What should we do about the widening gap between the haves and have-nots?

Question

Should we tax the haves to pay for education, housing, health care, child care, and healthy communities for the have nots?

The widening gap between rich and poor has very little to do with undocumented workers...except the rich use the "two" parties to create an immigrant working class with fewer labor rights than citizens, which makes the gap even wider.

Answer 1

Deport illegal aliens. That will decrease the number of have nots and decrease the declining wages of poor people. Poverty rates increase everytime an illegal alien sets a foot across the border and into our country.

Illegal aliens are spreading poverty across America by making babies with no intention of supporting them properly. Each year, illegal aliens make over 300,000 unwanted babies.

Illegal aliens dramatically raise America's poverty rates. Poverty rates have increased because there are 20 million illegal aliens in the U.S. all living off wages that are below minimum wage.

Answer 2

This is only an issue because the "have nots" seem to insist they need what the "haves" have. Let's be honest, our standard of living has gotten a little high for the whole country to handle at this point. I think the push made by certain companies to appeal their products to people in lower economic classes has caused "class envy" and has also caused some people to have their priorities a little out of focused. Not to be crude, but when certain conservatives claimed welfare mothers were using the checks to buy Cadillacs, there was some truth to that.
What needs to be done by the government is to improve education- and liberals may not like "No Child Left Behind" but it is having an effect on our educational system. I am also sorry, but we need to push abstinance as well. These might sounds to be"draconinan" in liberal eyes, but if responsibility is promoted, there will not be as much of a have and have not gap because the have nots will have more.

Answer 3

Nothing. Both the haves and have-nots standards of living are improving. The haves standard of living is improving at a faster pace than the have-nots; hence, the gap.
The haves provide the land, capital and management. Don't kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. I quote from Russian immigrant, Pavel Tsatsouline, regarding America: "never in the history of mankind has a common person lived so well."

Answer 4

Thanks to crappy parents that split when I was a kid I was a have-not. I had children young and it appeared I not only would remain a have-not but would be raising future have-nots as well. Then I joined the Army and earned college money. After my enlistment was up I went to nursing school and became a nurse. Last year I earned over $90,000, I am back in school working on my Master's in Nursing Education, I have a child in nursing school, one that is running his own business, and one in high school that is a national level athlete. We became a family of haves with hard work and commitment and in this country that is possible for just about anyone who is willing to work for it.

Answer 5

This one will surprise you: Eventually, capitalism is self destructive. Eventually. In the end, in a true capitalistic economy, one person owns EVERYTHING.

We aren't a true capitalistic economy, we are, as are most countries, varying degrees of socialist economies.

Be that as it may, capitalism is the most successful style of economy, in primary, because it is those very needs that give us the motivation to be intelligent, thoughtful dedicated workers. We not only want to be successful, to a degree we HAVE to be, or our most basic needs are not met.

I don't have all the answers, but if we all were given shelter, and food, and health care, and education, what would motive us, as a people, to actually DO anything. Or, at least, do it very well?

Capitalism will self destruct someday, and the wealth will be split up. But, looking further, if we don't start up another, similar, capitalistic economy, we won't be nearly as successful next time around.

I guess I believe capitalism is a mixed bag. But, undoubtedly, the most wealth-producing economic system in history.

Answer 6

No. Let me tell you why. Me and my wife are part of the haves. I have several investments in this country which will provide jobs and tax revenue. If you tax me even more, I will shield my money by investing abroad, register my business abroad, and the US will not get ANY of my tax money or my business. (Me and my wife were not born rich. We simply invest our money wisely) Instead, I suggest that we teach the have-nots financial literacy. We need to teach them how to invest their money and have it work for them. We need to teach delayed gratification. Maybe instead of buying that Mercedes Benz, you can buy that investment property or that stock. Do not hurt the successful for being successful. Help the have nots by teaching them the skills to be financially literate and make intelligent decisions.

Answer 7

I agree with you to a degree - we *do* need to provide basic services. But we need to end this entitlement mentality. Unless you're in a coma, you can contribute SOMETHING to society. Pick up trash for the city. Paint a park bench for the county. Stuff envelopes. I have *no* problem with a hand up, but I do not approve of hand *outs*.

And how much is enough? 99%? 90? 75?

Answer 8

More socialism. No.

They do not owe you or me.
The confused idea that the rich will stick around to be fleeced of what they have earned to pay the rest for sitting on their rears is falacious. They'll leave. A lot already have. Our country will then take more economic down-turns and MORE people will leave.

Sounds like a great plan if you hate the U.S.A.

Not in my country you don't!

Answer 9

Teach the "have-nots" to figure out how to become "haves." The last thing we need is more people dependent on the government.

Did we learn nothing from Katrina? People waiting around for the government to come and get them out? Where will it end for you? There is no eutopia for me. Just me and the strong back and feet and hands the good Lord gave me.

Answer 10

Nothing.

Even the so-called have nots are still better off than say, 100 years ago, or even 50 years ago.