Maintaining Poverty to Maintain One's Business

Published on August 17, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Politics

I have said it before and I will say it again: the reason we have poverty in this country is because it is big business, providing jobs for social workers, lawyers, help agency staff (where millions are raised in funds from rich suckers with guilty consciences and high administrative costs make the help agencies a lucrative prospect), and "trickle down" economy jobs from secondary symptoms of poverty such as crime, etc. A recent situation in the nearest reasonably sized town to us provided a tangible proof to my thesis.

Here's the scenario: the mayor of the fine community in question also happens to be the pastor of one of the largest churches. Church and state issues notwithstanding, that's how the people of the Texas Panhandle want it, and far be it from me to thwart their democratic choices. The church in question also is the most predominant in providing aid to the poor in the community. Sounds all well and good, until you realize this is quite definitely "strings attached" aid; the nonChristian need not apply (unless they want to listen to a lengthy sermon reminding them of their eternal destination...but I digress). Again, up to this point, it's all kosher...provided the money wasn't raised under false pretenses. I'm just laying a background for you at this point.

As for the political end, the community had a failed Economic Development Council that folded earlier this year, after spending over $12 million in taxpayer's money (that's money from the pockets of the same poor this man is trying to "help"...stay with me here, folks) to accomplish nothing.

So, at the helm of the newest council, the mayor is leading the way in spearheading a NEW economic development council. More tax money used for the same purpose (what Einstein once said about a fool being one who tries the same thing over and over again expecting different results apparently eludes these individuals). And the source of the tax money for this council? A proposed half cent sales tax increase!

Well, it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to see where I'm headed with this. Sales tax, as we know, is one of the most regressive forms of taxation. It hits hardest those who can least afford it, as they must spend taxes on basic necessities such as food, clothing, toiletries, and the true essentials of living. With a base state tax rate of 8%, the state has already effectively mandated that the dollars of the poor have a net value of .92 cents or less, and this council proposes to drop it even further.

You don't help the poor by taking away their hard earned money. You help the poor by providing jobs, providing opportunity, and giving them dignity. If I have to show up to the food bank to obtain food because I couldn't purchase it despite working 2, count 'em, 2, jobs, that is akin to begging, and it's a route I'd rather not travel. I'd rather retain my hard earned money to feed my family.

When this issue inevitably goes to a vote of the citizens of this fair community, I will have no vote. As a county resident, I am reliant on this economy, but I don't live in the community and so it's not an issue for me to vote on. But I WILL have a voice. And I will remind people that this is the wrong tax at the wrong time, and that with increasing fuel costs (and the almost inevitable resulting rising food costs), their money is something they should feel entitled to retain.

Comments

foreverserenity

on Aug 17, 2005

It's a darn shame! It's a shame that the only thing they see necessary is to raise the sales tax! As you said it will affect the people who can't afford it the most. And that church, I won't even start on this. But you would think that leader would practice what he preaches!

schwarzmeecrob

on Aug 19, 2005

insightful post gideon, but a bit too idealistic i might add. the reason for the existence of poverty is because people are too lazy to stop idling around and get to work. together with an influx of lazy immigrants leeching off social welfare it has turned into a black hole for tax payers' hard earned money. japan was bombed back to the stoneage after WW2 but has managed to rebuild itself from scracth. if they can do it, i don't see why americans can't make use of the already available oppotunities and resources to get somewhere. to put it simply, its not the fault of the rich, its not the fault of the government, its the fault of lazy people who are unwilling to do something to better their lives.

c.t.

ParaTed2k

on Aug 19, 2005

Just think how much less poverty we would have if the programs, organizations and "reverends" had anything at all to do with reducing poverty.

Gideon MacLeish

on Aug 20, 2005

the reason for the existence of poverty is because people are too lazy to stop idling around and get to work.

Actually, as one who has been QUITE poor, I can tell you that is a bald faced lie. It's not about laziness; many poor people work quite hard. It's about the fact that entitlements pay more than low wage work.

Make it unprofitable to receive entitlements and you'll see a quick "about face".

As a side note, though, this article isn't about those who receive entitlements; they aren't as affected by a sales tax hike (guess what? Food stamp purchases CAN'T BE TAXED; a fact I actually pointed out in the article). It's about those who ARE working...often 2 or 3 jobs (how is working 80 hours a week LAZY?) and are trying to AVOID receiving entitlements...and about a mayor with his head up his posterior region that is bent on sticking the screws to them even more.

msladydeath

on Aug 20, 2005

hey CT, i spent 3 hours pointing to statistics when you did this on your own blog, and now your doing it again. UG!

You do realize, you get rid of the poverty class, then the lower of the middle income will be the ones working the burger joint, and still not be able to buy what they need. Get a hobby, or another job, I don't care which. Oh, and just for arguments sake, unless you mean all poverty stricken people are lazy, you better work on working your statements better, since once again, it sounds like you mean all of them.

msladydeath

on Aug 21, 2005

I'm not even going to bother with that LW. It's not worth my time.

dabe

on Aug 21, 2005

I have said it before and I will say it again: the reason we have poverty in this country is because it is big business, providing jobs for social workers, .........snip.......

I completely disagree with this premise. We have poor people because, well, you cannot have everyone at the upper ends of the economic spectrum. Otherwise, there would be no spectrum, and certainly, there just isn't enough money to go around when our priorities are such things as war and corporate welfare. People become poor for various reasons - lack of education, medical crises, poor parenting, etc. Also, I would argue that these services that you list are reactionary to handling poverty, not to keep it going.

However, I completely agree with your sentiment about sales tax. It's disgusting that we have to pay the government for items that we buy. Certainly food should be exempt from taxation, which I do believe it is. I also think that shoes, clothing, some toiletries, etc. may qualify for exemptions. Some things should be taxed, I think. I'd include cigarettes, any tobacco products, for that matter, alcoholic beverages, soda, some of those kinds of items not needed, not nutritious, and downright harmful. Hmmmmm....... maybe even french fries.

I wouldn't be against taxing gasoline, if such tax was targeted for highway developments and repairs. God knows we pay enough to cover such items. I do not think such taxes should go towards developing alternative fuels, because it would be a conflict of interest, unless properly structured (whatever that means).

I am not against payroll tax, however, in that the more you earn, the bigger the percentage of tax gets levied, up to a point. That is one way to insure that poor people are not taxed disproportionately to thier incomes.

Taxes are necessary to maintain social programs, including education, health care, and salaries for politicians and government workers. Arguably, you could claim that they make too much money, but that's a different discussion.

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