How not to be poor (Walter E. Williams)

Townhall.com ^ | May 11, 2005 | Walter E. Williams

[The Great Yazoo]

Ministers Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Washington, D.C.'s Mayor Anthony Williams and others recently met to discuss plans to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the October 1995 Million Man March. Whilst reading about the plans, I thought of an excellent topic for the event: how not to be poor.

Avoiding long-term poverty is not rocket science. First, graduate from high school. Second, get married before you have children, and stay married. Third, work at any kind of job, even one that starts out paying the minimum wage. And, finally, avoid engaging in criminal behavior. If you graduate from high school today with a B or C average, in most places in our country there's a low-cost or financially assisted post-high-school education program available to increase your skills.

Most jobs start with wages higher than the minimum wage, which is currently $5.15. A man and his wife, even earning the minimum wage, would earn $21,000 annually. According to the Bureau of Census, in 2003, the poverty threshold for one person was $9,393, for a two-person household it was $12,015, and for a family of four it was $18,810. Taking a minimum-wage job is no great shakes, but it produces an income higher than the Bureau of Census' poverty threshold. Plus, having a job in the first place increases one's prospects for a better job.

The Children's Defense Fund and civil rights organizations frequently whine about the number of black children living in poverty. In 1999, the Bureau of the Census reported that 33.1 percent of black children lived in poverty compared with 13.5 percent of white children. It turns out that race per se has little to do with the difference. Instead, it's welfare and single parenthood. When black children are compared to white children living in identical circumstances, mainly in a two-parent household, both children will have the same probability of being poor.

How much does racial discrimination explain? So far as black poverty is concerned, I'd say little or nothing, which is not to say that every vestige of racial discrimination has been eliminated. But let's pose a few questions. Is it racial discrimination that stops black students from studying and completing high school? Is it racial discrimination that's responsible for the 68 percent illegitimacy rate among blacks?

The 1999 Bureau of Census report might raise another racial discrimination question. Among black households that included a married couple, over 50 percent were middle class earning above $50,000, and 26 percent earned more than $75,000. How in the world did these black families manage not to be poor? Did America's racists cut them some slack?

The civil rights struggle is over, and it has been won. At one time, black Americans did not have the same constitutional protections as whites. Now, we do, because the civil rights struggle is over and won is not the same as saying that there are not major problems for a large segment of the black community. What it does say is that they're not civil rights problems, and to act as if they are leads to a serious misallocation of resources.

Rotten education is a severe handicap to upward mobility, but is it a civil rights problem? Let's look at it. Washington, D.C. public schools, as well as many other big city schools, are little more than educational cesspools. Per student spending in Washington, D.C., is just about the highest in the nation. D.C.'s mayors have been black, and so have a large percentage of the city council, school principals, teachers and superintendents. Suggesting that racial discrimination plays any part in Washington, D.C.'s educational calamity is near madness and diverts attention away from possible solutions.

Bill Cosby had the courage to speak out against individual irresponsibility. Surely those who profess to have the best interests of blacks at heart should be able to summon the courage to do so as well.

©2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc.

[biblewonk]

Is it racial discrimination that stops black students from studying and completing high school? Is it racial discrimination that's responsible for the 68 percent illegitimacy rate among blacks?

YES it is Walter! Those people hate whites so much that they refuse to "play the game" and act white in any way. Even to the point of refusing to pull up their pants or get out of the street when those white people are trying to get to work. Black racism is what prevents them from getting married, getting jobs, fathering their children or simply being satisfied with a few beers on weekends rather than crack.

[Pharmboy]

Not only are they both smart as whips and very courageous, but both have the unique ability (not shared by most smart people) to actually have original thoughts.

[mc5cents]

I particularly enjoy Williams' columns, and he is my favorite of Rush fill-ins.

I agree. I like him especially because when he fills in for Rush he always has Thomas Sowell on as a guest.

BTW, did you see Sowell on Hannity & whats his face the other night. He made whats his face look like a fool. Easy to do I suppose but enjoyable nonetheless.

[pageonetoo]

Explain to me how this is racial pandering. It might be exaggeration for effect - maybe -...

This is " pat the n..... on the head" stuff. I have nothing but the greatest respect for these guys, but having had many personal discussions with a certain black Supreme Court Justice, I can say that HE is head and shoulders above both!

Too many people seek role models, but find them lacking in one area or another. If you want the best model, pick the best person.

These guys are role models, but not just for the black community. They are role models for all up and coming conservatives! To constantly point to their black-ness, is not descriptive, it is bigotry, and places them on a separate scale...

Ben Stein is a Jew. They are often reviled more than blacks, but you never hear him named as that Jew, Ben Stein!

[Born Conservative]

He's the only EIB guest host that I can listen to AT ALL.

I can't understand why Rush doesn't use him more often. He is AWESOME!

[bmwcyle]

Common Sense has been outlawed by Congress.

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

Dittoes!

ping for later read

[Lazamataz]

First, graduate from high school.

Damn.

Second, get married before you have children, and stay married.

Damn.

Third, work at any kind of job, even one that starts out paying the minimum wage.

Damn.

And, finally, avoid engaging in criminal behavior.

Damn.

I'm screwed.

[Unknown Freeper]

bump for later

[LanPB01]

How anyone can label a declaration of Sowell as one of our greatest intellectuals "pandering" is beyond me.

[SittinYonder]

To constantly point to their black-ness, is not descriptive, it is bigotry, and places them on a separate scale...

So far, you're the only one to mention their race. I brought up their intelligence.

This is " pat the n..... on the head" stuff

Who exactly are you talking to?

[The Great Yazoo]

This thread reminds me of my schoolboy debates. "Who's stronger Superman or Captain America?"

Fact is, the conservative movement is blessed with many women and men of intellectual power and accomplishment. Their writings are regularly posted here on Free Republic.

I'll gladly take one Milton Friedman or one Thomas Sowell or one Victor Davis Hanson or one Mona Charen or one Walter E. Williams or one William F. Buckley, Jr. over all the Al Frankens, Michael Moores, Jeanenne Gerfooldos (spelling, sorry!), Bonnie Erbes (not to mention Molly Ivans and Helen Thomas), etc. etc. etc. in the world.

[pageonetoo]

How anyone can label a declaration of Sowell as one of our greatest intellectuals "pandering" is beyond me.

He is "one of the" smartest... But, that is not what was said, in the post to which I responded.

It's a pet peeve! Broad statements (like this one), with sweeping exagerations, are like lousy novels. They lack the ability to provoke rational responses...

There are plenty of minds to be considered! What if the smartest guy is a little Tibetan monk?

[SittinYonder]

They lack the ability to provoke rational responses...

Your response may prove to the point.

[rdb3]

This is " pat the n..... on the head" stuff.

Noted.

[Aquinasfan]

I can never figure out if Walter E. Williams is the smartest man in the world or if it's Thomas Sowell

Dunno, but he cracks me up when he talks about Mrs. Williams.

[The Great Yazoo]

I'm screwed.

Dear Laz:

You're OK, you're from Georgia!

Yaz

[Aquinasfan]

Best advice I ever heard was from Ed Beckley, one of the original TV real estate hucksters. He said,"...

Remember "OPM"? What's OPM, you ask?... drumroll please... "other people's money"!

[Aquinasfan]

This thread reminds me of my schoolboy debates. "Who's stronger Superman or Captain America?"

My head hurts.

[SittinYonder]

he cracks me up when he talks about Mrs. Williams.

It should come with a "do not try this at home" disclaimer. I've attempted to suggest to my wife that perhaps she should clean the gutters, but it's not been met with very good results.