Ammunition for Poverty Pimps

Capitalism Magazine ^ | 10/31/05 | Walter Williams

[libertarianPA]

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's destruction of New Orleans, President Bush gave America's poverty pimps and race hustlers new ammunition. The president said, "As all of us saw on television, there is also some deep, persistent poverty in this region as well. And that poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America. We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action."

The president's espousing such a vision not only supplies ammunition to poverty pimps and race hustlers, it focuses attention away from the true connection between race and poverty.

Though I grow weary of pointing it out, let's do it again. Let's examine some numbers readily available from the Census Bureau's 2004 Current Population Survey and ask some questions. There's one segment of the black population that suffers only a 9.9 percent poverty rate, and only 13.7 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. There's another segment that suffers a 39.5 percent poverty rate, and 58.1 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. Among whites, one segment suffers a 6 percent poverty rate, and only 9.9 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. The other segment suffers a 26.4 percent poverty rate, and 52 percent of its under-5-year-olds are poor. What do you think distinguishes the high and low poverty populations among blacks?

Would you buy an explanation that it's because white people practice discrimination against one segment of the black population and not the other or one segment had a history of slavery and not the other? You'd have to be a lunatic to buy such an explanation. The only distinction between both the black and white populations is marriage -- lower poverty in married-couple families.

In 1960, only 28 percent of black females ages 15 to 44 were never married and illegitimacy among blacks was 22 percent. Today, the never-married rate is 56 percent and illegitimacy stands at 70 percent. If today's black family structure were what it was in 1960, the overall black poverty rate would be in or near single digits. The weakening of the black family structure, and its devastating consequences, have nothing to do with the history of slavery or racial discrimination.

Dr. Charles Murray, an American Enterprise Institute scholar, argues in an article titled "Rediscovering the Underclass" in the Institute's On the Issues series (October 2005) that self-destructive behavior has become the hallmark of the underclass. He says that unemployment in the underclass is not caused by the lack of jobs but by the inability to get up every morning and go to work. In 1954, the percentage of black males, age 20 to 24, not looking for work was nine percent. In 1999, it rose to 30 percent, and that was at a time when employers were beating the bushes for employees. Murray adds that "the statistical reality is that people who get into the American job market and stay there seldom remain poor unless they do something self-destructive."

I share Murray's sentiment expressed at the beginning of his article where he says, "Watching the courage of ordinary low-income people as they deal with the aftermath of Katrina and Rita, it is hard to decide which politicians are more contemptible -- Democrats who are rediscovering poverty and blaming it on George W. Bush, or Republicans who are rediscovering poverty and claiming that the government can fix it." Since President Johnson's War on Poverty, controlling for inflation, the nation has spent $9 trillion on about 80 anti-poverty programs. To put that figure in perspective, last year's U.S. GDP was $11 trillion; $9 trillion exceeds the GDP of any nation except the U.S. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita uncovered the result of the War on Poverty -- dependency and self-destructive behavior.

Guess what the president and politicians from both parties are asking the American people to do? If you said, "Enact programs that will sustain and enhance dependency," go to the head of the class.

[libertarianPA]

This is exactly what made me so friggin mad at President Bush after his Hurricane Katrina speech. Walter Williams, as always, says it more eloquently, and more facts than I can provide.

[Pigman]

Cash assistance (TANF)
SSI
Free food (TANF)
Free food (Second Harvest)
Free food (WIC)
Free or reduced housing (HUD/Section 8)
Free medical care (Medicaid)
Free dental care (Medicaid)
Free medication (Medicaid)
Free psychiatric services
Free drug and alcohol treatment
Free heat (LIHEAP-Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Free day care (or as low as 5.00 a week)
Free pre-school (Head Start)
Free school breakfast (DOA)
Free school lunch (including in the summer in major cities) (DOA)
Free home repairs (COA)
Free education (high school/GED)
Free job training (Dept. of Labor)
Free legal services (Legal Aid)
Free summer jobs (SYETP)
Free Transportation (Medical Assistance Transportation Program)
Free income tax preparation (VITA)
Free birth control (PP)

I guess this is not enough we need to do more, right?

Cradle to grave care in every aspect of life and it still is not enough!!!

[libertarianPA]

Freedom, shmeedom
Welcome to the U.S.S.R.! Oops, I mean the U.S.A!!!

[Pigman]

It makes me sick comrade. But we will further this with even more programs. GWB will come up with more programs for just to save face.

[SMARTY]

The illegitmacy/poverty equation is only valid relative to white poverty, don't you know? It's a conditional statistic.

[Pigman]

"Since President Johnson's War on Poverty, controlling for inflation, the nation has spent $9 trillion on about 80 anti-poverty programs. To put that figure in perspective, last year's U.S. GDP was $11 trillion; $9 trillion exceeds the GDP of any nation except the U.S. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita uncovered the result of the War on Poverty -- dependency and self-destructive behavior".

80 Govenment Program that have done nothing but increase the poverty rate. Nice going LBJ.

Did the media or any Dems ever denounce the Par on Poverty or claim we lost and that we should get out now.

[libertarianPA]

I disagree. I think it stands on its own regardless what the white poverty rate is.

[libertarianPA]

I don't think so. Weird. Because, comparatively speaking, we've been in Iraq a measely 2-1/2 years, and the media has already called it a quagmire.

So what is the War on Poverty I ask you? A magnificent strategic victory?

[Pigman]

It's a loss for me a long time ago and I want out. To them it is not a victory yet, it is a "virtuous struggle" to help others that never ends. It could never be a victory. If victory is declared the war ends. This is how they keep the votes beholden to them as we all know.

[MileHi]

As all of us saw on television, there is also some deep, persistent poverty in this region as well. And that poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination leftist Democrat policies and corruption, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America.

There, that's better.

[SMARTY]

So, you missed my sarcasm?

[Wiseghy]

Programs which build dependency and helplessness do not serve the poor.

All assistance programs need to be focused on empowerment, responsibility, independence and gainful participation in society.