5 Comments
User's avatar
Dionne Dumitru's avatar

Throwing money at poverty is the perfect solution to the problem. Poor people with money spend it; it’s generative for the entire economy. Micro-finance in poor areas around the world, especially when the money is given to mothers, creates wealth, industry, and better heath and education outcomes.

But facts are immaterial. With these guys, it’s always deflection. The situation IS a moral failure, just not of people who happen to be poor. Christian nationalists worship a man who demanded extreme charity without judgement. This is their justification.

Expand full comment
Robert Spottswood, M.A.'s avatar

Every UBI (Universal Basic Income) experiment I have read about was an overwhelming success, because of what Dionne posted here in Comments. It gets spent earnestly, and enriches the local economy in the process.

Imagine if that were endorsed and financed by even 5% of the billionaire class.

I'm calling every billionaire I know....

Similarly, what if reparations for centuries of slavery were finally endorsed by 90% of White folks, ending our legacy of racism as a national pastime.

We're down for that.

Expand full comment
DR Darke's avatar

Yes, all of what you said.

And thank you for putting Reagan's picture up, since he STARTED the latest round of this shit. I am so fucking sick of "Saint Ronnie"....

Expand full comment
Matt Everett's avatar

The spiteful wealthy hold two thoughts without realizing that they contradict each other: 1) I have very special qualities which have enabled me to be rich and successful; and 2) anyone could accomplish what I have, they just need to stop being lazy.

Expand full comment
David Perlmutter's avatar

The fact that people are in poverty-stricken situations is not their fault unless they were formerly rich people who spent themselves into the gutter without understanding the consequences. In Black "ghetto" neighborhoods in particular poverty is an inherited social and financial condition as much as it is being in dire straits.

Expand full comment