Figures Don’t Lie, But Liars Figure

A prominent recurring theme for both politicians and clerics is the constant drone of poverty protestations in America. To listen to either, one conjures up a Dickensesque mental picture of ragged children huddled in sub-zero temperatures around a pathetic fire of three lumps of coal in a bucket, munching on a piece of moldy bread. In the background is a mother dying of consumption, a dead or otherwise departed father, and the cruel icy wind blowing through a crack in the wall big enough to throw a cat through. Once the scenario is established, the solution is either “elect me” or “give, give, give.”

For the politicians, the problem is our old friend, category error. That is to attempt to find a solution in which the problem is ill, or falsely, defined. Poverty is best stated as a lack of material goods and advantages which are life-threatening. Obviously, if one lacks food, shelter or adequate medical care, life is at risk. To isolate those persons who actually endure these conditions is quite another matter. The US Government, having established an income threshold, tells us that thirty five million citizens live in poverty. Recent census figures estimate the population through July 2007 at over 301 million people. That same government has kindly given us data to quantify a profile of these supposedly destitute individuals.

98.9% own an operating refrigerator. 97.3% own a color television. 78% have a video cassette recorder or DVD. 75.6% have an air conditioner. 73.3% have a microwave. 72.8% own a car or truck. 64.7% have a clothes washer. 62.6% have cable or satellite TV. 58.6% have a stereo. 55.6% have a clothes dryer. 55.3% have 2 or more color televisions. And finally, 45.9% own their own homes with an average of 439 sq. ft. per person. That figure exceeds the average floor area per person (non-poverty) of all but three countries in the entire world, Australia 545, Norway 452, and Canada 442. For your interest, the average per person floor space in Mexico is 92 square feet and the average for non-poverty classified Americans is 721 square feet per person.

From the age of six until I was twenty-three, we had none (we did have a refrigerator six of those years) of the above luxuries. We also did not have a dishwasher, garbage disposal or multiple cars. Although I did not know it at the time, we were living in poverty well below today’s definition. I am certainly glad no one told me; I thought we were rich.

For a complete breakdown of the resources quoted in this post, you may check the references given at the end of this article by the Heritage Foundation. I am grateful to them for this compilation.

For the nutritional breakdown, go there and it will reveal some interesting facts about diet among the poor. Today’s “poverty stricken” are ten pounds heavier and 1” taller than the men who fought during WWII. The children show no signs of having malnutrition compared to their peers in other upper income ranges. If anything, they are more subject to obesity. Although a disgusting thought, one could live a long time on an exclusive diet of Big Macs and fries.

The anecdotal evidence of examples of ten percent of Americans declared in poverty is plentiful. Who among us has everything we think we need. It’s not needs which defeat the budget, it’s wants. I think I need a motor home and a bass boat. My spouse thinks we need to replace the carpeting in the entire house. We both think we need the resources to travel extensively both here and abroad. Through all of this, the biggest single problem we have in our house is where to store all the “stuff.” Understand that the US Government’s criteria for “poverty” describe our financial situation perfectly. My grandfather nailed it when he said, “a man is rich in direct proportion to the things he can do without.”

Yes, there are many who for a variety of reasons have less than others. Temporary poverty is common even at our house. Health problems, layoffs, bad lifestyle choices, and a burgeoning of single parent homes produce difficulties for even the most efficient money managers. Most of these have solutions in behavioral alteration. I would like to think that is the “change” about which the politicians rant incessantly. Unfortunately, no president has the ability to reach down and pull everyone up by the bootstraps. For any of the candidates to suggest that independence, ambition and initiative are far superior to the “nanny state” approach is considered cold, cruel and heartless.

The politicians shed crocodile tears over this issue to become elected. What about the clergy? I recently had a conversation with a lay official of a local protestant church, a wonderful man with a nagging problem. Over the holidays his congregation had set aside funds and other resources to help a needy family. His problem? They couldn’t seem to locate one. The Ozarks isn’t Wall Street. Every economic indicator for our region is at the bottom of the scale, yet he had a problem finding a prospect for their largesse.

On the first Sunday at the church I attend, we always take up an oblation offering which is in no way connected to the normal operating expenses of the church. This is directed to those in need. I must assume that since our group, although modest, manage to keep the wolf from the door that we have to find a different outlet. Given our missionary efforts abroad and among the Lamanites we obviously have a legitimate outlet.

Forty years ago, one’s congregation might reasonably expect a visit frequently from the office of the stake Bishop. The message was uniform and urged us to waste not, save more, file our statements and love the Lord. The bishop’s agent beamed because he knew we were “paid up” and he could safely sit back and enjoy the proceedings. I actually miss that intermittent nudging to remind me of the financial law. It brings one full circle to be reminded that all we have is a gift from Christ and to return some of it for the greater good is a part of His teachings.

For those preoccupied with the teachings of Zionic living, we find the end of the quote states: “there was no poor among them.” We popularly believe this to refer to those without material substance. In the specific we have come to believe just that. However, in a larger sense the word “poor” also means less than adequate and lacking in value. In some circumstances, it could also refer to “poor” in spirit, “poor” in knowledge of the word, and most important, “poor” in the understanding of the teachings of Christ. While the generally accepted meaning might be beneficial to some, being rich in the spirit, knowledge of and the teaching of Christ would be beneficial to all. Not least, it would also please God. “For the poor shall never cease out of the land,” (Deut. 15:11) sums up the prospect of eliminating poverty. God teaches us to expect them to be ever present. He also gives the behavioral means to govern our relations with them with an eye toward their betterment.

Like most contemporary problems, the solutions are faith based. Discourage “accidental” pregnancies and eliminate the attack on marriage to provide two-parent homes. Allow men to be men and encourage them to assume the roles of husband and father. Teach the benefits of disciplined education to enhance earning capacity. Lessen the incentives to fall deeper into poverty through further reductions in benefits not tied to actual work to restore the habit of “making a living.” The fractured homes which define the poor are self perpetuating and can easily fulfill God’s observation in Deuteronomy.

One last word of warning is to repeat the title of this post. Figures don’t lie, but liars figure. Beware of easy solutions to complex problems no matter how appealing.

In His abiding love,

Cecil Moon