[Smokin' Joe]

The bottom line is that we have been 'engaged' in the War on Poverty for most of my lifetime (I'm a great grandpa), and we have not only made no progress, we've lost ground. We have more poor people than ever (albeit they are fatter), and we've dumped trillions of dollars down that rathole, subsidizing indigence. We've set aside slots in institutions of higher learning, made funding a freebie, even been told that just because they are poor it doesn't mean they shouldn't live in nice houses in nice neighborhoods (sec. 8 housing), and go to nice schools.

In short, there is no frigging motivation to be otherwise when you get it on a platter.

It takes a lot of effort and determination to rise into a comparable position in the ranks of the supporting class, so why not just skate along and demand your due as po' folk?

It's time we withdrew from the War on Poverty. It's a quagmire unlike any this nation has ever been involved in.

[Gabrial]

“We've set aside slots in institutions of higher learning, made funding a freebie, even been told that just because they are poor it doesn't mean they shouldn't live in nice houses in nice neighborhoods (sec. 8 housing), and go to nice schools.”

Time was in my city of 250,000 residents we would go a whole year without a homicide. That was until they put up a Section 8 apartment complex. We had two homicides at these apartments this last year. Both drug related.

[upchuck]

Time was when “being poor” was a screaming bitch. It was no fun and life was very miserable. Which provided lots of motivation to better oneself.

Today that’s not the case. I interview folks every week who are pretty comfortable living in poverty.

There are enough soup kitchens in town that they can get their “3 squares a day,” missing only two meals a week, breakfast on Monday and lunch on Saturday.

Their monthly SSI check (paid for by you and me) arrives just like clockwork.

There are food pantries to keep their cabinets stocked and clothing banks to keep them dressed.

There are nonprofit orgs that will happily help them pay for utilities (gas, electric, water, phone, propane, even firewood), rent, prescription drugs, eyeglasses, etc.

What’s to worry?