"Material poverty can be measured relatively or absolutely. An absolute measure would consist of some minimum quantity of goods and services deemed adequate for a baseline level of survival. Achieving that level means that poverty has been eliminated. However, if poverty is defined as, say, the lowest one-fifth of the income distribution, it is impossible to eliminate poverty. Everyone's income could double, triple and quadruple, but there will always be the lowest one-fifth. Yesterday's material poverty is all but gone. In all too many cases, it has been replaced by a more debilitating kind of poverty -- behavioral poverty or poverty of the spirit. This kind of poverty refers to conduct and values that prevent the development of healthy families, work ethic and self-sufficiency. The absence of these values virtually guarantees pathological lifestyles that include: drug and alcohol addiction, crime, violence, incarceration, illegitimacy, single-parent households, dependency and erosion of work ethic. Poverty of the spirit is a direct result of the perverse incentives created by some of our efforts to address material poverty." --George Mason University economics professor Walter E. Williams
That's very true Sparkling, and it's a much harder type of poverty to overcome. In a lot of our economically challenged communities whether that's the inner city ghetto or poor rural areas, it's almost impossible to fix.
by Jack Lee 8 years ago
Is the riots in Milwaukee a race issue or a crime issue or an economic issue?Once the details of this police shooting is known, what is your opinion of what went on in the immediate aftermath of riots and mayhem? What do you think is causing this?
by John Ward 7 years ago
What will you do to bring about the end of Economic Slavery. What can we do to end all injustice in 2018. How do you elininate all Injustice from the society/societies of to-day.
by Goodpal 7 years ago
Are the poor useful for the society in any way?Is it that Poverty and the Poor are mere burden on the society? Do they serve any meaningful purpose?
by Stacie L 13 years ago
By Roland S. Martin, CNN Contributorupdated 3:12 PM EST, Wed September 21, 2011STORY HIGHLIGHTSRoland Martin says new poverty numbers an expression of a recession that started in 2007He says of 10 poorest states, most have voted Republican in presidential electionsMartin says poverty issue should...
by LoliHey 9 years ago
Is it true that it is impossible for a white person to understand poverty, as Bernie Sanders claims?Bernie Sanders says that white people cannot understand what it is like to be poor or live in the ghetto. Does he speak for you? I bet that he doesn't speak for the homeless white people...
by Eugene Hardy 13 years ago
Should our economy bring economic prosperity for everyone?Currently, our economy does not do this, it should.
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