[InvisibleChurch]

Unemployment in the underclass is not caused by lack of jobs or of job skills, but by the inability to get up every morning and go to work.

OUCH

[thebaron512]

Sorry, but no work: no food, no housing, etc. Welfare is not the solution to correct this. People are making excuses for others.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Bump!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If I could just work from bed...

[txroadhawg]

This is painfully obvious. You can only help those who want to be helped.

[BenLurkin]

It is the truth. Now if we could just pay the underclas to stop having children we could make progress in eliminating poverty.

[wideawake]

In America, poverty is not a situation beyond your control.

[Black Tooth]

For me getting up for work is easy. The only problem I have nowadays is there doesn't seem to be a dime left after getting paid.

[BenLurkin]

It is the truth. Now if we could just pay the underclas to stop having children we could make progress in eliminating poverty.

[Publius6961]

Those statistics are hair-raising and intolerable.

... but racist.

No further discussion is allowed.

[BipolarBob]

When I show up for work, I've done my part. It's their job to get something out of me.

[Gay State Conservative]

Welfare is,and has been for many years,a career choice in this country.And that's exactly the way the Kennedys,Clintions and Jesse Jacksons of this country want it!

[eleni121]

Painfully true.

Late night TV and partying and "the early bird..." do not mix.

[JimSEA]

Unemployment in the underclass is not caused by lack of jobs or of job skills, but by the inability to get up every morning and go to work.

Twelve years as a day's pay employee and 13 years in labor relations taught me the truth of this statement beyond contest. The number one reason for mine employee discharge by a country mile -- absenteeism!!!!

[auntyfemenist]

So true. Many of my friends have average jobs (less than $15 an hour), small, modest homes (which they own), two decent used or older vehicles and just a few bucks in reserve cash. They would be considered at least not rich. I know a few people who could have the same things, but refuse to work. They just can't seem to stay on a job.

My best friend waited tables and her husband has held the same job in a warehouse for 10 years. They have two kids and one on the way. They are happy, they are fine because they have worked consistently. The true underclass does not do this.

It used to be the underclass was not nurtured to grow through federal subsidies. People had to figure out how to make a go of life or, well, not. Society also used to attach moral stigma to people who lacked the virtue to hold a job, stay off alcohol and stay our of trouble with the law. We don't do that anymore because it isn't politically correct to make people accountable.

[cotton1706]

"The government cannot relieve from toil"
"The final solution from unemployment is work."

Calvin Coolidge

[wouldntbprudent]

Poor people who are not part of the underclass seldom need help to get out of poverty. Despite the exceptions that get the newspaper ink, the statistical reality is that people who get into the American job market and stay there seldom remain poor unless they do something self-destructive. And behaving self-destructively is the hallmark of the underclass, says Murray.

Just look around and see the evidence that there's something to this.

The guy who works on a construction crew, learns a trade. In a few years, he looks around and says, "I can do this myself." So he puts a magnetic sign on his truck, starts a business and pretty soon he's making money and hiring other guys.

The woman who starts a housecleaning business. She works hard and pretty soon she's also hiring others to help. And she's not poor anymore.

[little jeremiah]

Moral Absolutes Ping.

Excellent article and fine comments on the thread.

One thing I didn't see as I scanned down:

ILLEGITIMACY IS RAMPANT AMONG 'POOR' PEOPLE ESPECIALLY AMONG BLACKS!!!! 75=80% OF BLACK BABIES ARE BORN TO UNMARRIED MOTHERS!

And now one third of ALL births in the US. This will destroy society if not changed.

Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.