sjmvsfscs08 wrote: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Was that not just one anecdotal account? Isn't it thus worthless?
Lyndon Johnson's plans failed miserably. He was a Democrat, and shouldn't you know it....the same people are still poor, if not poorer. The region has always been, and always will be, poor. They live in Appalachia, it's literally a region with no future. When I watch that video I don't feel superior, I simply see a population that should GET THE FUCK OUT OF APPALACHIA. The United States is the land of opportunity, but there is no opportunity in the shithole known as Appalachia. Their living conditions are miserable, and they should be helped, but Jesus Christ you don't need to pass 10th grade to see how terrible of a situation the whole region is in.
Or maybe, you do need to pass 10th grade, because she didn't. She chose the very smart path of dropping out of high school to start a family and "live on the farm." Boy that's very bright. Statistics show (how un-anecdotal of me) teenage mothers and high school dropouts are destined for a life of poverty.
Before you continue to assume I'm some rich guy hating the poor while I sip tea and crumpets, you should probably know your enemy.
My family has been living in the same town for four generations in rural NW Ohio. My great-grandfather started a concrete company, which turned into an asphalt company in 1912. He worked his ass off managing the tiny company his entire life. He was a farmer before then, and a farmer during it too. When he wasn't on the fields he was laying asphalt for Ohio's first roads. When the great depression struck, he gave most of his farm away. He built houses in town for dirt cheap and gave land away to those who needed it. He donated land to the local high school, the local Catholic and Methodist churches, and hundreds upon hundreds of people. He used his concrete company and sons to build their houses and sold them for pennies on the dollar. If that's not helping the poor....you're the blind one.
His son graduated through the local high school and joined the Navy. Served in World War II, earned a Purple Heart, and had fourteen kids to work the small farm and company. I remember hearing about how they'd have to eat tomato skin sandwiches and such because there would be so little food available per person because they had to sell it to make ends meet. But they pressed on. Thirteen of the fourteen kids graduated from high school, all of them from private Catholic schools in Toledo. My dad graduated from Toledo St. Francis in 1962. He had to walk and hitch hike every day to school to get his education. No buses, no ride. By the time his younger brothers and sisters were entering Cardinal Stritch High School, business was better and they were able to not only send their children to school, but they paid for the migrant workers' children to go to Cardinal Stritch too. Is that not helping the poor? Jake Sanchez, a poor migrant worker who worked his entire childhood on our farm (like my aunts and uncles), had his education because of my grandparents. His determination and work ethic paid off. He went 27-1 his senior year of wrestling and EARNED a wrestling scholarship to Marshall. A few years ago he sold his computer company, which he started himself, for $36,000,000. He is now a massive benefactor of Latino scholarships. Hardwork earned him the American dream. My dad and his brothers held the national record for most Eagle Scouts from the same family, eight, for decades. I mean come on it's a fucking institution based on helping and serving others.
As for my dad, he made it through St. Francis and was able, thanks to Army ROTC, to continue his education at Xavier. After college he served two tours in Vietnam as a forward observer (one more tour than he had to). Two bronze stars and years of walking through Agent Orange later, he returned to manage the previously mentioned company. He worked fourteen-hour days to run the company and/or farm. In 2000, thanks to serving our country in Vietnam and working his entire like tirelessly, got leukemia and died three months after my tenth birthday. Selling the company and life insurance allowed for me and my four brothers and sisters to got to private school and earn an education. "Earn an education" is key, and actually learned in school unlike so many others. I was the leading scorer on the quiz bowl team with 135 points, second place was 47. I EARNED a full ride to the University of Toledo, and I earned the 50% ride Ohio State was willing to give me to transfer in. I technically currently have a 4.0 at Ohio State, which I have earned.
I don't think you have a fucking clue what hard work, or to willingness to actually earn something, is. Of course, it's much easier to point the finger at someone and say they hate the poor than to turn around and see the millions of people who live off the government with no real plan of changing that. Was I talking about Appalachia earlier? Hell no. I was referring to the poor in the cities who game the system on a consistent basis. Government housing, government food, government aid for children, government stipends. How blatantly can I put it, it's no temporary, it's a fucking lifestyle.
But don't trust me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3e41prVDv4&feature=player_embedded
You want a path out of poverty, join the military and/or open a school book.
I think it's funny Democrats will regulate the shit out of business (rightfully so to a certain extent) yet when it comes to welfare regulation is the devil. Why can't we have drug testing? Why can't we schedule mandatory tutoring so kids aren't failing school? Why can't we mandate job applications must be sent out to receive aid, so we at least know they're looking. Why don't we have a program which actually helps get people out of poverty?!
Simply put, I don't hate the poor, I hate the poor who remain poor after they're giving assistance because it's comfortable.
riciples (sic) taken from the book of Ecclesiastes,’