We need solutions to a multifaceted issue. I wish concrete solutions were addressed more in the media, without turning poverty into a single story problem to fix with a silver bullet. There certainly must be things we could learn from other countries. And an idea that helps somewhat is better than no idea at all. I get frustrated with the contrarians who oppose any idea because it doesn't completely solve the problem. We should continually work at reducing poverty, without expectation we'll end it tomorrow.
Right! We need to DO something to help. Then we need to do another thing.
(Similar frustration with gun violence.)
We need our legislators to take action and to continue to do things to whittle away at the issue. They should stop talking about how bad things are and do something to fix it, even if just a little. Less of a problem is better than more of a problem. This is where compromise could come into play. Either party - if you have an idea to help without harming in another way, do it. Try it AND try other things.
More and more, I feel that we will do anything, try anything, talk about anything, to solve our most critical social problems EXCEPT the one thing that actually solves them. To wit: climate change - stop drilling for and burning fossil fuels. Housing: build basic housing for people. Poverty: provide a basic income for everyone. Healthcare access: break down the stranglehold that the insurance industry has on hospitals, doctors and clinics. Other "Bigs" to break down are Big Pharma and Big Ag. Looming behind all of this, like a giant puppetmaster, is capitalism. Solutions that operate within the confines of capitalism will probably NOT solve the problems caused by capitalism, at least not the rapacious stage of capitalism under which we now live. That is why something small like that bagel shop's offer are necessary, uplifting ... and rare.
It's as if "But we've ALWAYS done things this way" gets in the way of thinking that would teach us to do things smarter. And amen to the solutions found within capitalism. Capitalism will always seek to survive, so those solutions generally just prop up the system.
Oh yes, poverty. In Connecticut one of America’s wealthiest states our major cities are awash with impoverished populations. Amidst all of the conditions of pain and suffering that accompany the poor there are diamonds in the rough like Goldy’s. At our church on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, Holy Trinity, we endeavor to do our part by supporting the many homeless shelters that surround us. We host free dinners at Christmas and Easter to feed those who have nothing. Your students are welcome to attend Mass anytime to witness the example set by our pastor Father Jacobs. Being the pet lover he is we even have a food pantry for the pet owners who cannot afford to feed their cats and dogs. So there are glimmers of light in the darkness that clouds our world. Too bad more of these stories go on without notice.
His commentary runs counter to What We Think We Know. Plus, he's asking journalists to look at context, and there is so much pressure to cover breaking news, a lot of them can't or won't take the time to do that.
We need solutions to a multifaceted issue. I wish concrete solutions were addressed more in the media, without turning poverty into a single story problem to fix with a silver bullet. There certainly must be things we could learn from other countries. And an idea that helps somewhat is better than no idea at all. I get frustrated with the contrarians who oppose any idea because it doesn't completely solve the problem. We should continually work at reducing poverty, without expectation we'll end it tomorrow.
Precisely. What if we conducted an honest-to-God War on Poverty. Or, if we're uncomfortable with "war," a Really Concerted, All-Out Effort?
Right! We need to DO something to help. Then we need to do another thing.
(Similar frustration with gun violence.)
We need our legislators to take action and to continue to do things to whittle away at the issue. They should stop talking about how bad things are and do something to fix it, even if just a little. Less of a problem is better than more of a problem. This is where compromise could come into play. Either party - if you have an idea to help without harming in another way, do it. Try it AND try other things.
What Jac said.
More and more, I feel that we will do anything, try anything, talk about anything, to solve our most critical social problems EXCEPT the one thing that actually solves them. To wit: climate change - stop drilling for and burning fossil fuels. Housing: build basic housing for people. Poverty: provide a basic income for everyone. Healthcare access: break down the stranglehold that the insurance industry has on hospitals, doctors and clinics. Other "Bigs" to break down are Big Pharma and Big Ag. Looming behind all of this, like a giant puppetmaster, is capitalism. Solutions that operate within the confines of capitalism will probably NOT solve the problems caused by capitalism, at least not the rapacious stage of capitalism under which we now live. That is why something small like that bagel shop's offer are necessary, uplifting ... and rare.
It's as if "But we've ALWAYS done things this way" gets in the way of thinking that would teach us to do things smarter. And amen to the solutions found within capitalism. Capitalism will always seek to survive, so those solutions generally just prop up the system.
Oh yes, poverty. In Connecticut one of America’s wealthiest states our major cities are awash with impoverished populations. Amidst all of the conditions of pain and suffering that accompany the poor there are diamonds in the rough like Goldy’s. At our church on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, Holy Trinity, we endeavor to do our part by supporting the many homeless shelters that surround us. We host free dinners at Christmas and Easter to feed those who have nothing. Your students are welcome to attend Mass anytime to witness the example set by our pastor Father Jacobs. Being the pet lover he is we even have a food pantry for the pet owners who cannot afford to feed their cats and dogs. So there are glimmers of light in the darkness that clouds our world. Too bad more of these stories go on without notice.
Now we apply that glimmer of light to policy, and what a wonderful world we would have. Good on your faithful community.
Our friend in hospital passed this morning. Needed this, Susan.
Purposed poverty, in this country. Smh
Oh, Cyndi. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Thank you
I'm so very sorry.
Thank you
I assume that you're using a bunch of Robert Reich, and probably talking about little his accessible materials are used in mainstream coverage?
Both life-giving and good on systemic-and-also-individual issues is Tracy Kidder's Rough Sleepers, on the medical and housing sides of poverty.
Yep. He’s loaded up for Wednesday’s class. He explains all this so very well.
Do you have any idea why he isn't more quoted, his framing if not materials are not more used?
His commentary runs counter to What We Think We Know. Plus, he's asking journalists to look at context, and there is so much pressure to cover breaking news, a lot of them can't or won't take the time to do that.
:(