"Poverty in America"... mostly rhetoric

Or my choice, I have health insurance, so I would get the surgery here in 1/3 of the time I would have to wait for it in the UK, pay a negligible cost if anything in the form of a deductible, and the quality would in fact likely be better.

Don't get me wrong I would take UK medicine all day, it is of good quality, but American medicine is simply the world's best. This is why even Canadians and their "wonderful universal health care" come here for medicine when it really matters (even the government officials, LOL):

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/02/danny-williams-canadian-o_n_446481.html

excerpt:

"The premier of Canada's east coast province is undergoing heart surgery in the United States this week because the treatment he is seeking was not available in his home province."

Wow, universal health coverage is great, now if Canada could actually provide medicine, it would be perfect, ROFL!

In all seriousness this illustrates an oft-overlooked issue, yes the USA falls short on covering everyone, but our medical capability and technology trumps most other nations' combined.

For instance, Canada has one EKG machine in the whole nation. We have 8 in California alone. I don't want to pick on Canada alone, other developed nations suffer medical capability shortfalls as well. his is also why most third-world hard-cases such as siamese twin separation are done here and not elsewhere.

Is anyone reasonable really surprised?

 

snakestretcher

Berners-Lee did not invent the world wide web, even he will tell you this, I've already educated you on this snake, you are now simply choosing willful ignorance, but let me enlighten others who perhaps can or will read, you can see it was clearly Americans who did it. If you have a better source that supports you claim, I would love to review it:

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001016.htm

Honestly, it is so off-putting when you try and co=--opt our ideas as your own. Then again,, that is the socialist mind: Our fruits from your labor".

The very fact that you made this statement demonstrates your iignmorance of the US space program and what benefits it has yielded. Anywhay, as you say, "so what" except that many consider it mankinds greatest acheivement to date.

Maybe it is more of the classic envy that seems to permeate your tragically European sensibilities.

Boy even simple and well-accepted historical realites escape you Snake. Did you even pass world history class? if so I wonder how. Go back and read up on the cold war, the arms race, the economic race, the USSR in afghanistan, and the star wars ruse to understand how it went down my friend, I just want you to be properly informed so you don't go making this statement sometime when it really matters. It is sad of all thngs to see a Brit with this attitude, you should know better.

Yes, I have in fact heard of Greece. Did they have a constitution? Could you show it to me please, because I Googled it and do you know what? There does not seem to be one. You know Snake, a "Constitution" is sort of important in "Constuitutional Democracy". Seriously do you read your own posts before you submit them? Now I am wondering if this is you struggling with history or reading comprehension?

Well geeze thanks for that but the above I maintain are also ours.

Come on Snake I ave been over this stuff with you like 5 times now, I thinnk i even had to list patent numbers for you at one point.why do you continue to choose ignorance on purpose?

 

Your current system of social wlefare has grown to an ubiquitous, resource-inhaling monster and a far cry from what you had in 1948.

 

Of course it's different; things change-to state the obvious. And yes, the NHS is hugely wasteful of resources, is 'over-managed' by vast numbers of non-clinical managers whose only function seems to be to manage other managers. One of their salaries could pay for three nurses.
I mourn this deeply. As a former medic I know the NHS from the inside and all the elements of extremely capable professionalism in clinical care are present and, with decent management, it could become a world-class jewel in Britain's crown again.

 

I'll believe that poverty is a huge problem when I see a skinny poor person who doesn't have cable TV, internet access and a nintendo DS for every one of the kiddies. That doesn't happen in America. The poor of America have several TVs, cable, ample living space, internet, video game systems, enough food to make them obese, and never lack funds for alcohol and cigarettes.

 

This is the distilled essence of the OP.

The worst part is that many liberals and social-engineering advocates buy the idea of these folks as hapless victims, and want to redistribute the income of working people to these self-appointed liabilities so the cycle of institutionalized poverty and willful futility may continue.

It doesn't help anyone (especially the ward), and it hurts everyone.

 

Why is it that most alleged conservatives don't seem to be able to distinguish social welfare spending from defense spending. As social welfare spending, a warfare-state economy is much less conducive to providing for the general welfare and common defense than is a welfare-state economy.

 

I am not sure what your point is; no one is claiming that poverty in a more developed economy is not relative.

 

Just cause you have crap doesn't mean you don't have trouble paying bills/making ends meet. The nation is consumerist of course even the least among us have junk.

 

Still distorting the definition of poverty I see.

 

Then

It is to bad "mleoning" did not maintain the courage of his convictions
For INDEED "Dan40's" clam that America has not Traditions is an Egregously Ignorant claim

.

We can always tell when “Dan40" is in trouble –
Out comes the dictionary & down goes a partial & therefore skewed definition
He IGNORANTLY uses only that portion of the definition that suits his purpose

He claims not to be an “American hating azzhole” & then tells us that America has NO Tradition

Let us look at a more complete defintion of this word "Tradition"
---------------------------------------
tra·di·tion (tr-dshn)n.
1. The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication.
2. An inherited, established or customary pattern of thought, action or behaviors
3. Cultural continuity in social attitudes and institutions
4. characteristic manner, method, style
---------------------------------------


That all men are created equal – That all have the right to life & the pursuit of happiness,
That all have the right to property – That all have equality before the Law
That The United States offers Liberty, Freedom & Justice all its citizens
That we enjoy Freedom of Speach & Assembly & the right to bare Arms

& that we have enshrined these egalitarian Rights & Freedoms in our Constitution


These and many more are OUR American Traditions –
They are in fact the very the cornerstones of American Democracy

INDEED - AMERICA IS BUILT UPON & DEPENDS UPON THESE TRADITIONS

& though these Traditions are now be under serious attack,
as vested Corporate interests Co-Opt our Government
they are still and hopefully will remain American Traditions


To be nescient of these Facts
And to the make the ugly spurious claim that “Tradition doesn’t even exist in the US ..”
Is to nakedly display an egregious Anti American IGNORANCE that goes beyond the Pale

Now that you have been informed of the full & unbridled definition of the word ‘Tradition’
We expect that you will NOT again mistake Tradition for being merely the passing down of a social myth


For to do so would clearly define one , as an "American hating azzhole"



..

 

poverty [ˈpɒvətɪ]
n
1. the condition of being without adequate food, money, etc.
2. scarcity or dearth

HOW DOES A HOUSE, A CAR, 2 TV'S, CELL PHONES, OVERnourished kids, AND TOMMY HILFIGER CLOTHES fit into scarcity or dearth

 

And who do you think, pulled the strings of that puppet,
to have the provisions of NAFTA passed into Law ?

The same NAFTA you say that you Hate –
The same NAFTA that creates Poverty & Deprivation
It was not the Poverty Stricken that you here Spit Upon
that sought to have this treaty passed

You blame Clinton and seem to want
to make it a Parochial Issue out of it
Nothing could be further from the Truth -

As long as they have:
Conservatives hating Liberals
Democraps hating Repugnantcans

They will have you Duped & Divided
playing a Shell Game fit for Stupid Sheep

Time to WISE UP Brother !
& take back our Government from
the Greedy Parasites that have
............................. Co-Opted it


Bush Strengthens His Support for NAFTA
http://www.theeagle.com/nation/Bush-strengthens-his-support-for-NAFTA-

Bush Praises Nafta at Summit Meeting in Canada
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/world/americas/21iht-prexy.4.7199836.html






.

 

Tell that to late-1930's Poland and Czecheslovakia.

Defense spending provides for the general welfare of the population in the form of national security and as a mechanism of economic stability.

 

What a pathetic attempt to excuse responsibility for our choices.

Consumerist or not, you have to spend money on prirorites and needs. Wants come 2nd. We were taught this in 4th freaking grade.

 

Perhaps you could suggest a definition we could agree on?

 

We can always tell when "Dan40" is in trouble

A person admittedly IGNORANT of American egalitarian Tradition
Out comes the dictionary and Out spills a Ridiculous pronouncement

We have definitely shown the statistics you rely upon
..................... As BOGUS & grossly out of Date –

Just more babble from a Talking Head..

Let him live on minimum wage and see if indeed Poverty does not exist in America


.

 

It becomes hard not to INSULT such IGNORANCE

He seems entirely IGNORANT of his own Moral & Intellectual Poverty

 

That is very doubtful since it is obvious some here believe they can compare one society to another to distinguish a likewise poverty levels.
　
　
Poverty simply means poor and/or destitute (not necessarily both). Lacking in wealth or the ability to obtain wealth. A state of one who lacks the usual or socially acceptable amount of money, or material possessions.
　
　
It is dishonest to compare one society with another and proclaim they are or should be compared the same. If their economy is different so is everything else. But intellectual dishonesty is what keeps this forum so busy, and this thread is of no exception since the entire premise is intellectually dishonest from the beginning.
　
　

 

"Poverty simply means poor and/or destitute (not necessarily both). Lacking in wealth or the ability to obtain wealth. A state of one who lacks the usual or socially acceptable amount of money, or material possessions."

I passed the million dollar net worth mark over 30 years ago. I still don't have an ACCEPTABLE amount of money, or material possessions. Have the government send me some 7 figure checks. That might put me over the hump, but I doubt it.

POVERTY in the USA is described thus:

Persons in
Family Unit 48 Contiguous States
and D.C----- Alaska --- Hawaii
1 $10,890 $13,600 $12,540
2 $14,710 $18,380 $16,930
3 $18,530 $23,160 $21,320
4 $22,350 $27,940 $25,710
5 $26,170 $32,720 $30,100
6 $29,990 $37,500 $34,490
7 $33,810 $42,280 $38,880

An absolute arbitrary political number, having NO bearing on the person's actual condition.
　

 

All the junk mentioned throughout the thread would be worth approximately one weeks minimum wage salary if you tried to pawn it. And that's if the TVs are newish HD, and the game system is top of the food chain. Shoot if you don't ask many questions you can probably even get most of that stuff on the street at a significant reduction in cost.

If a weeks minimum wage worth of crap is really what delineates poverty from non poverty you guys really are choosing to see the world as you want and not with any conception of reality.

A parallel to this argument is America leads all nations in obese people who suffer from malnutrition. Just cause you get the calories does not mean you get the nutrients. Just cause you have a gameboy does not mean you're not poor.

 

It is akin to suggesting that since at one time before they figured out how to refine it aluminum was a precious metal, and today poor people drink sodas out of aluminum cans they must be wealthy enough to not be considered poor.

 

So because the game boy came from a burglary, they are still poor. And because they eat the wrong food. Food Stamps are NOT providing the proper nutrition and therefore should be cancelled. And because their house has but 3 bedrooms, not 4 or 5, that is proof positive they are impoverished. And not having an HD flat screen TV also means they are destitute. But they do have the HD flat screen with the home theater because it was part of the spoils of the same or one of the other burglaries.

 

Why do you assume burglary? Shoplifting and credit card fraud didn't want any of that?

If you cant afford your rent/mortgage it does not matter how many bedrooms your house has. Its the stresses of living pay check to pay check more so than the ability to unwind with some Mario Cart that makes poverty tough in America.

But whatever lets you sleep at night. Im sure the poor are living awesome great fun time (spoken in anime voice please), and even the homeless like not worrying about washing their dishes, and sweeping their floors.

 

My point was not that the poor communities are awash in hot merchandise, it was that these supposed "luxuries" are relatively cheap in relation to your expectations. A local pawn shop will get you quality merchandise at a very cheap price, and before you paint some 1970s B movie image of a pawn shops merchandise they are prone to lose any merchandise to the rightful owner at a complete loss if it is shown to be stolen.