Gothamist: New York City Offers Cash Rewards To The Poor

Olivia

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:03:28 -0500

I am amazed to see that every comment on this page is negative. The government already pays rich people to make better choices: tax breaks on higher education, tax breaks for home owners, tax breaks for giving money to charity. Tax breaks don't help people making $20,000 a year for a family of 4. If this program of incentivizing people to go to school or to get necessary and timely medical care is successful, NYC could save hundreds of thousands of dollars. I am all for it.

Kip

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 23:51:27 -0500

Bribing people to do the right thing? A disturbing concept. Reminds me of that skell on the subway who assures you as he hits you up that he doesn't "rob or steal". Doing the right thing should be its own reward, whether or not you get paid.

stewart

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 17:55:57 -0500

Wouldn't it be cheaper and more effective to simply BUY the children from their parents, make them wards of the state, and then send them away to a place like the Hershey school where they can be removed from the ghetto entirely? You'd have to make sure the parents don't replace their children with more though. Not sure how you would do that.

Still Not Amused

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 00:40:12 -0500

To finish my point, It's not always being poor that's the cause of poverty . Sometimes it's the individual themselves that need that proverbial "Kick in the ass" !

Still Not Amused

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 00:37:39 -0500

OK so what's being offered here is a piece of cheese for going into the maze .(The "Maze" here would be life and all it's struggles)Navigate the perils within. (Get [5] more pieces of cheese, & a firm pat on the head for good behavior)I'm sorry I can't do the rest of this bit . It insults the shit out me and every New Yorker . I understand the motive behind this program, To me it's a slap in the face to every parent ! I digress, Maybe if the current crop of parents would take the time to "Raise their off spring" there would be no need for such "Assholishism" by the city . Parents don't be afraid to punish your kids . If they act out don't be afraid too whup that ass! Hell if more parents beat their kids asses we wouldn't have to deal with them telling you what to do instead of you telling them what to do ! They get out of line in public, Smack them across the mouth curse them out ! I'm just saying ......Fear is a very valuable tool for a parent !

will

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:50:14 -0500

bleeding heart - how would you measure poverty then? first, cost of living varies from place to place, second, people at the (admittedly entirely arbitrary) poverty line now are much better off in terms of consumption than they were 50 or even 25 years ago, and third by global or historical standards, very very very few people in america could legitimately be called poor. i personally think this is a great program. first, its important that we experiment with new ideas instead of relying on existing new deal type programs, which obviously don't work out too well (otherwise this wouldn't be news.) second, these programs have been successful in a lot of other countries, so there's evidence that they work. and finally, how could helping to align poor peoples' short term and long term incentives possibly be bad?

yeah

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:37:45 -0500

Buy them rubbers and the pill.

Spud Spudly

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:35:37 -0500

Next thing we'll be paying people NOT to do things. Like every week you don't commit a felony you get $50. Every week you don't do drugs with your children might be $25. Every week there are no 911 calls about you, you pocket $10. Maybe people who need to get paid to send their kids to school should get one-way bus tickets instead.

mike

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:29:19 -0500

I think this is a decent idea but just giving out money to people who don't have any to begin with could be disastrous. We should, instead of just giving out cash, have it deposited into a collge fund or something along those lines. Because, what good is money in breaking the poverty cycle if education does not follow right behind?

JP Lynch

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 12:05:30 -0500

So we're supposed to give people money for doing what they should be doing? Think I'll pass.

Rickster

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:44:07 -0500

How about giving that money to the teachers for teaching the kids who actually show up on their own merit because they want to learn vs those that just want to get paid.

Boba Fete

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:01:30 -0500

Wear a rubber, stop the cycle.

anonymass

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:55:18 -0500

Part of me is intrigued by the idea but I mostly hate it. While I guess if you're "poor" help is help, it's degrading when you get right down to it. The other point is that while this is a pilot funded by non-public seed money, I know that I wouldn't want my taxes subsidizing laziness. I know that poor != laziness in all cases but offering incentives for school attendance feels wrong.

bleeding heart

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:52:40 -0500

You ask if we think it's better in concept that in practicality, and I think it's actually the other way around. The concept itself is shameful, but the practical result of children actually getting doctor's appointments and attending school might be beneficial. One of the real problems, I think, is that the official poverty line is way too low. Approx. USD 15,000.00/year for a single parent and two children? We need to seriously reevaluate how poverty is calculated in this country.

fishtale

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:42:24 -0500

the schools are already overburdened, and that's with like 75% attendance. just wait until all the junior high/high school kids actually start coming to the schools everday

tryharder

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:33:28 -0500

cf. the Chris Rock bit... you know the one. Where people want credit for shit they're suppoused to do. "I take CARE of my kids!" "You're SUPPOUSED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR KIDS YOU DUMB M**********ER..."