Thread: The Bush Economy- severe poverty at 32-year high

For everyone on this forum who's been cheerleading Bush's brilliant economic direction, here's a reality check: McClatchy Washington Bureau | 02/22/2007 | U.S. economy leaving record numbers in severe poverty

And in other news that Bush and his followers don't care about: My Way News - Study: Superbugs Emerge Among Urban Poor

The economy has grown perhaps 16% under Bush - but family income has been very flat. In fact, it was just observed that men in their 30's are making 12% less than their fathers on average.

In essence, it is hooray-for-the-rich and tough-sh---for-everyone-else.

Most of Bush followers are Christians. What happened to helping the poor?

How do we do that though? The real treatment for poverty is getting to the root of why people end up in it to begin with.

Originally Posted by freckles

How do we do that though? The real treatment for poverty is getting to the root of why people end up in it to begin with.

1. Givng access to higher education without regards to the ability to pay for it.

2. Making sure that any job is paying enough to support yourself and your family

3. By social reforms that flattens the inequality

4. Making sure that decent housing is available at an affordable price, which again means one have to rethink housing in general.

5. Reduce military spendings and use the money on the society instead.

6. Reduce the sentences for various crimes.

And many other things.

1. Givng access to higher education without regards to the ability to pay for it.
How do you suggest we go about doing that? Also, if everyone can get a higher education, higher education will become equivalent to a high school diploma and to get a high paying job, one will need a graduate degree to become successful and so on and so on

2. Making sure that any job is paying enough to support yourself and your family
How many members of the family? And how do compensate for the price of goods increasing to account for wage increases in order to still maintain profitability?

3. By social reforms that flattens the inequality
More info please. Don't understand what you are talking about here

4. Making sure that decent housing is available at an affordable price, which again means one have to rethink housing in general.
How? The market goes off of how much people will pay. If people will pay the astounding overpriced amount for housing, why would they lower the price?

5. Reduce military spendings and use the money on the society instead.
How about we just reduce spending overall. 2 trillion per year is given in entitlements. 2 trillion and nothing has improved. How much more money should we flush

6. Reduce the sentences for various crimes.
Which crimes? Also, if you are charged with anything, even if you never do time, it becomes increasingly difficult for an employer to hire you. I sure wouldn't hire them.

Originally Posted by Idletime

1. Givng access to higher education without regards to the ability to pay for it.

What do you consider higher education? College? High school?
According to 2002 statistics, we only use 5.7% of our GDP on public education. Not exactly sure what the breakdown is of that 5.7%, but I'd say in general, that's pretty low and that we can probably afford to increase that number.

2. Making sure that any job is paying enough to support yourself and your family

Agreed, however, everytime the minimum wage goes up, inflation increases and the value of the dollar decreases.

Originally Posted by freckles

3. By social reforms that flattens the inequality
More info please. Don't understand what you are talking about here

Things like affirmative action I suppose.

Ohio increased their funding and dropped from 31 to 34 in one year Funding is not what helps overall education.

Originally Posted by Vitiate

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Things like affirmative action I suppose.

And that has helped how in the past? How is forcing people to hire people that do not fit with the company culture going to help them out of poverty?