Blaming poverty on the mysterious influence of “culture” is a convenient excuse for doing nothing

[kpete]

Paul Ryan’s culture attack is an excuse to do nothing about poverty

It’s much easier to say that culture is ultimately to blame. But since there’s no step-by-step procedure for changing a culture, we end up not doing anything./blockquote]

BY: Eugene Robinson



Blaming poverty on the mysterious influence of “culture” is a convenient excuse for doing nothing to address the problem.

That’s the real issue with what Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said about distressed inner-city communities. Critics who accuse him of racism are missing the point. What he’s really guilty of is providing a reason for government to throw up its hands in mock helplessness.

The fundamental problem that poor people have, whether they live in decaying urban neighborhoods or depressed Appalachian valleys or small towns of the Deep South, is not enough money.

Alleviating stubborn poverty is difficult and expensive. Direct government aid — money, food stamps, Medicaid, housing assistance and the like — is not enough. Poor people need employment that offers a brighter future for themselves and their children. Which means they need job skills. Which means they need education. Which means they need good schools and safe streets.



The rest:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-paul-ryans-culture-attack-is-an-excuse-to-do-nothing-about-poverty/2014/03/24/f650fc0e-b397-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html?hpid=z2

[Alittleliberal]

1. The era of Americans all having jobs is over.

And it's never coming back. Americans don't need jobs, they need government supplied spending power. That is the only way a capitalist nation can survive in this global economy.