[sparky]

.
I would suppose it's a reference to people who didn't have running water plumbing ,
quite a common occurrence in the country during the first half of the 20th century

Cheap energy raise the price of labor by raising the standard of living ,
expensive energy make labor cheaper ,

[Oakley]

Considering that the Depression in the 1930's was a consequence of the Federal Reserve System and the boom bust cycle that is produced when credit is created out of thin air and loaned into existence for the benefit of the bankers, it is not only depressing to read but maddening.

The current depression has at its roots the rollover of the energy curve and again the boom bust cycle created by the faulty monetary system we have had imposed upon us by those in power. There was a reason that the US Constitution granted to Congress the power to coin money, and prohibited the States from making anything but gold and silver coins legal tender, both provisions which are violated by the Federal Reserve Act of 1913, and the lack of 100% reserve requirements for banks. When the next wave of starvation comes upon us, it will be nature trying to bring us back to the reality that we are overpopulated and relying upon both energy and monetary systems that are unstable and unsustainable.

Perhaps out of the carnage to come, the survivors will learn that government is a system of plunder and control for the benefit of those who occupy the seats of power and their friends, and that part of that plunder is the monetary system which grants to banks the privilege of creating credit money. They reap the benefits; we pay the price in interest, in inflation, and finally in collapse of the financial house of cards. I suppose this is just what happens when a significant enough portion of the population suffers sociopathy, and gains control over the remainder. Does anyone know how to construct Madame Guillotine?

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('sparky', '.')
I would suppose it's a reference to people who didn't have running water plumbing ,
quite a common occurrence in the country during the first half of the 20th century

Cheap energy raise the price of labor by raising the standard of living ,
expensive energy make labor cheaper ,

[hillsidedigger]

Keeping the poor stupid keeps them poor:

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20 ... theme-park

Ye must believe the lie in order to know the truth.

[Oakley]

Another take on what contributes to poverty:

http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnStos ... _stay_poor

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('hillsidedigger', 'K')eeping the poor stupid keeps them poor:

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20 ... theme-park

Ye must believe the lie in order to know the truth.

[copious.abundance]

"Impoverishment of the poor."

Um, am I the only one who caught the irony of that statement?

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('pstarr', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('OilFinder2', '&')quot;Impoverishment of the poor."

Um, am I the only one who caught the irony of that statement?

[Cid_Yama]

Nonsense. You are mistaking American sitcom families for reality. Where I live, in rural north Texas, these people are dirt poor. The only thing that is keeping their children fed is Food Stamps.

One man I helped, broke down and cried. Just looking at him, it was apparent he was at the end of his rope. He had children, no work, no hope for work.

My wife and I are ameliorating the suffering here where we can.

It's like the story of the man walking along the beach after a storm, throwing starfish back into the surf.

When it was pointed out to him that there were so many starfish, he couldn't possibly make a difference.

He said, "It made a difference to that one."

[Homesteader]

One difference is the "poor" in the U.S. are, for the most part, unable to fend for themselves on so many levels. No cash? big problem, no electricity? big problem, no gas in the car? big problem, no food? big problem, and so on.

The "poor" in India, Bangladesh, etc. . . are getting by largely the way they always have. No cash? never had any, no electricity? never had any, no gas? never had a car etc. . .

Also, IMO, the "poor" are not being kept stupid, they are being kept ignorant, just like everybody else.

[SeaGypsy]

Yes, that is the big point. Culturally the USA has forgotten how to deal with poverty. Pretorians point is valid. Someone said here the 99 weekers are still entitled to $130 food samps a week per adult, not sure how much for children.
So a family of 5 might pull $400 plus a week in food assistance.
This is definitely rich by Asian, African, Latin American standards.
But there the system is set up for trading by ordinary folks. People build houses from bamboo and whatever they can find and they are let live. They crowd in and pool resources; they can turn any surplus into an exchange.
Relearning this stuff will take awhile.
How long until even food stamps are not available is another question.
Generationally poor people may do better in the time being, than the ex recently deposed middle class.

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oakley', 'A')nother take on what contributes to poverty:

http://townhall.com/columnists/JohnStos ... _stay_poor

[Cid_Yama]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', ' ')Someone said here the 99 weekers are still entitled to $130 food samps a week per adult, not sure how much for children.

[SeaGypsy]

Ok Cid, appologies.
That is harsh even by Asian standards.
If you want a run down of Australian social security, I do actually know that; I was guessing and msming on the USA system.
No wonder the debt trap approach is being considered; kicking millions out with nothing at all will surely cause calamity.

[Ludi]

Even most Americans don't know how difficult, or in many cases, impossible it is to get government assistance if you don't have children, a disability, or some other compelling reason why you can't make it on your own. There's the myth of the Welfare Bum, the capable person who simply chooses not to work and gets a bunch of free stuff from the government. I'm not sure where they get this idea.

Eligibility requirements for supplemental nutrition assistance (SNAP): http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_ ... bility.htm

[PrestonSturges]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'E')ven most Americans don't know how difficult, or in many cases, impossible it is to get government assistance if you don't have children, a disability, or some other compelling reason why you can't make it on your own. There's the myth of the Welfare Bum, the capable person who simply chooses not to work and gets a bunch of free stuff from the government. I'm not sure where they get this idea.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrestonSturges', 'T')he myth of the Welfare Cadillac is right up there with the Immaculate Conception as an article of religious faith.

[sparky]

.
Vision master thanks a bunch for the stuff
here is a few others
the Royal navy bought a lot of rum for the crews , usual trouble with dishonest contractors
got them to test the stuff , the rum would be mixed with gunpowder
if it ignited it would be the proof of quality , hence " 100 degree Proof "
battle ships were rated by the number of guns they were carrying
a 90 guns ship would be a "first rate" ,
the weakest ship allowed to stand in the line of battle was the "fifth rate"

boxing would be a succession of blow , each one in turn without moving one's feet
the prize fighters would set their feet on a line in the sand
it gave the expression "to toe the line"
to "draw a line in the sand" was to issue a challenge by tracing it with one toes

An Australian one , the colony was run on Royal navy line ,
with flogging the usual punishment , the whip was the "cat of nine tails" kept in a baize bag
anyone blabbering would "let the cat out of the bag"
a man which stood the usual fifty lashes without a sound would be an "iron man"
a title of some distinction

[Ibon]

There is this term "failure deprived" that is now being used in reference to children whose parents are over controlling and try to do everything to prevent their children from experiencing failures and hardships. And how this failure deprivation is causing a lot of harm as it does not prepare children for these necessary character building experiences of suffering hardships in preparation for adulthood. So in the end many of these children become more prone to failure exactly because they were "failure deprived"

http://gmwilliams.hubpages.com/hub/Chil ... or-Failure

Is this just a problem with our children or our we as a civilization "failure deprived". We have had an extraordinary long run of growth and this raises the question if we have been "deprived" of experiences that sharpen and hone.

We all seem to be in agreement of the need of fundamental change to our use of resources, the structure of our economy, the way we govern, the ethical and moral values toward our planet etc. Solutions that tweak and optimize and make more efficient the status quo just extends this growth paradigm and further "deprive" civilization of those fundamental ground breaking inflection points where real change happens; through failures and consequences.

Understanding this failure of deprivation allows one to look at the threats to our global civilization with a new perspective. Welcoming corrections and consequences as the catalysts toward revolutionary new perspectives on our economy, our relationship to our planet, how we govern, how we prioritize the use of constraining resources.

Are we failure deprived?