Posted on 01/05/2006 10:17:47 AM PST by wouldntbprudent
Still, by almost all measures, the data show rising well-being for all of society. And while the wealth gap may not be narrowing, the rich-poor gap in lifestyles has narrowed substantially since 1992 when measured in many of these tangible items.
"In terms of the items people have ... it amazes me the number of people who are at or near the poverty line that have color TVs, cable, washer, dryer, microwave," says Michael Cosgrove, an economist at the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas. That's not to ignore the hardships of poverty, he adds, "but the conveniences they have are in fact pretty good."
(Excerpt) Read more at moneycentral.msn.com ...
And they all have Cell phones, Xbox, playstation, and ipods.
Our company used to have the contract to do high dpeed internet installs for a large national provider. It was amazing the number of DSL installs in public housing project.
And their kids have $120 tennis shoes.
Um, so what does all this mean for the liberal "war on poverty" types?
Do these facts matter at all?
In some cases, that is WHY they are in poverty. Poor people often stay poor by living as if they were rich.
to quote the tin man "If I only had a brain"
The so-called "American poor" have no idea what real poverty is.
It's clear the benefits provided are not proportional with actual need, hence the cars, air conditioners, expensive clothing, trips to Disney etc. that so many welfare recipients are able to indulge in. Were it not for big daddy government handouts, there would be 90% fewer nail salons, audio/video stores, and a lot less horrendously obese "poor" folks.
You can get a watchable color TV for less than $100 and a darned decent one for less than $200. It's the cable that costs the real cash.
"Poor people often stay poor by living as if they were rich."
Mom? Is that you? ;) Bears repeating, though.
Not a bit. next we get to pay for digital TV conversion boxes for everyone.
(((And they all have Cell phones, Xbox, playstation, and ipods.)))
I'm laughing because (by choice) I don't have a cell phone, Xbox, playstation or ipod. I'm old...what ARE those things!?! :-D
an end to cash payments that can be squandered on non-essentials. So long as you are living off my tax dollar, you'll have no luxuries and no waste. But then again I am not yet king of the world.
WOW!
My parents had to work hard for a black and white T.V. when they first came out. We weren't the first to have color T.V.'s either.
This statistic bears repeating over and over. Our poor not only have a lot of stuff, their cash flow and medical is OK, too.
Actually, that was M.C. 900 Ft. Jesus. The tin man wanted a heart.
I have one better: they have bugaboo strollers, those strollers are over $800.00, where pray tell do they earn that money from???????
Yea sure, they have a color tv and all that stuff, but it's not the latest 72" plasma Tee-Vee, like they should have. America's 'poor' people are so underprivledged and disenfranchised.
Kerry/Edwards would never have stood by and let this happen! Impeach now!
/DUmmie
Living in poverty in this country is like being a rich person in many countries.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.