The Comfortably Poor and Japan

[QGator2414]

My homeland (born in Okinawa) has taken a positive step in understanding the best way to help people. I am sure people will still get plenty more than they need but...

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/01/28/national/welfare-payments-to-be-slashed-¥74-billion-to-root-out-the-comfortably-poor/#.UQdF02t5mK3

People need to be built up not made dependent.

[G8trGr8t]

no no no..we must be enablers to get more dependent before we change the rules otherwise some might resist

[JerseyGator01]

I was recently in a group discussion with Princeton U. freshman from around the world about a subject similar to this one. They felt that the American poor are quite spoiled and ungrateful based on personal observations compared to places like Seoul.

[QGator2414]

I can't give an opinion on other countries (even my homeland ;)) but Americans are not only spoiled but have a perverted definition of poverty IMO...

[wargunfan]

I can't give an opinion on other countries (even my homeland ;)) but Americans are not only spoiled but have a perverted definition of poverty IMO...

I have said before and will say again that the "poor" in America are rich by comparison to most of the world. The real poor in the third world would gladly exchange their circumstances with "poor" Americans.
Lest anyone say we should be proud of the living standard of our poorer class, we should be reminded of what we are doing to the character of millions of Americans. We have created a permanent underclass of people who have been robbed of any incentive to stand on their own two feet.
The sad truth is that our children will be supporting their children.

[QGator2414]

I have said before and will say again that the "poor" in America are rich by comparison to most of the world. The real poor in the third world would gladly exchange their circumstances with "poor" Americans.
Lest anyone say we should be proud of the living standard of our poorer class, we should be reminded of what we are doing to the character of millions of Americans. We have created a permanent underclass of people who have been robbed of any incentive to stand on their own two feet.
The sad truth is that our children will be supporting their children.

Yep!

[gatorev12]

While I absolutely agree with the point being made (reducing welfare subsidies to reduce dependency/enabling)--in fairness, a valid critique can be made that Japan is an ethnically homogeneous culture and haven't faced any of the problems associated with integrating and assimilating several generations worth of immigrants from all over the globe. It does kinda simply things in many arenas.

But, again, I would absolutely support a similar study being done here with the aim of slashing benefits to reduce dependency.