Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Barstool Economics

[Todd Walke (racertod]

        Great discussion on economics.  A couple of data points.

        We've spent something like $5 trillion since the mid-60's on the 
"war on poverty" as part of Johnson's Great Society.  Have we eliminated 
poverty?  Nope.  Poverty rate in late-60's: around 14-17%.  Today:  12% and 
fluctuating between 11% and 15% between then and now.
        Not much of a return on all that money we were forced to pay in 
taxes to fund those programs.  If we had just left all that money in hands 
of our citizens, think of all the jobs that would have been created, many 
filled by those now wallowing in government-encouraged poverty.
        Source: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/histpov/hstpov2.html

        Obesity rates in the poor are high.  Among those making less than 
$25,000, 32.5% are obese.  Shouldn't the poorest among us tend to be the 
skinniest?   I'm sure in the pre-welfare days the poor were the skinniest 
as most were busting their butts working two or three jobs just to get 
along.  Today, many are sitting on their aforementioned butts watching TV 
and getting fat.
        In my job as a delivery driver, we used to deliver for The Bon 
Marche (now Macy's).  Can't tell you how many times I delivered a new TV to 
an address in the housing projects, to homes with DVD players, cell phones, 
cable TV, $100 Air Jordans, etc.
        Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-05-02-obesity-affluent_x.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080207163807.htm
http://www.frac.org/html/hunger_in_the_us/hunger&obesity.htm


Todd
Seattle,WA
'86 GTI, Red of course. (exciting racey car) 268,000 miles
'01 Golf TDI, silver.   (new work car)       184,000 miles
'87 Golf, Polar Silver. (retired work car)   654,000 miles <- Gone to a new 
home :(
http://www.pureluckdesign.com <-Ferrari & VW stuff