strike on iraq
- Thread starter ElCubano
- Start date
"In 1996, millions more Americans lived in poverty than in 1964."
The population as a whole is larger than in 1964. So obviously it would stand that more people live in wealth, in the middle and in poverty than in 1964.
"Among the 21 most affluent nations, the United States has the highest percentage of poor children. In fact, our rate is twice that of the country next in line."
This statistic is from the European standard which uses any family with income that is less than half of the median. The "the country next in line?" Canada. Why do they have half the rate? The poor do not tend to congregate in the colder parts of this continent.
"Percentage of US children who live in poverty: 20%
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2000)"
Why is this?
1. The majority of this segment of the population (that lives in poverty) African American 37 percent, Latino 34 percent, with whites trailing at 11%. Traditionally and historically, poor people of all races tend to reproduce at a rate higher than that of the general population. Failure to use birth control, welfare abuse, cultural acceptance of multiple sexual partners, etc.
2. debilitating drug usage in the poor is at higher rate, which causes them to be further locked in to poverty.
3. Lack of educational resources.
4. One of the real reasons is that it is an impossible cycle to break and many administrations have tried. Here is what they are up against:
"To be poor is to live in inadequate housing in overcrowded neighborhoods with bad schools and few or no recreational facilities; to be mired down in an atmosphere of hopelessness, of enduring agony over one's children, of poor health, rampant crime, price-gouging in local stores, job discrimination, political under-representation, police brutality, and constant insults-not least in the local welfare office. The emotional, psychological- and physical-impact of such conditions can only be imagined (or read about) by those who have not experienced them directly; but it takes little imagination to perceive that for those who are born poor the compounding difficulties of poverty are likely to keep them poor and to have children who will be poor-with here and there a rare and heroic exception."
(excerpted from the book
Against the Conventional Wisdom
by Douglas Dowd
WestviewPress, 1997)
The population as a whole is larger than in 1964. So obviously it would stand that more people live in wealth, in the middle and in poverty than in 1964.
"Among the 21 most affluent nations, the United States has the highest percentage of poor children. In fact, our rate is twice that of the country next in line."
This statistic is from the European standard which uses any family with income that is less than half of the median. The "the country next in line?" Canada. Why do they have half the rate? The poor do not tend to congregate in the colder parts of this continent.
"Percentage of US children who live in poverty: 20%
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2000)"
Why is this?
1. The majority of this segment of the population (that lives in poverty) African American 37 percent, Latino 34 percent, with whites trailing at 11%. Traditionally and historically, poor people of all races tend to reproduce at a rate higher than that of the general population. Failure to use birth control, welfare abuse, cultural acceptance of multiple sexual partners, etc.
2. debilitating drug usage in the poor is at higher rate, which causes them to be further locked in to poverty.
3. Lack of educational resources.
4. One of the real reasons is that it is an impossible cycle to break and many administrations have tried. Here is what they are up against:
"To be poor is to live in inadequate housing in overcrowded neighborhoods with bad schools and few or no recreational facilities; to be mired down in an atmosphere of hopelessness, of enduring agony over one's children, of poor health, rampant crime, price-gouging in local stores, job discrimination, political under-representation, police brutality, and constant insults-not least in the local welfare office. The emotional, psychological- and physical-impact of such conditions can only be imagined (or read about) by those who have not experienced them directly; but it takes little imagination to perceive that for those who are born poor the compounding difficulties of poverty are likely to keep them poor and to have children who will be poor-with here and there a rare and heroic exception."
(excerpted from the book
Against the Conventional Wisdom
by Douglas Dowd
WestviewPress, 1997)
The real needed piece that should be addressed in our community is "the ability to do something different than what we have so far." Rather than look at the factor that there needs to be a personal change of attitude, direction and effort, we'd rather find someone else to blame for the continuing problems. Instead of doing things like seeking and improving new skills, changing the surroundings, or associating with different peoples with different mind sets, there seems to be the need to go back to the excuse of slavery.
Yes it was a bad thing. Yes it provided stumbling blocks. And yes, many of them still remain today. But rather than go away from the sinkholes in the way of success, many folks sit down, take out the flag of protest and scream foul.
Even worse, there is a large segment who don't even show up to scream foul. They send surrogates who supposedly speak for ALL who are not in attendance. Fooled into believing this surrogate is the voice and the power, its call and grievances are heeded and addressed. And in many cases, this is the true minority view.
For many, very little effort is placed into making one's self more desirable and valuable in the workplace. I can't tell you how many African American males I know who don't take the time to stay into reading (anything other than the latest sports dribble) and expanding the mind with hard facts. Ironically, speaking of sports, Charles Barkley has just put out book that touches on some very delicate subjects in the minority community. It probably will not be received too well, and there is a reason.
Want to take a test? Today find one of your African American male associates (females are ok too, but progress won't happen without the males rising the standards) and ask him what were the last three books that he has read. And before you gasp and take this challenge, make sure that your last three titles weren't from three or more years ago also! If nothing else, you'll find that you may have started a legitimate and quality based conversation and that's where the total race acceptance really begins. With a conversation!
Originally posted by canyonman00
If nothing else, you'll find that you may have started a legitimate and quality based conversation and that's where the total race acceptance really begins. With a conversation!
hey canyonman, if ya ever run for office dude, lemme know, i'll be your right hand man!
just a bit of an issue with that last paragraph.. i wouldn't say that's where race acceptane BEGINS,... i am truly shocked that in this day and age somebody would still have issues with race... (U.S makes such a big deal about race it's not funny..)
still, i know such people do exist (sadly) so yeah, for them to make a conscious effort to understand people they deem different would be a great start..
Originally posted by daniel_m
hey canyonman, if ya ever run for office dude, lemme know, i'll be your right hand man!
just a bit of an issue with that last paragraph.. i wouldn't say that's where race acceptance BEGINS,... i am truly shocked that in this day and age somebody would still have issues with race... (U.S makes such a big deal about race it's not funny..)
still, i know such people do exist (sadly) so yeah, for them to make a conscious effort to understand people they deem different would be a great start..
I think subtle unspoken racism is terrible in this country and not exactly preventable. When you have distinct cultural differences, its inevitable. Which blacks do whites, at least subconsciously, accept more readily? The ones that speak and act like they do. Which whites are not readily accepted by other whites? Usually you will find those same cultural and socioeconomic differences that tend to repel between white middle class and "white trash." They speak differently and act differently, not quite racism, but the elements are similar.
Originally posted by aphexcoil
Now if you can only show the French and Russian oil companies replies/objections I will honestly believe that you have an understanding of the full oil based picture.
Of course, you still must address the arab regional interests, the U. N. lame "you must have our inspectors first" argument interests, the democrats "we need the war off the table so we can talk U.S. economy" interests, and the germans "we just wanna' do business" interests. To get an "A," you do have to take the whole test here. Let's play fair!
While you would think differently, it truly is still an issue. What it has become is more suttle and covert(er). I feel that every change must start with an open, honest and complete discussion. You can't hope to argue with my opinion if you don't know what it is and why I hold it. It is then that you can possibly address our differences and make us both see some light.
For me the answer is not so much in our agreements, it's in the fact that you and I can openly talk about things without the feeling that we must agree. All while knowing at the same time we both are measuring and growing our experience and knowlege and developing a common perspective. The perspective of knowing that when the day is done, and the competition is over, we are really the same -- human!
In the context that racism (and classism) is a societal or institutional thing, it is true that is not preventable. What is actionable is individual behavior which when many individuals consistently choose to manage or change their behavior . . . results in societal changes.
That is why it is so important for individuals and small groups of people to RECOGNIZE the tendency to feel uncomfortable, ACKNOWLEDGE the discomfort without guilt or shame, then CHOOSE to build alliances by going through the discomfort and finding alternative outcomes (hey, isn't that how you make friends?).
Yes, the base elements of cultural and socioeconomic differences are the same. One is based on race. One is based on class. But both are grounded in power, comfort and control.
I choose to be part of the proactive interactive groups that make a difference. Not by preaching to others, but by holding myself accountable for interacting with people I might otherwise avoid or judge. And then listening beyond the words and into the ideas for the common gound to build upon.