Economic Opportunity Commentaries

The St. Petersburg Times, February 11, 2009: (Editorial) Study is first step in helping Lacoochee, Trilby areas in Pasco

"The aim is to lure an employment center to Lacoochee, a poverty-stricken area of 1,300 residents where half the adults lack a high school education"

The Miami Herald, February 10, 2009: (Op-Ed) Affordable education enriches graduates, nation

"One million kids drop out each year. In the nation's 50 largest cities, the graduation rate is barely 50 percent. We are losing half our young people to a devouring cycle of poverty"

The Wichita Eagle, February 06, 2009: (Op-Ed) Another core principle of the GOP is duplicity

"Does any thinking human being believe, as Pompeo implied, that private organizations can provide some semblance of economic security for 37 million Americans living in poverty?"

The Orlando Sentinel, January 02, 2009: (Op-Ed) Selection is slim as women dress for success

"For a long time, Dress for Success Greater Orlando didn't have to ask for the business suits it passes on to low-income women in need of clothes appropriate for a job interview"

The Wichita Eagle, January 30, 2009: (Op-Ed) Pell grants haven't kept up with the cost of college

"Increasing Pell Grants will help many young and not-so-young people realize their potential and help our nation move forward"

The New York Times, January 24, 2009: (Op-Ed) The Stimulus Advances

"The package expands the Earned Income Tax Credit temporarily to raise the pay of the working poor. There also is money to allow low-income workers to qualify for a tax credit of up to $1,000 per child, a break currently denied them"

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 29, 2009: (Op-Ed) Can the Stimulus Package Create Jobs?

"will allow those who pay no income taxes or payroll taxes, due to the Earned Income Tax Credit, to get a government check"

The Lexingon Herald Leader, January 29, 2009: (Op-Ed) GOP rhetoric ringing hollow

"[W]hat about the almost 3 million Americans who will slide into poverty by this time next year if national unemployment catches up with the six states where 9 percent of workers are already jobless?"

The Wall Street Journal, January 21, 2009: Symposium: Hopes for the Obama Presidency

"[A] pay boost to create careers of self-discovery and transform neighborhoods and cultures among the least advantaged"

The San Angelo Standard-Times, January 15, 2009: (Op-Ed) Policies threatening economic freedom

"Increased economic freedom has lifted millions from poverty and helped millions more live better lives"

The Chicago Sun Times, January 13, 2009: (Op-Ed) Obama must use stimulus to put poor to work

"He would do well to pay tribute to Dr. King in his program as well as his words"

The Brattelboro Herald, January 13, 2009: (Op-Ed) Welfare's work

"[T]he twelve-year experiment that equated working for minimum wage with taking responsibility may be over"

The Washington Post, January 11, 2009: (Op-Ed) In D.C., Opening Doors Even in Tough Times

"[P]rovides an excellent model for responsibly expanding homeownership to low- and moderate-income families across the country in the post-subprime-loans era"

The Nation, December 31, 2008: (Op-Ed) A Trillion Dollar Recovery

"Poverty is on the rise, record numbers of people are relying on food stamps and we've seen no relief for the foreclosure crisis"

The New York Times, December 23, 2008: (Op-Ed) A Race to the Bottom

"The economic downturn, however severe, should not be used as an excuse to send American workers on a race to the bottom, where previously middle-class occupations take a sweatshop's approach to pay and benefits"

New York Newsday, December 18, 2008: (Op-Ed) Let's unite to end hunger for working families

"charities should continue feeding these desperate workers, but we should also get at the root causes of their desperation"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 14, 2008: (Op-Ed) Organs for sale

"it would significantly improve the lives of poor and middle-class people who need kidneys and those willing to sell one"

The Lexington Herald-Leader, December 15, 2008: (Op-Ed) Free market getting a bad rap; spread class envy with caution

"in order to avoid being poor you have to do three things: 1. graduate from high school; 2. wait until you're married to have children and; 3. wait until age 20 to have children"

Democracy, a Journal of Ideas: Essay on American Opportunity

"Those with less and less of a chance to climb out of poverty are silhouetted against gargantuan CEO salaries and bonus packages pulled down by those on top"

Investor's Business Daily, December 9, 2008: (Editorial) The Harmful Nature of Inequality Myths

"Incomes for the poorest one-fifth of all earners have grown on average 3.9% a year since 1994"

The New York Times, December 8, 2008: (Editorial) Even Worse for Teens

"The situation is far worse in low-income minority areas, where the youth employment rate appears to be hovering not much above 10 percent"

The Boston Globe, November 28, 2008: (Editorial) The Macho Stimulus Plan

"Almost one-quarter of families with children under the age of 18 are headed and supported by women as are the majority of single-adult households without children. This package will not put food on their plates"

The Buffalo News, November 20, 2008: (Commentary) Let’s profit from our weather

"A national demonstration project on how to put the unskilled -- especially black men -- to work insulating houses and installing solar panels"

Wealth Mobility and Opportunity in America, by Dalton Conley, New York University, and Rebecca Glauber, University of New Hampshire

Commentary: A New Approach to Economic Well-being

Jump in State EITCs Results from Foundation-Funded Efforts, by Michael Laracy of the Annie E. Casey Foundation

A closer look at the impact that the Earned Income Tax Credit can have in states.

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