The Poverty Debate

The NYT is reporting on a debate about poverty ignited by a Census report. But the author of the article - and the people they got comments from - totally missed the big point. There are fewer people living in poverty when you count food stamps and other government benefits. Um, isn't that the POINT of those benefits? To lift people OUT of poverty? Therefore, this study shows the SUCCESS of government programs in lifting people above the poverty line. So let's run through the conservative crowing and turn it into real thoughts.

• They assert that there aren't as many people under the poverty line because of government assistance.
• Therefore, they say, poverty isn't as bad as reported.
• So next, we should reduce the amount of assistance.

Which just goes to show how stupid these ideologues are. That assistance is exactly WHY these people aren't under the poverty line. Reduce it at all, and you automatically get more people under the poverty line. Stupid, stupid, stupid doublethink.