Comments on: Why you should care about the Illinois state budget cuts for the poor

By: Megan Cottrell

Megan Cottrell — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:35:55 +0000

But the thing is – it’s really in our own interest to do so.

Take property taxes. People are all crazy here over increasing property taxes. And they should be – the taxes they pay are bad and getting worse. Why are the taxes going up? Because tax revenue is down overall.

Unlike welfare, programs like Heartlands actually push people to get a job and move forward with their lives (sometimes welfare does this, but excuse my skepticism). They pay taxes, which means tax revenue goes up and we benefit.

But it only works if we see how these things are connected. And that’s more scope and big picture thinking than most people have time or energy for, especially when they’re having difficulty themselves.

By: dorby

dorby — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:32:20 +0000

Not necessarily, I think Americans are more altruistic and, dare I say, socialist, than most people in the world.

It’s just that we have established these social prisons and walls around the country that most people in need are separated by distance, lack of communication and stigmas. So until the demonization and dehumanization of minorities, poor and immigrants lowers, I agree that it would never change.

By: Caitlin Kelly

Caitlin Kelly — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:31:59 +0000

I suspect your pleas are falling on largely deaf ears at this point. Not that it’s right or compassionate or fair. With millions of highly-educated people out of work, losing their homes, unable to get another job, it’s harder and harder to gin up concern for those even further down the ladder.

The American way — every man and woman for himself. I doubt it will ever change.