drug using kids. Trust me, they’d have taken all the Romney boys or the Burr kids; it’s just that those kids are too good to serve in uniform. The Modern Romans.


14 posted on 05/19/2014 6:06:38 PM PDT by MSF BU (n)
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To: jazusamo

An absolutely beautiful article full of experience and wisdom.


15 posted on 05/20/2014 8:13:07 AM PDT by oldbrowser (This looks like a make it or break it point for America.)
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