Sunday, November 15, 2009

The future for the poor...

Recession influx takes advantage of 'welfare magnet'

The real issue in this report is not that the 62 year old man needs help but, that society will soon be unable to grant livable circumstances to any truly needy citizen. The Post unjustifiably knocks him for not accepting apartments in areas that anyone familiar with NYC would instantly recognize as extraordinarily dangerous especially to a disabled white person. If you think the amount of money he collects is over-the-top, try to live anyplace decent in the City for that amount. I think you'd be shocked. There is also plenty of blame to go around for the efficiency of NYC government service agencies.
But, what is going to spell disaster for all of us and especially the poor is the elite mindset that economic growth is harmful. Without economic growth and freedom there will be not enough to provide for the truly needy. Taxing the rich, or in Obama-speak wealth distribution, is no answer. Wealth redistribution can only go on for so long before demographics catch up with the program. The only way throughout history that whole populations have been able to provide more for the society is through economic growth. When you discourage growth through either confiscatory taxes, hoaxes such as global warming or demonizing producers you kill the engine of growth.
What happens to NYC when the number of needy outstrip the ability of the government to provide services? Will NYC become Detroit? What if the 40,000 families in NYC that pay the bulk of the taxes say no mas? What if the eco-nutters say that NYC produces too much pollution?
I've always contended that social planners are actually short sighted. They will always use seed corn to solve a problem without regard for the future.

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