To Our Readers
MOST opinion polling and scientific research seems to spend lots of time and money to belabor the obvious and confirm what we knew all along. We agree about poverty,
but not how to fix itI remember an employee attitude survey done by a newspaper where I once worked. It showed everybody at the paper -- from part-time clerk to publisher --agreed the paper printed too many dull, boring stories.
It also showed everybody from the top down agreed what made stories interesting to read. This begged the question: Who the heck was putting all that boring stuff in the paper?
This week, National Public Radio, Harvard and the Kaiser Foundation released a survey on public attitudes toward poverty.
It showed that people below the poverty line -- $17,029 -- and those with incomes above double that amount -- $34,058 -- share many beliefs about poverty.
Both groups agree the welfare system is partly at fault, that poor people lack motivation and that root causes of poverty include declining moral values and poor quality public education.
The poor, however, place more blame on drug abuse, medical bills, low pay, single-parent families and the shortage of jobs than do better-off Americans.
Only 50 percent of the poor say jobs are available, while 72 percent of the well-off say there is work for those who want it.
By a narrow margin of 48 to 44 percent, richer Americans feel it's now easier to work one's way out of poverty than 10 years ago; 62 percent of those below the poverty line say it's harder.
Race, education and gender are poverty's key predictors. Non-whites make up 49 percent of the poor but only 22 of the well-off. Of those below the poverty line, 74 percent have a high school diploma or less. Females make up 62 percent of the poor, but 50 percent of the well-off.
Health is another major difference between the poor and the rest of us. Of those below the poverty line, 47 percent surveyed said their health was fair or poor. Only 14 percent of those with incomes over $34,058 agreed.
How do we fix it? Of the poor, two-thirds say government could end poverty if it was just willing to spend what it takes, but 54 percent of the well-off disagree.
Since 67 percent of the poor are registered voters compared to 82 percent of the well-off, it won't happen, but we knew that.
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 529-4748, fax to 529-4750, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.