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Prager U: The Way out of Poverty


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This short video notes that govt has a real role in helping people in poverty. It also states that

the goal should be moving people out of poverty and not just helping them in it.

Both conservatives and progress stress the need to help people in poverty.

However the greater need is to move people out of it.

 

https://www.prageru.com/courses/economics/there-only-one-way-out-poverty

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I don't think the ultimate goal for progressives is just helping and enabling- they too are focused on trying to lift people up and give them tools to improve their circumstances. Where has it ever been said that progressives are ok just handing out money to hand it out?

 

And why did he spend any time at all bringing up the fact that poor people today have phones, tvs, ac and etc?

 

On a side note, I do appreciate his presentation style and overall that he spent more time showing the similarities between establishment goals and actions than picking apart one side or another.

 

THEN I clicked on another ... and I found the bs gender gap pay video offensive. The fact that it and others similar hot button titles are listed right beside this one make me discredit the site entirely. Any time you take a fact and try to disprove it by saying "the feminists and celebrities people spreading this rumor" is the problem, you lose all credibility. The fact that they hired a woman to present it on video is pretty transparent.

 

EDIT- it just hit me. What I dislike about this is it's a site that provides opinions under the veiled attempt at convincing people it is fact. The "university" implies that anything presented is educational and truthful, but when you listen to content it's opinion, and the words "my research" are being presented as an overall outcome. If you go into it looking to gain some insight on why someone believes what they believe it's good, if you go for data or a fair debate or presentation of facts it's not there.

Reminds me of an educational place called "Trump University"

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I and truthful, but when you listen to content it's opinion, and the words "my research" are being presented as an overall outcome. If you go into it looking to gain some insight on why someone believes what they believe it's good, if you go for data or a fair debate or presentation of facts it's not there.

Reminds me of an educational place called "Trump University"

And why did he spend any time at all bringing up the fact that poor people today have phones, tvs, ac and etc?

 

I think he brought this up to point out, that there has been progress regardless if the overall decline is limited based on %. I think he was giving credit where credit was due.

 

University: No one should tie this site or any similar to the regular full meaning of the word: "an educational institution designed for instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning, conferring degrees in various faculties, and often embodying colleges and similar institutions."

I think it provides instruction on the topics it believes are important and those topics would be presented from a conservative perspective (not necessarily agreed to by all conservatives however). So the site would be more of a collection of conservative opinions on topics. I've only listen to a few and have not seen the ones you referred to.

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PragerU is a conservative advocacy organization. Their intent should not be surprising. Just to put it their content in context.

 

Doing nothing for the impoverished traps them there for generations.

Did you listen to the video?? The video presented the opposite - it stated that gov't did have a role and needed to help those caught in poverty. He said that is where conservatives (contrary to media hype) and progressives agree. He is approaching the subject from a much larger perspective - we need overall programs that spur job growth that will give those in poverty the opportunity to get out of poverty.

The "give me a fish for a day and I eat for the day vs teach me how to fish and I'll never go hungry" approach.

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No, I didn't watch the video and I apologize for that.

 

Frankly, what this sounds like is "Give the big corporations lots of nice fishing swag and in theory they'll make more fish for the poor." That pillar of conservative "helping poverty" I'm familiar with. But again, I think the evidence has demonstrated that all these "job-spurring" tax breaks are simply keeping income gains flowing to the very top and staying there.

 

If he's making the case for a sometimes conservative approach to poverty such as Universal Basic Income, then please do fill me in. It sounds like he's saying "give corporations tax breaks".

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Nothing was said on the video about tax breaks, corporate welfare, etc. But don't you think, providing jobs via a growing economy & educational opportunity is the best way out of poverty (while helping the person while they are still in poverty)?

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I and truthful, but when you listen to content it's opinion, and the words "my research" are being presented as an overall outcome. If you go into it looking to gain some insight on why someone believes what they believe it's good, if you go for data or a fair debate or presentation of facts it's not there.

Reminds me of an educational place called "Trump University"

And why did he spend any time at all bringing up the fact that poor people today have phones, tvs, ac and etc?

 

I think he brought this up to point out, that there has been progress regardless if the overall decline is limited based on %. I think he was giving credit where credit was due.

 

University: No one should tie this site or any similar to the regular full meaning of the word: "an educational institution designed for instruction, examination, or both, of students in many branches of advanced learning, conferring degrees in various faculties, and often embodying colleges and similar institutions."

I think it provides instruction on the topics it believes are important and those topics would be presented from a conservative perspective (not necessarily agreed to by all conservatives however). So the site would be more of a collection of conservative opinions on topics. I've only listen to a few and have not seen the ones you referred to.

 

I agree TG - I just don't have a lot of faith that the general population understands that. Whether it's laziness or just a lack of understanding the need to do research to gain insights I think there's a big gap in understanding biased sources and those that are more balanced. We've proved with this election and all the focus on "Fake News" that there is a very real issue, and I think sites like these complicate things.

 

When someone feels strongly about something, then goes to a site that presents information that aligns to it, suddenly it becomes fact. Our own president puts a lot of weight on "I heard" "I'm hearing" "A guy told me" and those around him are empowering him to continue by covering their asses at press conferences and etc by saying those are his his feeling and my favorite, Newt's banter a few months ago:

 

GINGRICH: The current view is that liberals have a whole set of statistics that theoretically may be right, but it's not where human beings are.

CAMEROTA: But what you're saying is, but hold on Mr. Speaker because you're saying liberals use these numbers, they use this sort of magic math. These are the FBI statistics. They're not a liberal organization. They're a crime-fighting organization.

GINGRICH: No, but what I said is equally true. People feel more threatened.

CAMEROTA: Feel it, yes. They feel it, but the facts don't support it.

GINGRICH: As a political candidate, I'll go with how people feel and I'll let you go with the theoriticians.

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Nothing was said on the video about tax breaks, corporate welfare, etc. But don't you think, providing jobs via a growing economy & educational opportunity is the best way out of poverty (while helping the person while they are still in poverty)?

Then what specifically does "growing the economy" and "growing educational opportunity" mean?

 

I'm assuming we're not talking about government programs to expand education access to the poor. Again, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Personally, I think a stronger social safety net, universal healthcare, and universal basic income are the ways to go.

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Nothing was said on the video about tax breaks, corporate welfare, etc. But don't you think, providing jobs via a growing economy & educational opportunity is the best way out of poverty (while helping the person while they are still in poverty)?

Then what specifically does "growing the economy" and "growing educational opportunity" mean?

 

I'm assuming we're not talking about government programs to expand education access to the poor. Again, correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Personally, I think a stronger social safety net, universal healthcare, and universal basic income are the ways to go.

 

While I agree a stronger safety net is vital and part of that is healthcare I think you have to get beyond those things including basic income (the welfare check and even minimum wage standards). In my mind, it is a two step process that involves both govt and private enterprise: (1)We have to start with education - which is a gov't function. Part of that is driving down costs for a standard 4 year college/univ but also providing greater access and promotion of non-traditional education - vo-tech, tech schools, and other trade schools. Many trade schools are private entities and several here in Oklahoma have gone out of business recently leaving students scrambling. Conservatives believe in the roll of higher education (post high school) however you define it. Oklahoma has a nationally recognized vo-tech system. So, it starts with education. (2) Then it goes to tax programs, trade deals, regulations - finding the right balance that create the maximum environment for job creation. Combine job creation - the opportunity with education and you have a pathway out of poverty and a pathway for every citizen to display their amazing talents in the market place. This builds confidence, self esteem and even greater success over time.

 

Sometime because of our partisanship we can't see the forest for the trees. The progressive emphasis tied together wt conservative emphasizes could create the idea environment if people could stop shouting over the top of each other. The progressive have a passion for what you said in bold and I appreciate that very much. The conservatives have an emphasis on creating opportunity via a more efficient govt programs that spur business development - business growth when done right should yield more jobs.

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Great video! I've been saying this for years: There shouldn't be any "free" lunch. We should have federal welfare-work programs in place to allow people to earn their benefits. Of course there would be exceptions for those who simply couldn't work--like people who are severely handicapped. The goal wouldn't necessarily be to break even on the money paid out. The goal would be to train people with employable skills, and get them used to working. I suspect many of them would aspire to bigger and better things once they got started receiving paychecks in the program. And eventually land jobs that paid higher. Everyone can contribute to society in some manner. I just think some people need a little bit of help getting started.

 

As for politics, why would it matter whether this idea came from a conservative or a liberal? It's a good idea! :lol:

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No, I'm asking what "growing the economy" and "more jobs" means if it doesn't mean corporate welfare and tax breaks at the top. That's traditionally what it has meant.

 

Just like "driving costs down for 4 year colleges" -- what does that mean? It doesn't sound like a Bernie Sanders-style government-sponsored tuition break, but if it's not, then you need to substantiate why you get to make the claim that this is the priority.

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