Chris Selley: To defeat poverty, you have to define it

[styky]

Chris Selley: To defeat poverty, you have to define it

Chris Selley Jun 2, 2012 – 10:00 AM ET | Last Updated: Jun 1, 2012 10:43 PM ET
The release of UNICEF’s latest child poverty “report card” this week elicited the usual stories about Canada “lagging” its friends in the developing world. The most common figures cited were that (as the Toronto Star reported) “with a child poverty rate of 13.3%, Canada ranks 24th out of 35 industrialized nations, behind the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and most of northern Europe” (I’ll call this Measure A); and that by a measure that compares the child poverty rate to the overall poverty rate, “Canada fares somewhat better at 18 out of 35” (I’ll call this Measure B)............http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/201 ... um=twitter

[Kate Shaw]

Sid Ryan knows just what to do:

FREE GOODIES FOR EVERYBODY!

[styky]

Thankfully, there is a Measure C, called a “deprivation index.” Not so thankfully, Canada isn’t measured by it — for now, it’s a European Union thing. Ireland was a pioneer in this more absolutist view of poverty (though it also considered relative poverty relevant); wonderfully, its criteria for deprivation included that people ought to “have a roast joint or its equivalent once a week.” But this is the maiden voyage for the EU’s index as a whole, and it provides some interesting criteria. It considers any child lacking two or more of the following things “deprived”:

1. Three meals a day

2. At least one meal a day with meat, chicken or fish (or a vegetarian equivalent)

3. Fresh fruit and vegetables every day

4. Books suitable for the child’s age and knowledge level (not including schoolbooks)

5. Outdoor leisure equipment (bicycle, roller-skates, etc.)

6. Regular leisure activities (swimming, playing an instrument, participating in youth organizations etc.)

7. Indoor games (at least one per child, including educational baby toys, building blocks, board games, computer games etc.)

8. Money to participate in school trips and events

9. A quiet place with enough room and light to do homework

10. An Internet connection

11. Some new clothes (i.e. not all second-hand)

12. Two pairs of properly fitting shoes (including at least one pair of all-weather shoes)

13. The opportunity, from time to time, to invite friends home to play and eat

14. The opportunity to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, name days, religious events, etc.

How in heavens name did I survive and grow up. I was deprived and never new it.

[Julian]

Thankfully, there is a Measure C, called a “deprivation index.” Not so thankfully, Canada isn’t measured by it — for now, it’s a European Union thing. Ireland was a pioneer in this more absolutist view of poverty (though it also considered relative poverty relevant); wonderfully, its criteria for deprivation included that people ought to “have a roast joint or its equivalent once a week.” But this is the maiden voyage for the EU’s index as a whole, and it provides some interesting criteria. It considers any child lacking two or more of the following things “deprived”:

1. Three meals a day

2. At least one meal a day with meat, chicken or fish (or a vegetarian equivalent)

3. Fresh fruit and vegetables every day

4. Books suitable for the child’s age and knowledge level (not including schoolbooks)

5. Outdoor leisure equipment (bicycle, roller-skates, etc.)

6. Regular leisure activities (swimming, playing an instrument, participating in youth organizations etc.)

7. Indoor games (at least one per child, including educational baby toys, building blocks, board games, computer games etc.)

8. Money to participate in school trips and events

9. A quiet place with enough room and light to do homework

10. An Internet connection

11. Some new clothes (i.e. not all second-hand)

12. Two pairs of properly fitting shoes (including at least one pair of all-weather shoes)

13. The opportunity, from time to time, to invite friends home to play and eat

14. The opportunity to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, name days, religious events, etc.

How in heavens name did I survive and grow up. I was deprived and never new it.

That's why it needs to be defined so you will grow up poor and know it! We can't have "poor" kids growing up happy and well adjusted, they need to have a chip on their shoulder and strong sense of deprivation dammit!

[BlawBlaw]

Poverty activists always have to inflate the numbers to make themselves appear useful. Alternative measures of poverty, like what Chris Sarlo does for the Fraser Institute have the percentages at one third to one half of what the true believers give you.

[Edward Kennedy]

The real poverty problem is the intellectual poverty of lefturds that is rampant across academia, politics, and religion.

[backhoe]

UNICEF? Dear Lord, anything from the UN is hopelessly tainted. This is old stuff- I quit blogging about the UN years ago because if you don't "get" it you are too stupid for words:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1096037/posts

-"No Blood for Oil"- Kojo & Kofi: Unbelievable U.N. stories.
various FR links | 03-12-04 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[RedDog]

Looks like I had a better than normal life then. Aside from period items like internet, I would have rather waterskied at the cottage anyway than play Diablo 3.

UNICEF. Like I'm going to give nickels and dimes to kids who have no clue where Nigeria is begging for candy on halloween when my country gives millions to nations in "need" who are mostly the author of their own misfortune anyway. It's another form of indoctrination and white guilt training from a young age.

[Kate Shaw]

"HEY, I'M DEPRAVED ON ACCOUNTA I'M DEPRIVED!"

I was deprived of an internet connection for 51 years of my life. Whom do I sue?

This reminds me of a brief uproar among the Feminists who were against baby formula, who demanded that women in poverty-stricken countries be given maternity leave (not understanding that most of them were starving in mud huts or sheds, and didn't have JOBS from which they needed maternity leave) and washing machines.

What it does prove is that the Poverty Pimps are not only children of privilege, but they are people who have never personally met any poor people, if this is the best they can do for a definition.

[BlawBlaw]

Where is Officer Krumpke?