America's dark underbelly (dry heave alert)

Toronto Star ^ | 9/10/05 | Tim Harper

[speekinout]

I'm perfectly fine with the idea that this tragedy has forced us to talk about the "underclass". We haven't been able to do that before, because most of the underclass are Black inner city residents.
It isn't just money that they lack - they lack access to good education, role models of intact families, a work ethic, etc.

Not all Black inner city residents are members of an underclass - some of them are just victims with no way out.

Dems have always thought the solution was to throw more money at the problem, and GOPers have always been too afraid of being called racist to do anything else.

If this catastrophe gets even a few more people talking about real solutions to the problem, then maybe it's the silver lining.

[layman]

the underclass was abandoned by their government

'Abandoned' is the wrong word. Actually the underclass has been 'enabled' by their government to live irresponsibly. Government social policy has embodied, as Dubya said regarding education, the bigotry of low expectations.

[BadAndy]

"the underclass was abandoned by their government"

Actually, the underclass are the underclass because they have decided to reject American values such as hard work, personal responsibility, honesty and education. When they decide to get with the program, they will start to prosper.