As U.S. Inequality Widens, Cornel West and Tavis Smiley Launch Poverty Tour 2.0

[limpyhobbler]

Last edited Fri Sep 14, 2012, 12:16 AM - Edit history (1)

New government data shows economic inequality continued to widen in the United States last year. The Census Bureau reports the wealthiest Americans increased their share of total wealth by 4.9 percent, while the median income reached its lowest level since 1995. Some 46.2 million Americans were classified as living in poverty. We’re joined by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, who are attempting to start a national dialogue with their new Poverty Tour 2.0, visiting four battleground states: Ohio, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Florida. West is a professor at the Union Theological Seminary and prolific author. Smiley is an award-winning TV and radio broadcaster who hosts the PBS TV show, "Tavis Smiley". Together they are co-authors of the book, "The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto." [includes rush transcript]

http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/13/as_us_inequality_widens_scholar_cornel

[Dustin DeWinde]

1. West and Smiley are morons

Where was their outrage when Bush was enacting the policies that exacerbated income inequality? These attention seeking miscreants are largely ignored in the black community because their motives are murky at best. Shedding light on the plight of the poor is a wonderful thing, but since Messrs West and smiley were so deafeningly silent as the previous administration gutted the middle class and cast millions into poverty, I'm not buying their newfound compassion. Perhaps they think Romney would somehow be more concerned with the condition of the poor and the middle class. I do not.

[limpyhobbler]

2. Dumb post.

I think you are attacking their intelligence, character and motives because they dared to critique the government policies on poverty and inequality. You don't have a cogent response to what they actually said, so you're going for a smear job.

These guys have been talking about poverty and inequality straight through the Bush years until now. Dr. West for even longer than that. Some of us don't change what we believe every week based on the currently approved party-line script.

If you want to question people's motives, why don't you start by questioning the movitves of the politicians who promise one thing but do another.

From your wisecrack about "perhaps they think romney would be better", it's clear that you did not bother to listen or read the interview before starting your shit slinging and insults.

It seems like you don't really understand what either of these two guys are getting at, or where they are coming from. I think you attack their intelligence and character because they are doing something a little different that just parroting corporate talking points. Somebody has to speak out about these issues. They speak for millions of people.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. Thank you. nt

[Dustin DeWinde]

12. even dumber response

you obviously have your pre conceived ideas of who does and does not speak for the 'little people' truth be damned. West and Smiley speak for no one but themselves. you are simply more comfortable thinking that they represent 'those people.' well as one of 'those people' i am telling you you are wrong. when west and smiley disparage Obama and thus wittingly or otherwise aid romney, reasonable people will qeustion their motives. And we are quite familiar with folks like you who feel we should just keep silent and let you tell us who speaks and does not speak for us. get a grip fella. your emotional profanity laced tirade makes me question not only your motives but your sanity.
west and smiley do not claim to speak for you, and i dont appreciate your telling me that they speak for mea. they do not. as for not understanding, lol i am quite sure that you think you understand my interests better than i do. i assure you, you do not.

[limpyhobbler]

13. That's probably the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Do you have any comment on the subject of the interview instead of just character smears?

Is the issue of wealth inequality discussed enough in mainstream Democrat vs. Republican politics?
That is the topic.

Do the Democrats even see unequal wealth distribution as a problem?

Wealth inequality (poverty) is an issue that needs to be addressed in the political debate, beyond just calls for "equal opportunity" and calls for everybody to "get educated".

We urgently need a serious policy program to address this issue. And we are not going to get it by shutting up.

I question your motives. It seems your real motive is to silence any discussion of wealth inequality in America by defaming the character and intelligence of the people speaking, such as by calling Tavis Smiley and Cornel West "morons".

What profanity are you talking about? Are you talking about the word "shit"? As in "shit slinging"? I don't consider that profane.

But I do consider it profane that the four McCain vs. Obama presidential debates happened without one question or mention about the subjects of poverty and wealth inequality.

[cash__whatiwant]

15. so no one of stature should talk about the record gap

as long as Obama is in office and may help Romney? Really?

[midnight]

3. Poverty should not be the new norm. Congress needs to follow the law and in act the full employment

law...

[dotymed]

4. A guaranteed living wage and paid vacations like our European

counterparts must be a condition of employment IMO. We are not slaves.

[limpyhobbler]

7. Those kinds of ideas should at least be mentioned in the political debate.

Instead of being pushed completely out of the process. It's hard to believe the American people wouldn't be interested in hearing about these kinds of ideas.

[midnight]

8. Damn right we are not slaves.... and a guaranteed living wage and paid vacation is necessary

first steps for the security of a country and it's people..

[dotymed]

9. 2 1/2 years ago, i moved back to TN where my mother lives and is in bad health.

I moved here from the IN/OH border area, not far. I had to medically retire from the Carpenters Union. I made a living wage, benefits and my retirement was a part of my pre-take home package.
Here, most people think that I am some kind of lottery winner. I worked harder as a Union carpenter than I ever did in my 13 years as a non-Union carpenter. I earned a living wage and raised 4 children in a small community, which meant long commutes and occasional out-of-state jobs.
Does any state provide dental care as part of their Medicaid/Medicare benefits? Most of these people would be happy just getting their teeth fixed or being able to see a Dr.
AMAZINGLY, most of them prefer rmoney to Obama. Yes, it usually has to with skin color but not always. While there are no candidates mentioning poverty or good paying jobs for the masses, most of these people don't think that they deserve them. Those are for the lucky few.
I get so disgusted. My bad teeth friends think I am rich and lazy, but that is the same thing that they think about their bosses who constantly demean them and 1099 them every year....They think that is how it is supposed to be. Either that or join the Army....

[limpyhobbler]

11. Hey you made a great observation there.

About how a lot of the poorer people vote for Republicans. Racism and homophobia are issues with that. But I would think if the Democrats carried a stronger economic populist message they could cut around those more hateful instincts and win over the votes of more low income white people. And also change some hearts in the process. As it stands now, people think poverty is just a fact of life and they don't deserve any better. Sadly no major political party really carries a message about ending poverty. Politicians just keep repeating that everybody deserves an opportunity. I'm thinking, ok but what if my opportunity fails? What about all the people who don't luck out?

[awoke_in_2003]

6. K & R...

First time I was ever the 5th rec.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

10. They never finished the last one

They had a bunch of cities listed on their map (including my hometown) and they never bothered to schedule actual dates at the last few.