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The Great Potential of Poor Americans. And How Plutocrats Just Want Them to Go Away.
Jan 24, 2016
There's plenty of evidence to support the work ethic of poor people.
Almost 63 percent of America's work-eligible poor are working. Many of the remainder are plagued by a real unemployment rate that is two to five times higher than the official rate, as Congress has continually thwarted job creation proposals.
Immigrants comprise 13 percent of the population, but make up 28 percent of the small business owners.
Poor families don't waste money. Two-thirds of their income is consumed by housing, food, transportation, health care, and insurance.
A study of 18 European countries found "increasing employment commitment as social spending gets more generous" -- in other words, dividend payments encourage people to work harder, rather than the other way around.
Congress Ignores the Value of Average Americans
Given the right opportunities, low- and middle-income families could do a lot to improve America. But Congress only listens to the sound of money. As Robert Reich notes, an analysis by Princeton and Northwestern of 1,799 policy issues revealed that "the preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."
Government at Local Levels Have Turned Poverty into a Crime
In a survey of 187 cities, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty found that 18% of cities impose bans on sleeping in public, 53% of cities prohibit sitting in particular public places, and 9% of cities prohibit sharing food with homeless people.
The homeless are feared by the upper classes, and they're often arrested for nonexistent or non-violent infractions, in good part because they are simply considered "offensive" to people of means. They usually have personal problems that society has failed to address. A study of nearly 50,000 cases revealed that most deal with alcohol or drug abuse, and mental health issues.
Legislating against impoverished people is expensive: shelters, emergency rooms, jail cells. The Interagency Council on Homelessness estimates the cost at between $30,000 and $50,000 per person per year. In Utah, a program called Housing First has cut costs dramatically by providing apartments to the homeless, no strings attached. Similar positive results were experienced in programs in New York City and Seattle. Once-penniless people did just fine with their own homes, acting responsibly, improving their lives, harming no one, and all at a cost savings for the local community.
Just Get a Job! Sorry, We Don't Have Any Jobs.
Congress has failed on numerous occasions to support job-creating legislation, instead allowing American jobs to be outsourced while they pass the blame onto other areas of government. When asked what he would do to bring jobs to Kentucky, Mitch McConnell responded, "That is not my job. It is the primary responsibility of the state Commerce Cabinet."
The Congressional Definition of 'Moocher': Kids and Seniors
Over 83 percent of all benefits going to low-income people are for the elderly, the disabled, or working households. Only 1 cent of every food stamp dollar is used in a fraudulent manner.
Despite the need to support a life-sustaining program for our most vulnerable citizens, Congress continues with its cuts, in the discredited name of austerity. Spending on children's programs recently declined for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Most Recently: Making Black Michigan Go Away
Most of the democracy-killing "Emergency Financial Management" schemes in the State of Michigan have been directed toward poor black communities. The one in Flint, which imposed a cost-cutting measure leading to poisoned water, may be the most egregious example of disdain for low-income minorities. As writer Dave Johnson explains, "Rick Snyder is a businessman who in 2010 campaigned for governor on running government like a business...But government in a democracy is nothing like a business. It is supposed to organize itself to deliver services and make people's lives better, not profit off the people."
In the grimmest form of irony, Flint residents were paying some of the highest water rates in their Michigan county.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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Paul Buchheit
Paul Buchheit is an advocate for social and economic justice, and the author of numerous papers on economic inequality and cognitive science. He was recently named one of 300 Living Peace and Justice Leaders and Models. He is the author of "American Wars: Illusions and Realities" (2008) and "Disposable Americans: Extreme Capitalism and the Case for a Guaranteed Income" (2017). Contact email: paul (at) youdeservefacts.org.
There's plenty of evidence to support the work ethic of poor people.
Almost 63 percent of America's work-eligible poor are working. Many of the remainder are plagued by a real unemployment rate that is two to five times higher than the official rate, as Congress has continually thwarted job creation proposals.
Immigrants comprise 13 percent of the population, but make up 28 percent of the small business owners.
Poor families don't waste money. Two-thirds of their income is consumed by housing, food, transportation, health care, and insurance.
A study of 18 European countries found "increasing employment commitment as social spending gets more generous" -- in other words, dividend payments encourage people to work harder, rather than the other way around.
Congress Ignores the Value of Average Americans
Given the right opportunities, low- and middle-income families could do a lot to improve America. But Congress only listens to the sound of money. As Robert Reich notes, an analysis by Princeton and Northwestern of 1,799 policy issues revealed that "the preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."
Government at Local Levels Have Turned Poverty into a Crime
In a survey of 187 cities, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty found that 18% of cities impose bans on sleeping in public, 53% of cities prohibit sitting in particular public places, and 9% of cities prohibit sharing food with homeless people.
The homeless are feared by the upper classes, and they're often arrested for nonexistent or non-violent infractions, in good part because they are simply considered "offensive" to people of means. They usually have personal problems that society has failed to address. A study of nearly 50,000 cases revealed that most deal with alcohol or drug abuse, and mental health issues.
Legislating against impoverished people is expensive: shelters, emergency rooms, jail cells. The Interagency Council on Homelessness estimates the cost at between $30,000 and $50,000 per person per year. In Utah, a program called Housing First has cut costs dramatically by providing apartments to the homeless, no strings attached. Similar positive results were experienced in programs in New York City and Seattle. Once-penniless people did just fine with their own homes, acting responsibly, improving their lives, harming no one, and all at a cost savings for the local community.
Just Get a Job! Sorry, We Don't Have Any Jobs.
Congress has failed on numerous occasions to support job-creating legislation, instead allowing American jobs to be outsourced while they pass the blame onto other areas of government. When asked what he would do to bring jobs to Kentucky, Mitch McConnell responded, "That is not my job. It is the primary responsibility of the state Commerce Cabinet."
The Congressional Definition of 'Moocher': Kids and Seniors
Over 83 percent of all benefits going to low-income people are for the elderly, the disabled, or working households. Only 1 cent of every food stamp dollar is used in a fraudulent manner.
Despite the need to support a life-sustaining program for our most vulnerable citizens, Congress continues with its cuts, in the discredited name of austerity. Spending on children's programs recently declined for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Most Recently: Making Black Michigan Go Away
Most of the democracy-killing "Emergency Financial Management" schemes in the State of Michigan have been directed toward poor black communities. The one in Flint, which imposed a cost-cutting measure leading to poisoned water, may be the most egregious example of disdain for low-income minorities. As writer Dave Johnson explains, "Rick Snyder is a businessman who in 2010 campaigned for governor on running government like a business...But government in a democracy is nothing like a business. It is supposed to organize itself to deliver services and make people's lives better, not profit off the people."
In the grimmest form of irony, Flint residents were paying some of the highest water rates in their Michigan county.
Paul Buchheit
Paul Buchheit is an advocate for social and economic justice, and the author of numerous papers on economic inequality and cognitive science. He was recently named one of 300 Living Peace and Justice Leaders and Models. He is the author of "American Wars: Illusions and Realities" (2008) and "Disposable Americans: Extreme Capitalism and the Case for a Guaranteed Income" (2017). Contact email: paul (at) youdeservefacts.org.
There's plenty of evidence to support the work ethic of poor people.
Almost 63 percent of America's work-eligible poor are working. Many of the remainder are plagued by a real unemployment rate that is two to five times higher than the official rate, as Congress has continually thwarted job creation proposals.
Immigrants comprise 13 percent of the population, but make up 28 percent of the small business owners.
Poor families don't waste money. Two-thirds of their income is consumed by housing, food, transportation, health care, and insurance.
A study of 18 European countries found "increasing employment commitment as social spending gets more generous" -- in other words, dividend payments encourage people to work harder, rather than the other way around.
Congress Ignores the Value of Average Americans
Given the right opportunities, low- and middle-income families could do a lot to improve America. But Congress only listens to the sound of money. As Robert Reich notes, an analysis by Princeton and Northwestern of 1,799 policy issues revealed that "the preferences of the average American appear to have only a miniscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."
Government at Local Levels Have Turned Poverty into a Crime
In a survey of 187 cities, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty found that 18% of cities impose bans on sleeping in public, 53% of cities prohibit sitting in particular public places, and 9% of cities prohibit sharing food with homeless people.
The homeless are feared by the upper classes, and they're often arrested for nonexistent or non-violent infractions, in good part because they are simply considered "offensive" to people of means. They usually have personal problems that society has failed to address. A study of nearly 50,000 cases revealed that most deal with alcohol or drug abuse, and mental health issues.
Legislating against impoverished people is expensive: shelters, emergency rooms, jail cells. The Interagency Council on Homelessness estimates the cost at between $30,000 and $50,000 per person per year. In Utah, a program called Housing First has cut costs dramatically by providing apartments to the homeless, no strings attached. Similar positive results were experienced in programs in New York City and Seattle. Once-penniless people did just fine with their own homes, acting responsibly, improving their lives, harming no one, and all at a cost savings for the local community.
Just Get a Job! Sorry, We Don't Have Any Jobs.
Congress has failed on numerous occasions to support job-creating legislation, instead allowing American jobs to be outsourced while they pass the blame onto other areas of government. When asked what he would do to bring jobs to Kentucky, Mitch McConnell responded, "That is not my job. It is the primary responsibility of the state Commerce Cabinet."
The Congressional Definition of 'Moocher': Kids and Seniors
Over 83 percent of all benefits going to low-income people are for the elderly, the disabled, or working households. Only 1 cent of every food stamp dollar is used in a fraudulent manner.
Despite the need to support a life-sustaining program for our most vulnerable citizens, Congress continues with its cuts, in the discredited name of austerity. Spending on children's programs recently declined for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Most Recently: Making Black Michigan Go Away
Most of the democracy-killing "Emergency Financial Management" schemes in the State of Michigan have been directed toward poor black communities. The one in Flint, which imposed a cost-cutting measure leading to poisoned water, may be the most egregious example of disdain for low-income minorities. As writer Dave Johnson explains, "Rick Snyder is a businessman who in 2010 campaigned for governor on running government like a business...But government in a democracy is nothing like a business. It is supposed to organize itself to deliver services and make people's lives better, not profit off the people."
In the grimmest form of irony, Flint residents were paying some of the highest water rates in their Michigan county.
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