Well, since it is a fact then you should have no problem whatsoever citing the portion of the United States Constitution that dictates that.

And private charity absolutely does work. If it didn't, groups like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army wouldn't still be up and kicking as strong as ever well over 100 years after their founding.

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

You are talking about a place where consumers buy things from donations. I am talking about government programs. If private charity worked, we wouldn't have the need for welfare.

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

What are you talking about man? The government took it upon themselves (thanks to FDR) to provide welfare.

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

Actually, the modern day welfare state was created by Lyndon Johnson (unless you are considering Social Security welfare).

You're also contradicting yourself again. You said it was a fact that it is the government's responsibility to take care of the poor. Now you said they took it upon themselves to do it, implying there is no factual or legal obligation. Just because the govt took it upon themselves to do it doesn't mean it is Constitutional or their responsibility.

Regarding charities, the Red Cross provides many free services and there are tons of other charities out there all privately funded and other groups like churches and community associations that do the same.

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

And if we ignore for a second its failure, why do you feel that in theory it would improve the economy by rewarding failure/incompetence and punishing success?

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If a neocon whines about big government wealth redistribution, just ask him what he thinks about the portion of that big government that sends aid to Israel.

Poverty is not good for the economy because the less people earn, the less they are able to buy. Plus, it can possibly bring on serious problems like sickness and disease, provided we yank the welfare carpet out from under them and they become homeless. Would you prefer homeless or welfare recipients in your neighborhood?

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

What contradiction? Again? Huh? I told you that it was the government's responsibility because they took it upon themselves to create welfare. Do you expect them to just abandon it? You don't buy a car and then neglect it because you don't feel responisible to take care of it. Because if you don't it'll eventually start having problems and shit the bed.

Like I said before, there are charities, but it doen't help enough. Again, this is why welfare was created. Have companies raise minimum wage and that'll lessen the burden off you.

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

So your solution is to make them earn even less by rewarding the fact that they are poor/unsuccessful?I wouldn't prefer either, but if I had to choose, I would choose the scenario where at least I am not paying to reward their failure.

__________________
If a neocon whines about big government wealth redistribution, just ask him what he thinks about the portion of that big government that sends aid to Israel.

This is the very ignorance that does more harm than good.

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

Can you point out where my logic is faulty? Namely, explain why you think people would be discouraged from being poor and unsuccessful if the government paid them to be it.

__________________
If a neocon whines about big government wealth redistribution, just ask him what he thinks about the portion of that big government that sends aid to Israel.

Okay, at this point... you aren't even making sense. Sorry.

__________________
Power is not a means, it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the dictatorship. The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.

- George Orwell, 1984

If that is what you believe, then you clearly have no concept of economics. I am going to explain something to you straight out of ECON 101. Businesses don't pay taxes and they don't pay for any excess burdens put on them. Every cost they incur is paid by you and me in the retail price.

If you want to have a higher minimum wage, be prepared to pay more for everything you buy: food, clothing, other groceries, even automobiles. Businesses will simply raise their prices to cover the cost of having to pay employees more and/or some will lay off employees putting them out of work. That is how it has always worked and will continue to work.

If it's just as simple as raising the minimum wage as you suggest, why don't we just make it $20 an hour?

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

The amount of people that live in poverty in this country are less than one tenth of one percent, and those are mainly the homeless, most of whom are homeless because they have mental disorders.

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

We have four year olds trying to support themselves?

But, for the sake of argument that your overly stupid example were to be true, I already covered extraneous circumstances.

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

And drug addiction