Will poverty ever be history?

[billw55]

So where do you place the poor 10-year-old, unable or unwilling?

Unable, clearly. But I know you can give me a tougher case than that http://www.bridgebase.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif

[mycroft]

Really? A hundred years ago (and now, in most of the world), it was clearly unwilling...

[billw55]

Really? A hundred years ago (and now, in most of the world), it was clearly unwilling...

Presumably we are discussing ways to reduce poverty in an attempt to make the world a better place. I choose to remain consistent with that theme, so no child labor.

[Winstonm]

I am not about to suggest there is anything simplistic about poverty and motivations - I do know that I have not lived in others' shoes so cannot know how they think, feel, or react to poverty. I did. though, recently read a book titled "Gang Leader for a Day", in which a sociology PhD candidate spent 5 years or so virtually living with a gang in the Chicago projects - some of these young people had been to college or worked and then left for various reasons and returned to gang life - and gang life was not what I imagined in that intragang violence was discouraged as bad for the crack business. In fact, these gangs seemed to have more in keeping with organized crime families or Amway, as the money flows to the top few.

 

All I know is that there are people who have given up looking for work and thus are not counted in the statistics from the labor bureau - when these discouraged workers are estimated, the unemployed figures almost double from the "official" one.

 

Worldwide, many children are malnourished or starving.

 

To look on this problem as one of non-motivated louts who steal our money is a fantasy-based projection of some kind. I will leave it to others to figure out the motivations of these types.

[PassedOut]

Perhaps. But unable and unwilling are two very different situations. This is where you lose many people.

For sure! Nevertheless, we need to face up to the fact our capacity to produce goods and services relies less and less on people as workers.

 

Many jobs today are actually useless in themselves, but serve the economy solely by putting money in the pockets of folks who spend it. For years, the US has spent $8 billion apiece to build M1 tanks that were shipped directly to the desert in Nevada, joining 3,000+ other M1s rusting there. The ACA allows insurance companies to siphon off 15-20% of premiums paid to pay for completely unnecessary services. And there is a large bureaucracy dedicated to figuring out if claimants are truly unable to work or are unwilling to do so.

 

In my experience, very few people are truly lazy, but there are lots of reasons why folks might be unwilling to hold a job. It might be to spend some time raising kids or caring for a sick relative. It might be to gain the time to finish a novel, a research project, or an invention. It might be to gain education in a new area of interest. It might be to play bridge or chess or golf.

 

The thing is, folks who hold jobs unwillingly tend to be much less productive than those who enjoy what they are doing: Companies can be much more efficient without them. But companies need an expanding base of customers with money to spend. Guaranteeing a reasonable life for folks who, for some period in their lives cannot -- or prefer not -- to hold a job, would be a win-win.

[billw55]

I think you mean 8 million per tank, not billion. You could probably get an aircraft carrier for that.

 

It is a complex problem. But I think it must be acknowledged that the loss of incentive for productivity is one potential problem with freely available government support. It may not be the dominant factor, but it is there.

[blackshoe]

According to Wikipedia, the cost of an Abrams M1 MBT is "US$6.21 million (M1A2 / FY99) Estimated in 2012 as US$8.58 million (with inflation adjustment)". There are currently two Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carriers in construction, at at estimated cost of $11.3384 billion (FY14) each.

[PassedOut]

I think you mean 8 million per tank, not billion. You could probably get an aircraft carrier for that.

 

It is a complex problem. But I think it must be acknowledged that the loss of incentive for productivity is one potential problem with freely available government support. It may not be the dominant factor, but it is there.

Million, yes. :)

 

And yes, what you say is true. On the other hand, when 10% of the population can more than provide enough good and services to provide a comfortable life for everyone, what should be done with the other 90%?

[kenberg]

For sure! Nevertheless, we need to face up to the fact our capacity to produce goods and services relies less and less on people as workers.

 

Many jobs today are actually useless in themselves, but serve the economy solely by putting money in the pockets of folks who spend it. For years, the US has spent $8 billion apiece to build M1 tanks that were shipped directly to the desert in Nevada, joining 3,000+ other M1s rusting there. The ACA allows insurance companies to siphon off 15-20% of premiums paid to pay for completely unnecessary services. And there is a large bureaucracy dedicated to figuring out if claimants are truly unable to work or are unwilling to do so.

 

In my experience, very few people are truly lazy, but there are lots of reasons why folks might be unwilling to hold a job. It might be to spend some time raising kids or caring for a sick relative. It might be to gain the time to finish a novel, a research project, or an invention. It might be to gain education in a new area of interest. It might be to play bridge or chess or golf.

 

The thing is, folks who hold jobs unwillingly tend to be much less productive than those who enjoy what they are doing: Companies can be much more efficient without them. But companies need an expanding base of customers with money to spend. Guaranteeing a reasonable life for folks who, for some period in their lives cannot -- or prefer not -- to hold a job, would be a win-win.

 

 

Win-win does not really apply, because there are more than two players. If you take some money from me, money I was planning on saving rather than spending, and gave it to someone who would spend it, that would be a win for the person that you gave it to, and a win for the mercahnt that he bought something from, but it would not be a win for me.I suppose two out of three ain't bad, as they say.

 

I am not just trying to be cute here. Most of us our willing to give some assistance to those in need. But at least for me, I expect some effort on the part of the person being helped. At the personal level of assistance I can be quite effective with making my expectations clear. In a large scale social policy, such clarity is tougher but I think that those who wish to push for greater help need to address the issue of what is expected from those on the receiving end. If the answer is "nothing", then I think that the program is not apt to have wide support.

[billw55]

And yes, what you say is true. On the other hand, when 10% of the population can more than provide enough good and services to provide a comfortable life for everyone, what should be done with the other 90%?

That sounds like an exaggeration, but I can't be sure. Do you have a source?

[Winstonm]

Win-win does not really apply, because there are more than two players. If you take some money from me, money I was planning on saving rather than spending, and gave it to someone who would spend it, that would be a win for the person that you gave it to, and a win for the mercahnt that he bought something from, but it would not be a win for me.I suppose two out of three ain't bad, as they say.

 

I am not just trying to be cute here. Most of us our willing to give some assistance to those in need. But at least for me, I expect some effort on the part of the person being helped. At the personal level of assistance I can be quite effective with making my expectations clear. In a large scale social policy, such clarity is tougher but I think that those who wish to push for greater help need to address the issue of what is expected from those on the receiving end. If the answer is "nothing", then I think that the program is not apt to have wide support.

 

I think there is a substantial difference from taxing middle class and taxing wealth when comparing who feels most the missing money - hence, the idea of progressive taxation.

[Winstonm]

 

....I think it must be acknowledged that the loss of incentive for productivity is one potential problem with freely available government support. It may not be the dominant factor, but it is there.

 

Do you consider being poor a free service? What group(s) do you recognize as showing a dis-incentive to work due to free government support?

[blackshoe]

Million, yes. :)

 

And yes, what you say is true. On the other hand, when 10% of the population can more than provide enough good and services to provide a comfortable life for everyone, what should be done with the other 90%?

They should go to the beach. B-)

[PassedOut]

On the other hand, when 10% of the population can more than provide enough good and services to provide a comfortable life for everyone, what should be done with the other 90%?

That sounds like an exaggeration, but I can't be sure. Do you have a source?

I don't claim that to be the case now, but we are heading in that direction. Already many folks hold "jobs" that don't really contribute, and are often counter-productive. (It would, of course, be very helpful for the government to redirect the funds that go to make-work projects -- like unnecessary military hardware -- to infrastructure improvements.)

 

I'm simply saying that, as the need for people in the work force continues to decline and jobs disappear, we need to figure out how deal sensibly with the mismatch. In the meantime, allowing the people who don't want to work a graceful way out will open opportunities for those who do.

 

The current system of creating pretend jobs just so some lucky people can get paid should be replaced.

[PassedOut]

I am not just trying to be cute here. Most of us our willing to give some assistance to those in need. But at least for me, I expect some effort on the part of the person being helped. At the personal level of assistance I can be quite effective with making my expectations clear. In a large scale social policy, such clarity is tougher but I think that those who wish to push for greater help need to address the issue of what is expected from those on the receiving end. If the answer is "nothing", then I think that the program is not apt to have wide support.

I understand what you are saying and don't really disagree. What I'm not getting though, is your idea of what should be done when there are not enough jobs for everyone, and won't ever be.

[kenberg]

I understand what you are saying and don't really disagree. What I'm not getting though, is your idea of what should be done when there are not enough jobs for everyone, and won't ever be.

 

A very tough question. I will try to get to it. We have been on the Oregon coast walking the beaches and such, and now I am in Portland for the Math meetings. That's a way of saying I think the question deserves a serious response and I lack the time right now to give it all that it deserves. Still, I will say a bit. There is work that needs doing. There are people that need jobs. And they need to be paid decently. I am not prepared to give up on the basic structure. I see being self-supporting as almost the defining quality of being an adult. I want to see this preserved.

 

One quick story. We hire a woman to come in to do some cleaning once a week. Her husband does painting. How are they doing? They own a house, they are raising two absolutely terrific youngsters, they take vacations. The kids show every sign of being proud of their parents, as well they should be. I have hired the older kid, now 16, to do some things. For the summer of '13, I was supposed to quit mowing grass (I claim I gave the doc an extra fifty bucks to say this) so I hired the boy. I am now back doing my own mowing but we are gone now and he is taking care of it. His mother comes with him and Becky gave her a list of things to do in the house.

 

Their life is working. What are some of the features? Not college (although the kids are smart and I hope they will go). But here is a feature: The woman goes in the house while we are gone. She knows the combination on the garage door. I have not the slightest worry about this. Absolutely not the slightest. This is more valuable than a Ph.D.

 

Of course I understand that there are not enough houses so that everyone can earn a living in this way. But we hire a plumber from time to time. When a storm hit it almost brought down a tree, and we hired someone to bring in down the rest of the way before it came down on its own (it was near the house).

 

There are people that I would not allow in my yard while I watch them, let alone inside my house when I am not there. Those people are going to find it tougher to get a job, but it will not be because they lack a college degree.

 

I think that this country has work that is in need of doing. Lots of work, actually. And no, it can't all be housekeeping and tree removal. But the country is aging, and the aged will need help. We have environmental problems that need addressing. We have problems up the wazoo that need addressing. There is a shortage of jobs, true, but I don't think that there is a shortage of work that needs to be done. We need to get the alignment right, and we need to address the wages.

 

So: I think part of the problem is a lack of faith. I am speaking of faith in people. People can learn to do better. But I also think that the structure has gotten screwed up.

 

Ok, back to math. There was a very good talk on Undecidability today. More tomorrow.

 

Btw, the Oregon coast is terrific. The Pacific is frigid, the wind was intense, it was great.

[blackshoe]

On the East Coast, the Gulf Stream starts in the tropics, and runs North up the coast, bringing warm water. Clockwise flow. On the West Coast, the California Current starts in the North (cold!) and brings cold water south. Also clockwise flow. That's why the Pacific is frigid in Oregon, even at the height of summer. Sounds like you're having a great time, though, so it's all good. B-)

[barmar]

Win-win does not really apply, because there are more than two players. If you take some money from me, money I was planning on saving rather than spending, and gave it to someone who would spend it, that would be a win for the person that you gave it to, and a win for the mercahnt that he bought something from, but it would not be a win for me.I suppose two out of three ain't bad, as they say.

The win-win is because it's a win for the economy as a whole, which benefits everyone, including you. A rising tide lifts all boats.

 

For instance, even though you may not get to save that dollar, interest rates might go up, so your earnings from all the other dollars you have or will save will increase, and this could more than make up for that dollar. And as well, everyone else's savings will also grow faster due to better interest rates.

[barmar]

I don't claim that to be the case now, but we are heading in that direction. Already many folks hold "jobs" that don't really contribute, and are often counter-productive. (It would, of course, be very helpful for the government to redirect the funds that go to make-work projects -- like unnecessary military hardware -- to infrastructure improvements.)

Do you really think the military projects get funded because they're "make-work"? I think it's much more likely that they're the result of successful lobbying by the military-industrial complex, as well as a conservative legislature that continues to view a huge military force as necessary. That it also provides needed jobs is just the cherry on the top -- the threat of job losses makes it hard to defund any of these programs.

[PassedOut]

Do you really think the military projects get funded because they're "make-work"? I think it's much more likely that they're the result of successful lobbying by the military-industrial complex, as well as a conservative legislature that continues to view a huge military force as necessary. That it also provides needed jobs is just the cherry on the top -- the threat of job losses makes it hard to defund any of these programs.

I'm pointing here specifically at those projects for weapons systems that the military does not want or need, but which congress insists on funding anyway. Members of congress from both parties fight tooth and nail to preserve those jobs regardless, while refusing to acknowledge that they have simply become welfare programs for the lucky. Of course there are many other military projects that are in a larger sense unnecessary and ultimately counterproductive, but that are not specifically make-work jobs.

[PassedOut]

I see being self-supporting as almost the defining quality of being an adult. I want to see this preserved.

I admit that my reflexive reaction is to agree with this: However, some reflections give me pause. My maternal grandmother never held a paying job and Constance's mother never held one after World War II. It always seemed to me -- and still does -- that both of them were adult in every sense of the word and made valuable contributions to society in many ways.

 

All of my grandparents considered themselves very fortunate to have avoided taking the brunt of the depression, but were much influenced by it. They were keenly aware that the economy did not always provide jobs for everyone. That's not to say that the US is in depression now, but today's economy does not provide jobs for everyone either.

 

I think that this country has work that is in need of doing. Lots of work, actually. And no, it can't all be housekeeping and tree removal. But the country is aging, and the aged will need help. We have environmental problems that need addressing. We have problems up the wazoo that need addressing. There is a shortage of jobs, true, but I don't think that there is a shortage of work that needs to be done. We need to get the alignment right, and we need to address the wages.

I do agree with this, and replacing the decaying infrastructure of the US would go a long way toward addressing the job shortage problem for the time being. The economy under President Kennedy certainly gained because of President Eisenhower's massive federal highway program.

 

One wouldn't think that there would be much opposition to projects like that, but times are different. Two of my sisters live in Wisconsin, north of Madison. Wisconsin had gone through all the hoops to work with the federal government to build a high-speed rail line that would ultimately complete a connection between Chicago and Minneapolis with stops in Milwaukee and Madison. The project was approved by the US government, the funds had been allocated, and my sisters were enthusiastic about the eventual prospect of taking the train to the cities. Then a new governor, Scott Walker, took office and canceled the project.

[Winstonm]

I don't understand the mechanics, the whys of it, but it certainly seems to me that societies worldwide are breaking down from nationalism into more and more tribalism. This, it seems to me, seems to thwart any advances toward compromises or shared goals. How does one make the quite reasonable case that the U.S. does need infrastructure and can get by quite nicely without as much war-nachinery spending?

[billw55]

It is a sad situation. Our politics has reached the point where incoming officeholders seem to make it their first order of business to cancel anything the previous incumbents had done. Thus making it near impossible for long term projects or planning to get done.

[mike777]

Presumably we are discussing ways to reduce poverty in an attempt to make the world a better place. I choose to remain consistent with that theme, so no child labor.

 

I vote strongly for child labor. I certainly worked as a ten year old and I helped support the family as a child as best I could.

 

IF that means a child has very limited rights as compared to an adult, so be it.

-------------

 

To live in a universe where 10% of the world can support a nice lifestyle for the other 90% is some goal. I just wonder if there will be pushback by the 10% to be equal but more equal to the 90%.

 

I guess I still see a world where 20% of women in college are raped or sexually assaulted. A world where it is common for 8-15 year old girls are kidnapped, raped and forced into marriage and when the husband dies far too soon they are kicked out of the community. A world per NBC news where 200,000 children are sold for sex each year in the USA alone.

 

I guess I advocate for much smaller goals than a house and decent lifestyle for the 90% who don't work. In these posts a try and advocate for tinkering, for taking numerous smaller approaches towards poverty rather than one grand scheme. Smaller approaches that allow for failure and small error and which allows for those approaches being destroyed and replaced by others.

[mike777]

I don't understand the mechanics, the whys of it, but it certainly seems to me that societies worldwide are breaking down from nationalism into more and more tribalism. This, it seems to me, seems to thwart any advances toward compromises or shared goals. How does one make the quite reasonable case that the U.S. does need infrastructure and can get by quite nicely without as much war-nachinery spending?

 

We need all that expensive war machinery such as a world wide navy and world wide ranging airforce if the world wants us to be the policeman or world leader such as today in Iraq and Africa and South America.

 

ONe small example, I do not see any other countries making air drops in Iraq this morning.

 

IF we should not be able to have the infrastructure to do this, ok. If we should turn inward such as Western Europe, fair enough but making doing what we did today in Iraq is very very expensive and risky.