tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post2141349050111865482..comments2023-10-23T12:23:54.134-05:00Comments on Larry James' Urban Daily: Give the poor money!Larry Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-70493737151804448602011-01-11T13:44:47.066-06:002011-01-11T13:44:47.066-06:00I was living in Brazil when Lula was re-defining t...I was living in Brazil when Lula was re-defining the program to aid poor citizens, and was very critical of it. The Brazilian government is notorious for chronic, deep and widespread corruption, plus I figured people receiving the modest stipend would waste it. <br /><br />The results have been considerably better than I could have expected.Adam Gonnermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08975190849449996353noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-55402001816861287582011-01-07T08:03:41.074-06:002011-01-07T08:03:41.074-06:00Sorry for the delay. I was out of town at a funer...Sorry for the delay. I was out of town at a funeral yesterday.<br /><br />Chris, you miss the point of the article. First, pay is indexed to performance. Second, the impact on the entire culture is enormous. The growing gap is the problem.Larry Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06124477733714017000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-7932102867393782312011-01-06T20:40:20.060-06:002011-01-06T20:40:20.060-06:00Larry, it's difficult to have any meaningful d...Larry, it's difficult to have any meaningful dialogue when it takes so long to post responses.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10713185419474601750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-55166401416852971022011-01-06T18:59:49.773-06:002011-01-06T18:59:49.773-06:00How much money would it take to give people "...How much money would it take to give people "unfettered opportunity"? For years there has been food stamps, AId to Dependent Children, Temporary Aid to Dependent Children, Medicaid, various non-profits, food pantries, as well as individual philanthropy.<br /><br />The truth of the matter is, it is not the governments money to redistribute. it's repulsive when people who earn their money are called greedy simply because they think they should keep more of it. The real greed comes from people who want to take money they haven't earned and spend it for their own benefit. Democrats, liberals, progressives, socialists-- doesn't matter what they call themselves, they are the ones who feel entitled to money that's not theirs.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10713185419474601750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-43847181053468130322011-01-06T11:44:41.952-06:002011-01-06T11:44:41.952-06:00In a similar vain, I served on the Community Devel...In a similar vain, I served on the Community Development Commission and I jokingly said, why didn't we just walk down the street and hand out checks to people and tell them to use it to fix their homes. Granted some might waste it, but I bet not many and we would get so much for bang for the buck. One employee instead of the almost dollar of administrative costs for each dollar of grants for repair. Simple ideas never seem to make it, we have to muck them up.Lorleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10637942889958085683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9827454.post-83055168981856692772011-01-06T06:32:52.165-06:002011-01-06T06:32:52.165-06:00Yes -- and this comes from the very top in Brazil....Yes -- and this comes from the very top in Brazil. <br /><br />Here is a portion of the inaugural address from the new President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, delivered Saturday, January 1, 2011. (find the full text here:<br />http://risingpowers.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/01/03/brazil-dilma-rousseffs-inaugural-speech/)<br /><br />My Dear Brazilians,<br /> <br />My government’s most determined fight will be to eradicate extreme poverty and create opportunities for all.<br /> <br />We have seen significant social mobility during President Lula’s two terms. But poverty still exists to shame our country and prevent us from affirming ourselves fully as a developed people.<br /> <br />I will not rest while there are Brazilians who have no food on their tables, while there are desperate families on the streets, while there are poor children abandoned to their own devices. Family unity lies in food, peace and happiness. This is the dream I will pursue!<br /> <br />This is not the isolated task of one government, but a commitment to be embraced by all society. For this, I humbly ask for the support of public and private institutions, of all the parties, business entities and workers, the universities, our young people, the press and all those who wish others well.<br />------<br /><br />It takes this kind of focus, and attention...Randy Mayeuxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07312062047649700463noreply@blogger.com