[Superman]

I think I understand, Len. I think we're all just waiting for your illustrative description of a "plan" that would outperform the current system you are criticizing. As I mentioned above, I will agree that changes....improvements....are in order. More sustainability. Less de-motivation. More hope. Permanent fixes, rather than these suboptimal band-aids. But the trouble you're going to run into is that when you design your various systems to address these various poverty problems (it's not a single, monochromatic, cookie-cutter, stereotype problem.......it's a multi-faceted, complex problem, as folks have begun to describe in this thread), those systems are going to be more complex, and more expensive, than Section 8 or Food Stamp programs. What you're about to suggest (you'd better, otherwise you're jsut whining, and you won't even get yoru point across), is precisely what we liberals would REALLY like to do with the proverty problem, but cannot because your politicians are ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS campaigning on the platform of reducing taxes and cutting gubmint programs.