tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post6631525651136445487..comments2023-10-23T12:23:54.134-05:00Comments on Larry James' Urban Daily: Opportunity disparityLarry Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-17184161601715277852012-01-26T22:52:55.086-06:002012-01-26T22:52:55.086-06:00ex·po·nent noun
1. a person or thing that expoun...ex·po·nent noun <br />1. a person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets: an exponent of modern theory in the arts. <br />2. a person or thing that is a representative, advocate, type, or symbol of something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-60002569642137328472012-01-26T00:23:19.571-06:002012-01-26T00:23:19.571-06:00Does anyone know what an exponent is?Does anyone know what an exponent is?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-36921125671629443872012-01-25T21:29:12.422-06:002012-01-25T21:29:12.422-06:00No offense, but you are clueless about what it mea...No offense, but you are clueless about what it means to grow up in a poor, inner city neighborhood where 20% of the girls get pregnant and 50% of all students drop out. It's not about "excusing" anything. It's about having some compassion for people who grew up in difficult environments, have few (if any) positive role models, and, yes, make some bad choices. But tossing them on the trash heap is heartless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-15786491805638677362012-01-25T11:15:41.323-06:002012-01-25T11:15:41.323-06:00Anon 10:38 - Leave it to NPR to tell us something ...Anon 10:38 - Leave it to NPR to tell us something we've known for years. So, would you like to use this to excuse teenagers for not keeping their room clean and/or getting preg in HS? Once again, they will rise to the level of expectations.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-56074420987683138052012-01-25T10:38:34.539-06:002012-01-25T10:38:34.539-06:00http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?story...http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124119468&sc=emafAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-11840368191569803112012-01-24T19:59:34.074-06:002012-01-24T19:59:34.074-06:00As a matter of fact, I have spent plenty of time a...As a matter of fact, I have spent plenty of time around teenagers, but you're not one to look at the facts. Teenagers will rise to the level of expectations. You're probably one of those who would like to dispense condoms in health class versus teaching the repercussions of poor decisions. The difference between us is that you would prop up the poor through govt subsidies and I would educate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-71069457074935753582012-01-24T15:58:43.277-06:002012-01-24T15:58:43.277-06:00"The only way people will stop making very po..."The only way people will stop making very poor decisions is when the realize they will pay terrible consequences."<br /><br />You haven't spent much time around teenagers, have you? That's when many of the decisions that lead to poverty are made, according to your own advice (finish HS; don't have children before marriage).<br /><br />90% may earn over $8.50, but how much over? $10 an hour is $20,000 a year, gross, $18,000 after payroll taxes. $1,500 a month. Figure $650 for rent and $350 for utlities and transportation. Childcare for two costs at least $750 (assuming a discount for the second child). By my calculation she's already $250 underwater and hasn't put food on the table. Can you make those numbers work?<br /><br />It seems pretty clear that, in your perfect world, she is, in fact, just SOL. If that's the world you want, you have a right to say so, just admit that's what you're saying.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-16190400219299723112012-01-24T15:35:17.684-06:002012-01-24T15:35:17.684-06:00Anon 10:47 - I don't accept your scenario beca...Anon 10:47 - I don't accept your scenario because it's not based on facts. According to the US Dept of Labor (and LJ's most recent post) 90% earn over $8.50. Your make believe mother of two has a 90% opportunity to find a job that pays OVER minimum wage. You ask if she’s SOL. NO, but it’s not the gov’t responsibility to do anymore than it is already doing to enable her life. The only way people will stop making very poor decisions is when the realize they will pay terrible consequences.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-31631418671057816722012-01-24T11:18:22.320-06:002012-01-24T11:18:22.320-06:00If govt. assumes there are no implications for rem...If govt. assumes there are no implications for removing moral values from public life, then we get what we got. <br /><br />Public schools, public housing, public healthcare, public, transportation ... no one need be judged for doing foolish and immoral things. They just need to pretend there is no moral foundation for living and continue to expect the necessities of life will be granted to them. They deserve to be taken care of. <br /><br />That's why our last two generations have followed the mantra "No one can judge anyone else."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-22447908883525727772012-01-24T10:47:56.513-06:002012-01-24T10:47:56.513-06:00You're missing the point. Yes, she made bad de...You're missing the point. Yes, she made bad decisions as a teenager. Now she's got two kids and can't afford to take a minimum wage job, which is all she can get, since it would cost more in daycare than she would earn. Now she wants to do better, but how? <br /><br />The point is: it's easy to provide soundbites about poverty. Your advice might even prove true if heeded in time. But once someone has started down that road, and there's no obvious way out, what then? Is she just SOL? Her children? <br /><br />The point is there are no easy answers. Poverty is systemic and generational and harder to deal with than simply dispensing a little good advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-74926324530392254642012-01-23T18:58:23.494-06:002012-01-23T18:58:23.494-06:00Anon 10:37 - Another thing about your scenario. Y...Anon 10:37 - Another thing about your scenario. Your implying that after this 25-year-old, unemployed and unwed mother of 2 has made all of these poor decisions..."now what?" Like I/we need to do something to fix or solve her problems. SHE is the one who needs to make some changes and with those changes will come benefits of being a contributing member of society.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-55095023685387252532012-01-23T18:52:42.322-06:002012-01-23T18:52:42.322-06:00You need to read my post again. It was three thin...You need to read my post again. It was three things to keep people OUT of poverty and not relying on gov't for their lifetime. In your scenario, she made one bad decision in HS and then compounded it by obviously getting preg again. Where's dad? Why a "sketchy work history?" She doesn't want to break the cycle. She has a history of making decisions that tell me shes content to stay sucking on the gov't teet the rest of her life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-86864962775621889562012-01-23T10:37:57.236-06:002012-01-23T10:37:57.236-06:00Sounds great. Makes a lot of sense. But let'...Sounds great. Makes a lot of sense. But let's say your sitting down with a 25 year old mother of 2who dropped out of high school when she got pregnant with her first child and has a sketchy work history. That advice comes too late. Now what?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-48998564760533216732012-01-22T16:26:16.180-06:002012-01-22T16:26:16.180-06:00Three things to keep people out of poverty and not...Three things to keep people out of poverty and not relying on the government for their lifetime: 1) finish high school, 2) get a job and keep it and 3) don't have children before you get married.Marknoreply@blogger.com