The Invisible Hand

This blogpost is in response to the issue discused in the article Bumper-sticker policy no way to fight poverty.

In my opinion the author of the editorial seems to have a good grasp of reality. The historical context of his argument also increased the persuasiveness of his argument. I believe his intended audience is primarily those who are probably not in poverty or suffering financially but anyone in the position to do anything about the topic of his editorial which is how poverty in Austin is increasing and has become a major issue.

He is imploring the policy makers to re-think how they are dealing with the issue of poverty in the area, not just give it "lip service". The Evidence he presents is very strong in making his case that something needs to be done. Just the fact that Austin has more people living in poverty than anywhere else in Texas is outrageous. His logic behind the claim is also sound he does not say that we will be able to completely eradicate poverty. He concedes that is very likely never going to happen entirely. He simply argues for a more proactive approach to the growing problem in our city, state and country as a whole…. My thoughts on the subject follow.

Upon reading this editorial I could not feel it rings more true. I am not at all shocked at the level of poverty in the area; I have never lived anywhere where the gap between the rich and poor is as visible as it is here in Austin. There can literally be a homeless person pan-handling outside the gate to a multi-million estate.

It just seems un-real to me. The statistic about how it actually cost a family of 4 around $56,000 a year to live in the area when adjusted for inflation seems to be a whole lot closer to accurate than what the government would lead you to believe. They say $22,000 for a family of 4 is the poverty line, this is nearly outrageous, this amount may have been adequate in 1980 but I am certain it is no longer able to take care of a family of four. It does not take a math major to tell you if milk is $4.00 a gallon and gas is $3.50 that most of what people working a minimum wage job make goes directly to food and transportation, now factor in a place to live and God forbid and emergency health issue or the family auto breaking down and you have real destitution on your hands.

It is this very reason many people find themselves out on the street, they are struggling each and every day just to put hand to mouth and then when something unexpected happens they are completely helpless. If you happen to be one of the people living hands to mouth (I am most of the time) it does not take much to figure out that our society could really care less about you. Most of the “charitable institutions” are much more concerned with feeding the hungry in Africa than looking out their own windows and seeing that there are millions of starving people right here in the “Good ol' U.S.A”.

I just feel that those people in society who are in a financially secure position should be much more willing to spread the wealth. This is not my original thought either, there is a man named Adam Smith who just so happens to be the founder of modern Economics and he had a little theory called "the invisible hand of wealth" it says basically that people having great wealth is good for society because it acts as an "invisible hand" to help the less fortunate. Well all I have to say is I think the hand is not just invisible it is becoming non-existent. If those who have all the money are un-willing to spend it to create good paying jobs or education scholarships then they should not have it at all. Greed is an evil which has corrupted the very fabric of our nation and it must be locked up and thrown back in its cage.