Posted on 06/19/2007 5:48:36 AM PDT by Brytani
NEW YORK — Poor residents will be rewarded for good behavior — like $300 for doing well on school tests, $150 for holding a job and $200 for visiting the doctor — under an experimental anti-poverty program that city officials detailed Monday.
The rewards have been used in other countries, including Brazil and Mexico, and have drawn widespread praise for changing behavior among the poor. Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to Mexico this spring to study the healthy lifestyle payments, also known as conditional cash transfers.
In New York, the two-year pilot program with about 14,000 participants will use private funds Bloomberg has raised because he did not want to spend government money on something that is highly experimental. More than $43 million has been raised toward the $53 million goal, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs said.
The theory behind cash rewards is that poor people are trapped in a cycle of repeated setbacks that keep them from climbing out of poverty. A person who doesn't keep up with his vaccinations and doctor's visits, for example, may get sick more often and struggle to stay employed.
(Story continues below)
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Woderful, you get paid! more for using tax dollers (going to DR) than for paying tax dollers (working).
Only a Lib could come up with something this foolish and expensive.
$200 to visit the doctor? How about $50 for cleaning their teeth and combing their hair? What an incredibly insulting, patronising program.
And $150 for holding down a job. Don’t jobs pay, you know, wages in NYC?
This scheme sounds like “pay them a few hundred bucks to vote democrat”
I see. It's not that we have the wrong kind of government governing the people, we have the wrong kind of PEOPLE.
If Mexico's "pay the poor" program is so great, WHY are "the poor" of Mexico climbing all over one another to get HERE??
I await your reply, Mr. Bloomburg.
Mr. Bloomberg??
...crickets...
Sound like the old, big city political machine is rearing its ugly head again, with more dollars for patronage.
And we all know how well Mexico has done fighting poverty. And great, now the Mexicans will be coming to NY because its good behavior program pays better than Mexico's program.
“The rewards have been used in other countries, including Brazil and Mexico,”
Ah this explains it all I have been wondering where the Mexicans were getting the money to get here.
...need a fix?....help an old lady cross the street...collect 100 bucks...visit Guido the dealer and bam-o....a couple of grams for today.
Is America a great country, or what?
What is the line Chris Rock uses when his gangsta buddies start bragging about "I takes care o' my kids!", something like, "well, that's what you should do, you dumb motherf#&!&$!"
FR *bookmark*
How do I sign up for this program? I’d like to be paid for doing the right thing too!
It's right out of the Benevolent Dictators for Dummies Quick Reference: people don't create the government, government creates The People
Did you read the article you posted? Quote:
In New York, the two-year pilot program with about 14,000 participants will use private funds Bloomberg has raised because he did not want to spend government money on something that is highly experimental. More than $43 million has been raised toward the $53 million goal, Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs said.I reluctantly say, "Good for Bloomie!"
Better to pay the poor to be good than to pay them to use drugs. And while the social engineers are at it, they should look at Social Security Disability. It’s becoming the “new welfare” without the hassles of a social worker while hurting those who are truly disabled.
Umm yes, I did read the article - did you?
“The city is asking the federal government to excuse the payments from being taxed. Participants will be divided into three smaller programs that have different criteria and awards: one for about 2,550 families, one for 2,400 single adults and another for 9,000 children in grades 4 to 7.”
Again your tax dollars at work. I go to work, as does my husband, we pay our taxes, pay our bills, keep our homes up, raised and educated two children and got paid nothing for it. (not even tax credits for the kids - long story). Now, these people will receive income for doing the right thing, TAX FREE income.
Sorry, I don’t agree with this program in any way shape or form.
So they’re basically attempting to instill a work ethic into folks who don’t otherwise have one.
I dunno, might just be crazy enough to work. Sounds better than giving them money for just breathing, eating, and pooping.
What makes you think these payments will not be used on drugs?
This trial program is funded with private money but does anyone doubt that it will become a permanant tax funded boondoggle?
Here is the most important question:
Why do our so-called leaders persist in copying programs from failed cultures and nations?
In the last century America became the most successful nation and culture in the modern world.
Other countries would do well to emulate America while our leaders would do well to protect and promote our methods and culture instead of going ga-ga over muslim footbaths and Euro-centric socialism.
Here’s a great illustration of the difference between Bloomberg and Giuliani. Bloomberg (like Hillary) thinks of us as human resources to be managed and manipulated by the “smart people”. Giuliani understands the injustice and lunacy of expecting taxpayers to work even harder in order to shell out bribes to those who have no work ethic.
It would probably be good use of taxpayers’ money to pay me not to drink. :-)
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