re: Nice opinion piece on income inequality from CNN

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I know, why wouldn't the poor be behind the anti poverty strategy of cutting their food, healthcare, and housing aid off? Their votes aren't bought, but the right has shown zero interest in actually doing anything about poverty. It's all about demonizing the poor for being lazy leeches. It's all about playing on your emotions, and it works. The left's philosophy on this front is severely flawed, but it's better than "frick em" for the lower class

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Of course the "right" needs to come up with some better plans. But continuing to add to entitlements is worse than "frick em". When people are forced to do for themselves, they will, more than given the choice to get a guaranteed check, food and shelter. Then their time can be spent watching tv or any other reason to continue getting overweight. Again, this goes back to the entitlement feeling that permeates American society. What's so wrong with earning your food and shelter. Nobody is guaranteed a $100K house, picket fence, 2 cell phones, cable and an xbox. But I would venture to guess, that over 2/3 of those on Gov't programs have those cell phones, Xboxes, ipods, etc.. Necessity and want have blended to the point nobody knows what separates them anymore it seems.

Sure, it'd be nice if everyone lived in middle American neighborhoods, had the same clean office job and the likes. But reality, is that people are different, some aren't capable of the same achievements, and some choose not to achieve. Those folks don't "deserve" the same pay that someone who does achieve more, and works harder get.

For the largest part, those in squalor and poor conditions, in America.. choose to be there. Either through laziness, ignorance or choice. There is ample opportunity to get ahead in this country, if one wishes to put in the work.