NYC Cash Incentives For The Poor

[Mr. Blue]

http://gothamist.com/2007/06/19/details_on_nycs.php

The city's deputy mayor of health and human services Linda Gibbs announced some details of how the cash-incentives-to-the-poor program will work yesterday. Students (whose schools participate in the program and whose families meet the critieria) would get $25/month for at least 95% elementary school attendance and 50%/month at the high school level, $600 for each of the five Regents exams passed, $300 for taking 11 high school credits a year, $50 for getting a library card and $50 for taking the PSAT. Additionally, some families will qualify for $150/month for working 30 hours a week and $600 for every 140 hours of job training.

You just...I mean...oh fuck it's left me speechless.

[Linkster]

Blue - the only problem with all of this (and this is based only on personal observation where I live in the rural south where there is still a huge segregation that occurs) is that the government has already trained anyone that "chooses" to be poor (and I can introduce you to many that do) - who make a ton of money every month from the handouts - and laugh all the way to the casinos here in town

I do a lot of driving around old country roads (through old shanty towns that used to be slave villages for the cotton fields here) - and it never ceases to amaze me seeing the houses which are something I dont think an immigrant would choose to live in - with a brand new cadillac escalade sitting on the front lawn
I also know of many families that work for local utility companies - one person will get a clerical position to take care of the entire families health care, while the rest of the family (extended) collects anywhere from 3-10 welfare checks every period and food stamps for over 20 people at a time that they sell to the local check cashing places
BTW - just as a side note - this area is also known as the highest Tort case load area in the US - many of these towns have an orchestrated group that includes judges, juries, lawyers and complaintent groups that make millions off of drug companies on a monthly basis :)

[kres24GT]

As I understand this program will be privately funded, so I don't have a big problem with it, other than that throwing money at poor people doesn't help them, in fact, it usually hurts them. As Linkster pointed out being poor is a choice, or at the very least a learned trait. Look at all the lottery winners who are poor again in a few years. Throwing money at problems is rarely the solution, but we have been brainwashed by government to think otherwise. Proper education is the way to fix poverty, however the government likes having poor people dependent on them, so they want to keep them poor. Another conflict of interest with the government educating the people with little to no competition.

[Tommy]

how is being poor a choice ???

these people have shitty underfunded run down schools loaded with gang violence and incompentance

so of course they drop out and that leads to drugs, gangs and sex


do you really think its so easy to pull yourself out of the ghetto ???

[kres24GT]

how is being poor a choice ???

these people have shitty underfunded run down schools loaded with gang violence and incompentance

so of course they drop out and that leads to drugs, gangs and sex


do you really think its so easy to pull yourself out of the ghetto ???


Easy, no. Possible, yes. So, yes it is a choice.

[Mr. Blue]

Blue - the only problem with all of this (and this is based only on personal observation where I live in the rural south where there is still a huge segregation that occurs) is that the government has already trained anyone that "chooses" to be poor (and I can introduce you to many that do) - who make a ton of money every month from the handouts - and laugh all the way to the casinos here in town

I do a lot of driving around old country roads (through old shanty towns that used to be slave villages for the cotton fields here) - and it never ceases to amaze me seeing the houses which are something I dont think an immigrant would choose to live in - with a brand new cadillac escalade sitting on the front lawn
I also know of many families that work for local utility companies - one person will get a clerical position to take care of the entire families health care, while the rest of the family (extended) collects anywhere from 3-10 welfare checks every period and food stamps for over 20 people at a time that they sell to the local check cashing places
BTW - just as a side note - this area is also known as the highest Tort case load area in the US - many of these towns have an orchestrated group that includes judges, juries, lawyers and complaintent groups that make millions off of drug companies on a monthly basis :)

This is exactly the problem. I'm not saying that the poor shouldn't get help, but we're creating a class of people that: chooses to be poor, looks to blame everyone but themselves, and ultimate end up as a never ending burden on the system.

When I was young I worked minimum wage jobs, jobs that only Mexicans would take now, but I was never ashamed of it because it was honest wage for an honest days work. Also the money I did make I didn't squander on expensive sneakers, cellphones, or a big ass sounds system for my car (my first car had an 8 track, lol), or big shiny rims for their cars.

The thing is I learned how to be responsible with money, learned that working hard gets you ahead, and never took a government handout. I'm not sure what the hell is going on, but what happened to people having pride? What happened to men acting like men and taking care of their kids? What happened to being an adult.

Again, this is part of a bigger problem. Adults don't want to be adults anymore. Government, Organization, etc, etc...now want to pay you an allowance for being a good little boy. Do all your chores and you'll get an allowance and I may even give you a lollipop.

[Mr. Blue]

how is being poor a choice ???

these people have shitty underfunded run down schools loaded with gang violence and incompentance

so of course they drop out and that leads to drugs, gangs and sex


do you really think its so easy to pull yourself out of the ghetto ???

Let's see, I was poor, worked hard, now I'm not poor...live in a nice house on the Island...it's not easy, but it can be done. Throwing money on the problem isn't going to fix it or change the bigger fundamental problem that exists. We're creating a "I'm a victim" type society...once that cycle gets in full swing heaven help us all.

I have no problem helping the poor, but I'd rather see something like FDR set up with the WPA. Basically giving unskilled people jobs...a handout to me is disgusting, giving someone a job so they can have some pride of earning a living is completely tolerable to me...even if it cost more than giving a handout.

[kres24GT]

Let's see, I was poor, worked hard, now I'm not poor...live in a nice house on the Island...it's not easy, but it can be done. Throwing money on the problem isn't going to fix it or change the bigger fundamental problem that exists. We're creating a "I'm a victim" type society...once that cycle gets in full swing heaven help us all.

I have no problem helping the poor, but I'd rather see something like FDR set up with the WPA. Basically giving unskilled people jobs...a handout to me is disgusting, giving someone a job so they can have some pride of earning a living is completely tolerable to me...even if it cost more than giving a handout.


I didn't grow up dirt poor, but had to work very hard to make the decent living I make today. At 27 I already make more than both of my parents. I had to work some jobs I didn't want to work, I had to join the military for 8 years, and sometimes times were tight and sleep was seldom.

The politicians have succeeded in waging class warfare and creating the idea of being poor as being a "victim". If you aren't with them at throwing money at the solution, then you hate the poor and want them to starve to death.

[Mr. Blue]

The politicians have succeeded in waging class warfare and creating the idea of being poor as being a "victim". If you aren't with them at throwing money at the solution, then you hate the poor and want them to starve to death.

You've pretty much nailed it. You get called a racist, sexist, any other kind of -ist you can come up with if you're not willing to throw money at problems. It's just another step in making America a second rate power.