re: Nice opinion piece on income inequality from CNN

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The trend isn't where I'd personally like it on that front, but we're obviously not close to the tipping point.

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I think this is where the disconnect is with a lot of people. If you speak out about income inequality you're labeled a 1%er or Occupy Wall Streeter, and accused of being jealous of the rich. All that most that speak out against it are doing is pointing to some troubling trends in regards to income and wealth growth. I don't think many think it's anywhere close to crisis stage, but to many like myself it is cause for concern. It adds to the argument of out country being a plutocracy.

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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.

Man you guys have your Roger Ales talking points down.

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What do you think needs to be done to improve the trend?

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education and shift in culture.

A major problem is that education is in the governments hands. I don't know of an easy solution to that.

I do have some ideas on a difficult solution.

Federal Gov't is a huge problem. This country wasn't designed for the Fed to have as much power as it has now. States rights need to be restored in many areas. Education is one of them.

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But continuing to add to entitlements is worse than "frick em".

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I certainly agree adding to our current broken system is a fools errand. Without an alternative you're left selling "we're going to take away your access to food and housing." Good luck with that.

RogerThewhatever from Alaska has posted some quality stuff on the perverse incentive structure built into the safety net. That's where I want to attack. Streamline all the programs under one agency. Then tweek the system so it doesn't punish people on the dole for getting a job. It's a piece of the puzzle but it's a good start.

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For the largest part, those in squalor and poor conditions, in America.. choose to be there. Either through laziness, ignorance or choice.

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This is where I take issue. There is truth in some are lazy. There is certainly ignorance out there, but who's to blame for that?

The rural poor are want for opportunity. Lacking education and resources makes it terribly difficult to just pick up and move somewhere with more opportunity available. The inner cities are plagued with the results of the war on drugs. It's not like business is clamoring to set up shop next door to Legion Field. So drug dealing is your the lowest hanging fruit to carve out a living. So then we arrest them and put felonies on their records. Makes it tougher to get a job and breaks up families. The result of this tied with the problems with the entitlement system have been catastrophic. I wish it was just laziness.

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I do have some ideas on a difficult solution.

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I for one am curious about those ideas.

There is absolutely nothing I or anybody else could say that would make any of you even think about your positions. Your minds are as hard as stone