Doctors on Welfare

All too often, when I try to have a sensible discussion with my friends and debate opponents regarding poverty in this country, they try to punt the issue to a "work harder" sort of logic. As if the issues of poverty are caused by the victims of terminally flawed economic policy. The facts, however, do not stand up to blame-shift logic. Blaming the victims will not solve the problem, or hold the responsible accountable.

It's all too easy to put out a video of an ignorant black woman with 15 kids, and make her the poster child of public assistance. But that's like saying that some Ku Klux Klan skinhead is the spokesperson for all sensible gun-owners in America.

Usually when I get into a discussion about public assistance programs, the argument goes something like this.

Opponent: People on welfare just need to get a job. 

Six: There are no jobs for 3 out of 4 Americans who apply. (Nevermind the millions who are not counted as unemployed because their insurance has expired.)

Opponent: So then they need to go back to school.

Six: Why? So we can have better educated people on food-stamps?

“People who dismiss the unemployed and dependent as ‘parasites’ fail to understand economics and parasitism. A successful parasite is one that is not recognized by its host, one that can make its host work for it without appearing as a burden. Such is the ruling class in a capitalist society.” -Professor Jason Read, University of Southern Maine

Also check out these infographics:

Breadlines and Foodstamps

Wal-Mart: Lower Prices, Higher Taxes



Also see:

Analyzing a Practical Minimum Wage

U.S. Workers Most Exploited in Developed World



-Special thanks to Captain Six of Station.6.Underground for this collaboration