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Is Trump turning the US into into the “world champion of extreme inequality”.

The United Nations monitor Philip Alston on poverty and human rights has issued a devastating report on the condition of America, accusing Donald Trump and the Republican leadership in Congress of attempting to turn the country into the “world champion of extreme inequality”.

Not only does he warn that the tax bill currently being rushed through Congress will hugely increase already large disparities between rich and poor, he accuses Trump and his party of consciously distorting the shape of American society in a “bid to become the most unequal society in the world”.

In his most stark message, Alston warns that the Republicans’ declared intent to slash crucial welfare programs next year in order to pay for some of the $1.5tn tax cuts could cost American lives. “The consequences for an already overstretched and inadequate system of social protection are likely to be fatal for many programs, and possibly also for those who rely upon them,” he writes.

Latest figures put the number of Americans living in poverty at 41 million – almost 13% of the population. Of those, almost half (19 million) are living in deep poverty, defined as having a total family income that is below one-half of the poverty threshold.

from The Guardian.
CountScrofula · 41-45, M
The US was already a world champion in extreme inequality. Trump is now just trying to set a world record.
I think Trump is great! I'm even beginning to like the things I don't like about him!
luckranger71 · 51-55, M
@puck61 Congrats? 👏🍻😇
@luckranger71 That's a sport! Thanks! 👍🇺🇲😄
LyricalOne · F
The man’s an absolute nightmare. I can barely watch the news anymore. Just the sound of his voice makes me want to vomit.
Jpispretti · 31-35, F
I realized something changed with programs I don't have a job right now so I can usually get tested for free but the place I go to no longer does it anymore. Idk if this because of Trump? But I also feel that me being poor I should focus more of my energy on being healthy abstaining from sex that could result in me either having a baby I can't take care of or a disease I can't afford to buy medicine for. I kind feel like all the free health programs and social services create lazy unfocused people with no priorities. And I'm poor I'm literally realising I should be putting in work instead of relying on free programs. I also should help my inner family that may not have it when I do make more money.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@Jpispretti That is one odd account you have there, tbh. I can't take this at face value.
Jpispretti · 31-35, F
@QuixoticSoul I'm just saying that if Free health services are closing down. If I'm too poor to afford health care then I need to just keep my legs clothes before I end up with a baby or with a std. Both cost
@Jpispretti Yeah, and just hope you don't get [b]sick[/b] ! Never mind about sex !!
In the United States, poverty is mostly a lifestyle choice.
@RodionRomanovitch I'm still the same person I always was, pezzza. I just don't jump of ridiculous bandwagons .
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
@RodionRomanovitch there have always been homeless. When I was young they were called hobo's. Some have been and still are war veterans, sadly. When people come to the USA without a job or money and within ten years of being here and working hard they are wealthy, it makes you wonder. Is it a choice for some?
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@nudistsueaz [quote]When people come to the USA without a job or money and within ten years of being here and working hard they are wealthy,[/quote]
Those stories - and I've observed them up close myself before, are first and foremost exceptions. Things don't - and can't work out that way for everyone, even everyone who works very very hard and lives virtuously/intelligently. Hard work is only the baseline in those examples - they also tend to involve a heaping dose of luck, or unique backgrounds (for example, a foreign PhD emigrating here with nothing has a different 10-year outlook than most), or simply extraordinary individuals. There are always some of those in every bunch.

There are a ton of factors involved in what sort of outcomes people see. Presence of exceptions doesn't mean that it's not important to take a hard look at the systems involved. Even though some people succeed against all odds, we should still figure out why those odds can be so long for people, often due to little fault of their own.
TheProphet · M
Who gives a fuck what the UN thinks about what we do.
QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M
@TheProphet In this context, UN is mostly a vehicle, and Alston was here on the invitation of the federal government. He has had an interesting and fruitful career, and is a man worth paying attention to - he also knows a few things about poverty around the world.

Really, attacking the UN doesn't do a lot in dismantling his argument.
ladycae · 100+, F
@TheProphet [b]TROLL ALERT[c=#BF0000][/c][/b]
Xuan12 · 31-35, M
He just really wants to emulate Russia.
RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M
@Xuan12 There's more truth in that than most people might realise.
patkaren1717 · 36-40, M
The U.N. is full of Shit and Worthless!
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
So there was no poor under obama,the food stamp President?😒
RodionRomanovitch · 56-60, M
@MrBrownstone The question was about extreme inequality. Food stamps are one of the most basic ways of addressing that.
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
@RodionRomanovitch Exactly. Inequality during Obama’s administration.
ladycae · 100+, F
@MrBrownstone there has always been poor mrs brownstone, it didn't start with obama and niether did food stamps. in fact obama cut the amount of food stamps allotted per person by upping the income brackets.
Bean17 · 46-50, F
Yeah that sounds about right.🙄 And if anyone should know—it’s the UN monitor of poverty and human rights!😑
Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M
I don't know, NK how are they doing?
nudistsueaz · 61-69, F
Another lawyer's opinion.

 
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