X-Message-Number: 28102
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:30:54 -0600
From: "Anthony ." <>
Subject: Re:
References: <>

> From: 
> Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2006 11:43:51 EDT
> Subject: The poor are not with us.

>As repeatedly noted, the rich for all practical
purposes
only "hoard" their powers or privileges in running their companies  through
ownership of shares. Power is also "hoarded" by legislators, regulators,
> unions, trade associations, voters, lobbyists, managements, consultants,

You're quite right. Do you see this concentration of power as problematic?

> boycotters, protesters, rabble-rousers, charities, churches, teachers,
> professors,
> administrators, journalists, self-proclaimed victims, and just about  anybody
> else who sees an opportunity.

Do these people have more power and resources than the richest 200 or
G8 nations?

> Second, the poor in America are countably not in a dying trend,

Then explain the increasing rich-poor gap.

> As for poor people in America today--essentially there aren't any.

Only if you redefine poor so that the word becomes meaningless.

> even the "poor"  mostly

> have shelter, indoor plumbing, central heating, color television, and  access 
to
> hospital emergency rooms.

If there aren't any poor, would you then happily live with the basics
you describe?

There are many people living in the US without access to any of these
things. They are homeless or live in mountainous rural areas, like the
Appalachians. Hurricane Katrina added more people to this list of
poor. They are with us, even if we try to make them invisible by
sleight of mind.

Emergency rooms put the poor is debt. They cannot afford to pay for their care.

>They are also frequently overweight

This is due to buying cheap food. Poor people have poor diets. This
doesn't mean they end up skinny. You should know this.

>and  buy (or
> sometimes steal) more expensive shoes than I would ever consider.

Read my comments about artifical desire.

> some well
> educated, English-speaking executives there seriously believed that most
> Americans
> live in mansions!

This is the American Dream turned global myth. Many Americans still
believe it though, and they say things like "no Americans are poor" as
a result.

>  One might snidely
> suggest that "education" is the answer--

I suggested it sincerely, but I did not offer a program. How foolish
of me to start a debate like this without having worked absolutely
everything out! I am a failure as a one man government.

> educate them to elevate spiritual values

> and follow Gandhi or Mother Theresa. Perhaps Anthony would feel it appropriate
>  to suggest to all Americans living above the subsistence level to give the
> rest  to the world's poorest.

Thanks for at least giving me the benefit of the doubt.

> High-minded redistribution of wealth--even if the
>  ultimate outcome would be that everyone becomes and remains poor.

Perhaps you are right. At least we agree on one vague issue - that
power is problematic and subject to massive imbalances. I hope it has
been worth discussion.

Anthony

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