Please. There are no starving citizens in this neighborhood. Any savings from not having to buy breakfast and lunch for the kids go towards the cable subscription.

"Please. There are no starving citizens in this neighborhood."

Please. Quote me the line that said there were starving people. (I'll wait) If you need to exaggerate to make a point, it might not be worth making.

I'd love to help, but my fellow citizens goose-stepped to the polls and passed "Prop 30". My taxes went up $17,000/year, so I'll save that money by not giving to any California charity anymore.

People respond to incentives. There are so many poor people because the government pays people so well to make the choices and develop the mental state that keeps them poor.

The best that government can do for poor people is to administer and enforce the law efficiently and justly. If we reformed the labor market so that hiring a worker becomes simple, easy, and low risk, and then eliminated the safety net almost completely, the vast majority of people on the dole would soon become productive people standing on their own feet economically.

An economic "safety net" is a good idea, if done properly. What we have today is a bloated free ride system that teaches people exactly the wrong lessons in economic life.

Due to GWB and his cronies on Wall st and in the Big banks... during his "reign" suburban poverty exceeded urban poverty in all the major city areas of this country. The middle class was financially dessimated (intentionally) and it will take at least 2 decades to recover if indeed it ever does.
So when you think hungry kids... think close to home like next door... not in the "barrio" or "ghetto" or other approved area of poverty.
We're in big trouble people and the billionaires know it.