The rich-poor divide and what to do about it

[RobinFinderson]

Robin, this entire thread was started based upon a premise that it is statistically true that the gap between the rich and poor is widening and that we should be concerned about it. The original poster shows little interest in talking about the state of the poor as much as he is interested in the gap between the rich and the poor. If that is not a symptom of rabid egalitarianism, perhaps you could enlighten me as to what is. From a public policy perspective that is where I think this redistribution of wealth argument goes awry. I don't believe the majority of the American's buy the argument that the current system does not allow for folks to improve their circumstances. I think many want higher taxes for the rich but I think their real concern is government deficits and not increased social spending. I think the majority support Liberal tax structures but also support Conservative social spending attitudes.

Concern about the rich-poor divide does not equal 'rabid egalitarianism.' Not by a long mile.

[The_Tick]

Robin,

So according to the picture you are painting...we should take the kids from these poor homes, and allow them to be adopted into middle class homes.

This would fix the problem, according to the scenario that you provided.

Good idea.

I will take two if you like. Only girls though...I have no experience raising sons.

One of mine is on scholarship, and I am hoping the other one keeps at it and ends up there also. So TW and I are perfect candidates.

Please let your neighbor know.

[RobinFinderson]

Robin,

So according to the picture you are painting...we should take the kids from these poor homes, and allow them to be adopted into middle class homes.

This would fix the problem, according to the scenario that you provided.

Good idea.

I will take two if you like. Only girls though...I have no experience raising sons.

One of mine is on scholarship, and I am hoping the other one keeps at it and ends up there also. So TW and I are perfect candidates.

Please let your neighbor know.

That is an idea. I would support a different radical solution. High-quality public boarding schools that remove children from the poverty culture long enough to develop solid academic habits.

[RobinFinderson]

Robin,

So according to the picture you are painting...we should take the kids from these poor homes, and allow them to be adopted into middle class homes.

This would fix the problem, according to the scenario that you provided.

Good idea.

I will take two if you like. Only girls though...I have no experience raising sons.

One of mine is on scholarship, and I am hoping the other one keeps at it and ends up there also. So TW and I are perfect candidates.

Please let your neighbor know.

And one other thing, Tick -- statistically speaking, you are far from being an ideal candidate for imparting the best academic habits available in our society. White middle class culture, academically speaking, is significantly inferior to Chinese/Japanese/Korean-American academic culture. Sorry, pal, but you are mediocre at best.

[creekster]

That is an idea. I would support a different radical solution. High-quality public boarding schools that remove children from the poverty culture long enough to develop solid academic habits.

Wow. So much for your supposed libertarian leanings. It's a Brave New World!

[The_Tick]

That is an idea. I would support a different radical solution. High-quality public boarding schools that remove children from the poverty culture long enough to develop solid academic habits.

Do they have to go back home? Because if they do...you are just wasting money.

[The_Tick]

And one other thing, Tick -- statistically speaking, you are far from being an ideal candidate for imparting the best academic habits available in our society. White middle class culture, academically speaking, is significantly inferior to Chinese/Japanese/Korean-American academic culture. Sorry, pal, but you are mediocre at best.

You are only 50% correct smarty pants. My wife is 100% filipina...which is Asian.

So the children would be growing up in a racially diverse home, preparing them for a racially diverse life.

BOOM!

[RobinFinderson]

Wow. So much for your supposed libertarian leanings. It's a Brave New World!

Hardly. I'm a liberal libertarian. I think we should make education an option, and not a legal requirement. In place of mandated education we should make quality education available to everybody, regardless their age. We should fill our schools with people who choose to be there. It may take some time in a person's life before they understand how education improves circumstances. When they are ready for education, we should make it available. And then we should primarily cluster students by academic preparation rather than age (though for social reasons, we should make age a secondary consideration).

It is all about choice, pal, and that is libertarian to the core.

[Goatnapper'96]

That is an idea. I would support a different radical solution. High-quality public boarding schools that remove children from the poverty culture long enough to develop solid academic habits.

Didn't you social engineers already try that with Native Americans? I know that there is still a big ol white "I" on a mountain on the east side of Brigham City.

[RobinFinderson]

You are only 50% correct smarty pants. My wife is 100% filipina...which is Asian.

So the children would be growing up in a racially diverse home, preparing them for a racially diverse life.

BOOM!

How sad. Filipinos are just marginally better off than Hmong and Laotian Asian Americans, who experience many of the same sociocultural disadvantages as poor Black and Hispanic groups. Though your individual situation might differ, statistically speaking, I feel very sorry for children who find themselves in families like yours.

[creekster]

Hardly. I'm a liberal libertarian. I think we should make education an option, and not a legal requirement. In place of mandated education we should make quality education available to everybody, regardless their age. We should fill our schools with people who choose to be there. It may take some time in a person's life before they understand how education improves circumstances. When they are ready for education, we should make it available. And then we should primarily cluster students by academic preparation rather than age (though for social reasons, we should make age a secondary consideration).

It is all about choice, pal, and that is libertarian to the core.

You want core libertarianism? Pay for your own damn public boarding schools!

[RobinFinderson]

Didn't you social engineers already try that with Native Americans? I know that there is still a big ol white "I" on a mountain on the east side of Brigham City.

There is a right way to do it that doesn't involve erasing cultural identity, but rather uses cultural identity as the foundation for academic success.

[RobinFinderson]

You want core libertarianism? Pay for your own damn public boarding schools!

I disagree. Also, I am a libertarian, and you are not, so who are you to tell me what is and isn't libertarianism?

[Goatnapper'96]

There is a right way to do it that doesn't involve erasing cultural identity, but rather uses cultural identity as the foundation for academic success.

I am sure there is. I am sure there was a right way then. It just appears to me that the track record of sexy social engineering answers are less than spectacular.

[RobinFinderson]

I am sure there is. I am sure there was a right way then. It just appears to me that the track record of sexy social engineering answers are less than spectacular.

Except for public education in general, which has been, historically speaking, a huge success.