Subj : More Societal obligations
To   : ALL
From : BOB KLAHN
Date : Wed Feb 16 2011 14:16:26


 Another recent posting.

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 ...

 the panel focused on practical ways to combat poverty and
 discussed public policies that create a more equitable economy.

 The group agreed unanimously that any budget cuts need to avoid
 targeting those who depend on them the most.

 ...

 Obama released his 2012 federal budget on Monday. The $3.7
 trillion proposal trims or terminates more than 200 federal
 programs next year --

 ...

 The president said the plan is aimed at boosting the nation's
 economy while reducing record budget deficits.

 Monday's panel discussion included a look at the different
 forms of poverty across the nation. Valmonte and Kammer, from
 New York City and New Orleans respectively, offered their own
 distinctive experiences.

 ...

 For Kammer, who works in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama --
 some of the most impoverished states in the nation -- poverty
 has a clear racial dimension.

 In her remarks, Nissenbaum drew attention to "the other side
 of poverty" that is income inequality -- criticizing the
 enormous disparity between income gains of the top 1 percent
 versus the bottom quintile since 1979.

 "If people were paying their fair share of taxes, if income
 was divided more readily, if poor people were being paid more,
 we'd see some changes and some really important changes in
 peoples' lives," Kammer said.

 Another key theme was contesting the notion that poverty can be
 overcome individually.

 "We hear people who say individual responsibility as though
 the poor chose to be in poverty," Valmonte said. "For the
 most part, it's the structure that keeps them in poverty."




BOB KLAHN bob.klahn@sev.org   http://home.toltbbs.com/bobklahn

.... Difficile est satiram non scribere. --Juvenal Satires I 30
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