Can you spell f-a-c-e-t-i-o-u-s? I am well aware that throwing more money at it is NOT the answer, that is why I lampooned gov't in my reply. Billions in Iraq is nothing compared to the trillions of dollars gov't has spent since LBJ started his war on poverty in the 60's. Has poverty in this country declined? Has it gotten worse? Who knows? Surely not you or me. No one will ask the hard questions of our political leaders about the accountability of all this money that has been thrown at the problem. The media sure as hell won't do it. They are to busy trying to out-sensationalize each other. The social-engineers have a monetary conflict of interest to try to work themselves out of a job or be objective. It's all too easy to blame the corporate world. That is just a stupid and lazy argument.

You can start by looking at our earlier welfare laws that "rewarded" 1-parent families and disenfranchised the fathers (for the most part). I suggest that LBJ's legacy on the war on poverty is the major reason for the decline in strong family units among the poor. Instead of freeing them from poverty, those policies, laws, public housing, etc., just served to further enslave them into that life cycle.

>Mark;
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>It has been thirty years since I graduated from college. I studied a number of things and one that seems to be worse today then in 1975 is the position of the family. I think we should attempt to understand the fabric of our country. Why are there so many black Americans in jail, marriage is not very popular or does not last long, and believe it or not many people are marginalized regardless of how much money the government throws at them.
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>Now tell me, have you ever been in a poor area of the United States or are you able to recognize such a place? Do poor areas exist? If they exist then why are they evident? Has anyone done much to address issues to solve what perpetuates poverty?
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>If you have your share of the pie then I am sure you could care less about the poor in this nation. You like to make excuses and give titles to serious issues. Everything is all right because the government has taken care of the problem. You are unable to articulate or address real issues that face our nation. Your attitude is one typical of too many: “Every dog for himself”! If there is a problem then you place the blame elsewhere and walk off. A bit of smoke is left and that is all.
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>By the way your awareness of what I stated about “social problems which have not been addressed” is what I was talking about. If you read and understood what I said then I would expect a much different answer from you or anyone else. Throwing money at a problem does not solve it. It is a great way to feel as if the problem was solved and go off to enjoy your life.
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>So what is your solution to the poor in this country? Eliminate them by not addressing the issues or put them in the gas chambers?
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>We can put hundreds of billions of dollars into Iraq and Afghanistan but we cannot take care of our own people. It is the Republicans who spend money for things that have little benefit for our nation. The Republicans are putting us into a hole and we have little to show for it except a growing national debt, corruption and indifference to the needs of our country.
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>Regardless of our exchange I leave you with a smile! :)
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>This topic is too vast for a few lines on the Internet. I apologize if I have offended you as that is not my intent.
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>Tom