Your Black TV

Queen Lafifah Proud to be Among ‘Her People’ at Gay Pride Event

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:56:38 MST

*Queen Latifah arrived with her royal court to an amped and enthusiastic crowd of subjects summoned to celebrate the 29th Annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival on Saturday, May 19. The annual event held in Long Beach, California boasts of drawing approximately 100,000 attendees each year, making it the 2nd largest Pride festival [...]

Monique Houston Reflects Back to the Bobbi Kristina Oprah Interview

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:17:50 MST

*With the memory of Whitney Houston’s death still in the mind of family and fans and the recent announcement of the family’s upcoming reality show, many have taken note of how the singer’s daughter Bobbi Kristina is handling the tragedy. Media reports indicate that she is following the same path as her mother with alleged [...]

Cincinnati Gay Man Drags Pregnant Woman Across Lawn

Sun, 20 May 2012 09:01:57 MST

Woman dragged and punched by gay man who isn't sorry for his actions.

Lawrence Taylor's Super Bowl Ring Sells for $230k

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:51:43 MST

Current Giant Osi Umenyiora tried to buy the ring unsuccessfully.

Welfare state keeps poor at bottom

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:48:28 MST

Walter Williams is a highly regarded economics professor at George Mason University. He also happens to be black. Consider, then, his recent comments on the subject at hand: "The welfare state has done to black Americans what slavery couldn't do, what Jim Crow couldn't do, what the harshest racism couldn't do. And that is to destroy the black family." He points out that from Reconstruction until the 1940s, 75 percent to 80 percent of black children lived in two-parent families. Now more than 70 percent of black children are born to single women. I have no reason to believe similar trends are not occurring in other racial and ethnic groups.

If Williams is correct in his belief that the well-intended welfare state has indeed been so counterproductive in its results, why would that be so? In my view, it all revolves around incentives. Consider these welfare state rules and policies, with a view as to how they are likely to shape one's behavior:

The welfare system pays women to remain single. A variety of programs contain a "marriage penalty" that creates a negative incentive for low-income women to marry by cutting off their benefits if they do so. So acting rationally means not getting married. We know the most predictable way to end up in long-term poverty is to be female, have children out of wedlock and remain single. Yet that is exactly what our laws and policies encourage. I also note that not marrying means children in such arrangements do not have the benefit of a father at home. Thus, a positive influence is absent.

The system does not require the recipients to work, to prepare for work or even to try to work. This erodes the work ethic, which surely is a long-term contributing cause of poverty.

Until these counterproductive policies are changed, we will continue to institutionalize poverty and family breakdown. Can we really blame anyone for getting free stuff when nothing is asked in return? We are making being in poverty comfortable, but we don't seem to be doing much to help people avoid poverty in the first place or get out of it.

I wish I had the wisdom of Solomon because that is probably what is needed in our quest to solve this terrible problem. The 1995 Welfare Reform Act worked well by eliminating some of the perverse incentives described above. Unfortunately, it has been largely repealed in recent years. It should be re-enacted. An improved economy would certainly help because more jobs are a great anti-poverty program. Closer to home, I would like to think volunteer efforts such as parenting programs and early childhood education can make a difference. But I have to ask: Isn't this what we have been doing for a long time?

One effort I believe works — and has always worked — is faith-based programs such as Granny's House, run by Ellis and Pam Ingram. They, and others like them, do great things with the children entrusted to them. If it works, go for it, regardless of our religious views.

What gets to me the most is the terrible loss of opportunities for all of those people stuck in the "generational poverty" revolving door. As the eminent economist/political philosopher Thomas Sowell recently wrote, "The high cost to taxpayers is exceeded by the even higher cost of lost opportunities for fulfillment by those who succumb to the lure of a stagnant life of dependency."

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COLUMBIATRIBUNE.COM

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/may/20/welfare-state-keeps-poor-at-bottom/

There is dignity in doing honorable work well, being all one can be and flourishing as a human being. Working is how one achieves earned success, a very fulfilling state of being. A life of dependency is simply ruinous in that regard. Seen in this light, the system looks immoral, if not downright evil.Read more ...

Donna Summer, Nonsmoker, Dead of Lung Cancer

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:16:00 MST

Following the death of disco queen Donna Summer on May 17 at age 63 from cancer, there was speculation about her illness, according to CNN. The five-time Grammy winner and voice behind "Love to Love You Baby" and "She Works Hard for the Money" succumbed to a battle with lung cancer; however, she was not a smoker.

CNN reports:

Summer's family issued the announcement in the wake of how "various reports currently surfacing about the cause of Ms. Summer's death are not accurate," representative Brian Edward said.

"Obviously, numerous factors can be attributed to the cause of cancer in general, but any details regarding the diagnosis and subsequent treatment of Ms. Summer's case remain between her family and team of doctors," Edwards said in a statement.

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THEROOT.COM

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/donna-summer-non-smoker-dead-lung-cancer?wpisrc=root_more_newsRead more ...

NAACP Backs Gay Marriage as "Civil Right"

Sun, 20 May 2012 08:01:51 MST

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force applaud the decision.

Geraldo Rivera: "Trayvon Tape Shows he Was in Thug Wear" [Video]

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:41:03 MST

Fox News host can't stop making controversial comments.

Ex ‘American Idol’ Joshua Ledet [Photo Gallery]

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:14:36 MST

*Joshua Ledet’s stunning rendition of “It’s A Man’s World” on American Idol recently convinced had many convinced he would win the competition. But then reality struck this past week when he was voted off the show by the viewers no less. TBut we’re not worried. The young man from Louisiana who is now in the [...]

New York Nurses Take Back Their Union, Push for Safe Staffing

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:00:01 MST

The ability of NYSNA nurses to chart their own course, ensuring patient care and bedside nursing are priorities, is a reminder that unions can change based on member involvement.

Will Smith Slaps Reporter Over Kiss: Was He Right, or Wrong?

Sun, 20 May 2012 07:00:00 MST

Do you think Smith went too far, or not far enough?

Decoding Your Downstairs: 8 Things Women Need To Know About Their Va Jay Jay

Sun, 20 May 2012 06:26:59 MST

Do you know what you need to?