Think about the ramifications of this article on the long-term effects of property ownership:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/opinion/18gates.html?em&ex=1195621200&en=cda6432c6f711b9a&ei=5087%0A
It suggests that there is tremendous long-term benefit to society of government programs that help people buy homes. It
is about African-Americans (and fascinating just in that aspect) but it has wider ramifications.
2007-11-19 03:41:50 · 5 answers · asked by Silver 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Have a blessed day, Romanias.
2007-11-19 08:03:05 · update #1
Here's what it would take to reverse the problems described in the article:
1. Laws that reward two parent families.
2. Laws that reward working parents.
In the absence of such laws (and I don't even think the government should try to legislate such things), blacks need to individually make a decision very early in life to commit to this game plan if they are going to have any hope for theirselves or their children.
2007-11-19 03:50:28 · answer #1 · answered by Yahoo Answer Angel 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When the US was founded there were two different visions of what America would turn into. Alexander Hamilton and the federalists saw the US going towards manufacturing and export, meaning big profits would be made by a few rich people and the great majority would be factory workers who were low-paid, owned no property and therefore couldn't vote. Thomas Jefferson had a different vision, of an agricultural America where everyone owned his own little plot of land. Besides a higher standard of living for most people, it also was more democratic since only land-owners could vote.
A bigger percentage of home owners in the US is better because people think more about the future, politics, public policy, etc. when they own a little piece of the country. They have more to gain, in terms of appreciation, and also more to lose in the case of war or governmental breakdown.
The Truman administration had the right idea after WWII (actually it was the idea of BOTH parties). The GI Bill resulted in the highest home-ownership in history in the US, and also the biggest percentage of college graduates in the world.
2007-11-19 11:51:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How about we make the fathers of the children, responsible for their part in the births? We can't force them to marry, but can damn well force them to pay. Also, while we can't force anyone to take advantage of programs, there are a lot of laws bent toward helping blacks get an education and jobs. Everyone knows right from wrong, even the poor. Black people have more opportunities than anyone else, regulation- wise. If they choose to blow them off, helping them more isn't really helping at all. Anyone with the desire can be a property owner.
2007-11-19 12:00:45 · answer #3 · answered by grumpyoldman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Now you know why your race (if you are a european) wanted so badly to colonize all of AFRICA and then strip the natives and that whole Continent of its priceless value.
2007-11-19 11:52:57 · answer #4 · answered by romaniascott 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dang, I've already got too much to think about today. Ask me tomorrow!
2007-11-19 12:58:28 · answer #5 · answered by yutsnark 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋