If your point is that poverty in America is very different from poverty in, say, Bangladesh, of course that is true. It's obvious. Poverty is a relative concept. if you don't have the things that the majority of people in your society have, and therefore cannot participate fully in that society, you are poor. That's an approximation of a standard definition, I think, if I remember my social science classes from about 15 million years ago.
You ask about deprivations. Lack of health insurance, for one, which means that people see doctors less often than they should do and need to do, and so lack preventive care. Inability to pay for needed medications is another deprivation. Choosing between food and medication is another. I'm sure there are many more. It's called "going without," and the poor quietly learn to do this, but that doesn't mean they are not poor. --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "shempmcgurk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "feste37" <feste37@> wrote: > > > > Not really, > > > > ...then what is there to discuss? > > > > > >but I know that the way you define poverty is so far out of the > > mainstream that it has little meaning. > > > > > Well, at least I defined it. You won't and don't. > > > > > > I don't think a single social scientist or > > politician would agree with your premise that poverty has been > eliminated in > > this country. I also think that your thinking is callous and shows > indifference to > > the deprivations suffered by many in the US today. > > > What deprivations, specifically? > > > As for callousness and indifference I suggest it is you who shows > callousness to those in the world who truly suffer from genuine gut- > wrenching poverty who could benefit from implementing in their own > country the social/economic make-up of the country where poverty has > been eliminated. > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "shempmcgurk" <shempmcgurk@> > > wrote: > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "feste37" <feste37@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Shemp, are you from Texas? > > > > > > > > > > > > feste37, do you have a definition of "poverty" that you'd like > to > > > share with us? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "shempmcgurk" > <shempmcgurk@> > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, bbrigante <no_reply@> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "feste37" <feste37@> > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I can't think of a suitable retort to this since I'm > still > > > reeling > > > > > > from your stated > > > > > > > belief that in the US, the poor have just as much access > to > > > health > > > > > > care as the > > > > > > > rich. Someone who believes that will believe anything, > so > > > it's not > > > > > > much use > > > > > > > talking to them about critical thinking. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Shemp should watch more Three Stooges movies (his heroes, > > > rightly > > > > > so), > > > > > > and less Fox News, which has clearly caused brain damage. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I don't watch much news -- Fox or otherwise -- as I find it > > > depressing. > > > > > > > > > > But what's more depressing is people who can't think for > > > themselves. > > > > > Poverty -- real poverty -- has been eliminated in the USA. > This > > > is an > > > > > incredible success story and should be acknowledged. NOT to > do > > > so > > > > > does incredible damage to the real poor of the world because > if > > > those > > > > > of us living in the country where this success has taken > place > > > DENY > > > > > it, how can those that need to know of the solution (and > their > > > > > political leaders) possibly adopt this solution if we living > > > with the > > > > > solution say it isn't so? > > > > > > > > > > So, I know it's cool to be politically correct and all your > > > liberal > > > > > friends will keep you in their clique when you tow the party > > > line but > > > > > think a little of the damage you can do to the real poor of > the > > > world > > > > > before you take the stands that you do. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
