What Liberals Know that Just Isn't So: End Poverty in America

In a speech early in his campaign, Sen. Obama said "We will end poverty in America".  Even though this  is  a common theme for liberals, I still wondered why he would say such a thing,  Here's my best guesses:

Maybe he's  an idiot?

The word "poverty" is defined as the financial condition of those having the lowest values along a range of wealth.  It's like the word "cold".  "Cold" is  not a temperature, like 42 degrees Fahrenheit; it's  a range of temperatures that are lower than those temperatures which are called "Hot", or warm or cool, etc... To a person, 32^OF is cold, but to a Penguin maybe it's  only cool; or even warm?  Maybe Sen. Obama doesn't know this;  that poverty is relative?  That would certainly make him a idiot.

Maybe he's  a Communist?

If Sen. Obama set it up  so that everyone had the same amount of wealth, there would be no range of wealth at all ,and so no poverty.  We all know what communist societies  are like.  I suppose it's possible that some folks actually want to live under tyranny.  I personally know some folks who would love to be a tyrant.  And if George Washington, or even Timoleon, were the tyrant, life probably would be better.

Maybe he's  a Child?

'From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.'  This promise of Marxism is certainly attractive to many of us; even compelling.  Such a society might be a Utopia, and who wouldn't want to live in Utopia?  Unfortunately, history teaches  us  that Utopia is currently an unattainable ideal.  Only children believe in such things.

Maybe he's using a sophism?

This would get my vote as the most likely reason Sen. Obama said "We will end poverty in America".  He's lying through his teeth; shoveling it out by the truck full to secure the support of those who fall for such tricks..

If one isn't liberal while they're young they probably have no heart.  And if one isn't conservative when they're grown up they probably have no brain.  Or they don't use it.  Or they're tyrants.  Or I don't really know as I've spent decades searching, futilely, for a liberal willing or able to explain it to me.

From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary at www.m-w.com/dictionary:

Main Entry: id·i·ot

Pronunciation: \ˈi-dē-ət\

Function: noun

2: a foolish or stupid person

Main Entry: pov·er·ty

Pronunciation: \ˈpä-vər-tē\

Function: noun  

1 a: the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions

Main Entry: soph·ism

Pronunciation: \ˈsä-ˌfi-zəm\

Function: noun

1: an argument apparently correct in form but actually invalid; especially : such an argument used to deceive

Quotes:

"Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good."

Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

"When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained."

Mark Twain

Bumper stickers that caught my eye:

"My mind is like a steel trap; rusty and illegal in most states."

"Don't believe everything you think".

Fun Facts to Know and Share:

Gold is so dense that where a cubic foot of water weighs 64 lbs, and a cubic foot of iron weighs 500 lbs., a cubic foot of gold weighs 1,200 lbs.  If that gallon of milk you buy were gold, it would weigh 150 lbs.