Should the American Public be concerned with the poverty levels in the U.S.?

Question

I was informed that poverty levels are among the highest in the US in comparison to other countries (Switzerland, Amsterdam, Germany ect.. (for those who need some examples)). In addition, the US gov't aid goes mostly to the richest 3% of the population, such as tax deductions. Should Republicans or President Bush be held accountable? Why or Why not? Or do we blame the poor for being poor?
P.S.For those who use emotions for answers, please just remember, I'm just asking a question (food for thought).
Thank You.

Answer 1

why should the rich be forced to pay for the poor?

"In the socialist society the distinction between rich and poor would fall away; no one would any longer possess more than another, but every individual would be poorer than even the poorest today, since the communistic system would work to impede production and progress. It may indeed be true that the liberal economic order permits great differences in income, but that in no way involves exploitation of the poor by richer people. What the rich have they have not taken away from the poor; their surplus could not be more or less redistributed to the poor in the socialist society, since in that society it would not be produced at all." Von Mises, "Nation, State and Economy"

Answer 2

Yes, they should be concerned, if they're going up, but that's more a symptom of bad government than anything else. Nothing puts people out of work like high taxes and minimum wage increases.

I will have to address your stupid statement about US aid going to the richest 3%. That is purely emotion and not fact. Taxpayers get the benefits of tax cuts, and the more taxes you pay, the more you get back when they're cut. And those rich people pay the highest tax rates of all. Even with Bush's cuts, the federal government still takes over 30% of their income - more than from any other group. So, how can anybody say they're not paying their fair share? Where's the logic there?

Also, with the tax cuts, the poor also received greater tax credits, and more people did not have to pay income taxes. These are facts.

I could also talk about how stratified the countries are that you use for examples, or how economically mobile the US population is, or how often poverty is caused by peoples' bad decisions.

Answer 3

Its so easy to blame poor Dubyah for poverty, and the fact that he does nothing to alleviate it!..He does what he is told to do by the huge corporates that control him!..He has no say in the matter at all!..The big corporates see the poor as nothing more than useless eaters!..No profit can be made for them from the poor!..Any attempt to fix the problem of poverty is going to cost huge money..Money that the corporates think they should have, But their time is coming!..That is my fear, greed and avarice rules these people, they take more and more and more..Eventually people are just going to revolt against them, and we may end up with the return of the horror that was communism!..But unless the 'Gordon Gecko's' of the corporate world wake up and realise that..Which is very unlikely, well, the system will collapse, because they will have it all, and the people will have nothing!..Answer?..Revolution!.You cannot deny the evidence of history that always repeats itself when the conditions demand it!

Answer 4

The American public yes but only a little, those who should be concerned are the United Statesian public. Why would Americans that were born in Bolivia and live in dire poverty be concern about poverty in the US? especially if you consider that the United Statesian poor are rich by Bolivian standards. You see, it's a United Statesian issue, not an American one.

Answer 5

Who informed you of this? Can you provide a reference?

If you look at countries with lower poverty levels than the U.S., you are going to see two things: 1) governments that do quite a bit less to support the "poor". 2) Cultures that do not support "victomhood" and thus force citizens to be responsible for themselves.

And yes, I am sure that President Bush will be blamed, as he has been blamed for today's cold weather, my flat tire this morning, and the fact that my hot water heater broke forcing me to take a cold shower.

Answer 6

Yes, we should be concerned about poverty and its causes.

People making more money does not cause poverty. Limiting people's freedom to work, invest, innovate, take risks, etc. can itself cause poverty, by discouraging productive activity.

I also believe that the US poverty figures DO NOT INCLUDE transfer payments such as welfare, social security, etc., so the impression that there are millions of paupers lining the streets of America is totally false.

I'd rather be a "poor" person in America than in virtually any other country. In fact, I think I was at one point! :)

PS Among the causes of poverty are unwed mothers and no father in the home. We should address that too.

Answer 7

The number of people living in poverty has been declining over the last 10 years. Likewise the amount spent on domestic programs for the poor increased in that same time period.

There is always going to be poor people, but no one in the US is going hungrry because of a lack of services.

Reducing taxes on investment income encourgaes investment which helps the economy and creates jobs. The government doesn't create jobs, corporations do. Investment in those corporations (via the stock market) is the best way to help the economy. And considering we have the strongest US economy in history proves that supply side economics works.

The increased tax revenues (at a record high) allows the government to spend so much on their domestic assistance programs for the poor.

Answer 8

yes, i believe americans should be extremely concerned. people in this country forget about others, and have become extremely selfish. the majority of our nation is composed of Christians, but they easily forget all of Jesus' teachings about sharing and caring for the poor. He would never had said "let everybody fend for themselves and let the rich get richer." i believe He would have known that not everybody has an equal opportunity to succeed in life. He would never turn his back on the poor, which is what many people do in this country. thats my only problem with capitalism...it breeds greed and selfishness.

Answer 9

You need to look at how nations define poverty. The US addresses this issue quite well.

No single administration or political party is 'responsible.' This is issue of individual responsibility.

Answer 10

Consider the overall productivity lost by people struggling with survival issues.