If you're poor and live in the projects should your kids have iPads?

[Anonymous]

i skimmed through the article and didnt read any mention on how the ipod was obtained. was it a gift? are we sure they used "welfare" to buy it?

for all we know, the boys parent(s) worked their butt off to get the device for him hoping he will use it for educational purposes.

i guess its hard to answer the question based on one pic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did not read the article but I think they should have internet access if possible, but not necessarily iPads.

Agree about internet access. This is becoming essential to the job search these days.

So they can use the Internet at the library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did not read the article but I think they should have internet access if possible, but not necessarily iPads.

Agree about internet access. This is becoming essential to the job search these days.

So they can use the Internet at the library.

That's just keeping the poor kids poor. Low income family can get broadband Internet for $9.95 a month. That's $120 a year. This has to be the among the worst cost saving "ideas" I have ever heard.

You apparently WANT this generational poverty you keep talking about.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to be on welfare to be in the projects just poor. I am sure you've never heard of the working poor but yeah that makes up a good part of the projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did not read the article but I think they should have internet access if possible, but not necessarily iPads.

Agree about internet access. This is becoming essential to the job search these days.

So they can use the Internet at the library.

But the libraries are in the nice expensive areas
Poor cannot walk down the road to the library when there it is far away
Poor cannot take the bus after school/work because by the time they get there and get back it will be dark and that is a dangerous time to walk around alone in the 'hood.
bus fare costs money as well.
buses are not so reliable

[Anonymous]

Never has such a valuable thing been so easily available to anyone, rich or poor. For the first time in history, you can get access to the best information on virtually any subject, for $10.

[Anonymous]

Don't service providers have low income family broadband connection discounts, just as they do for phones? How about donating old desktops or laptops to income qualified families?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes people who live in the poorest areas get seasonal jobs and have a high income for a few weeks.
Other times their situation changes, like a son graduates from high school and gets a job while still living at home.
Maybe the ipad the boy was playing with is not his.

How about those who complain about their lavish lifestyles, go and live in that neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did not read the article but I think they should have internet access if possible, but not necessarily iPads.

Agree about internet access. This is becoming essential to the job search these days.

So they can use the Internet at the library.

But the libraries are in the nice expensive areas
Poor cannot walk down the road to the library when there it is far away
Poor cannot take the bus after school/work because by the time they get there and get back it will be dark and that is a dangerous time to walk around alone in the 'hood.
bus fare costs money as well.
buses are not so reliable

So poor are lazy too?

[Anonymous]

Poor work a lot harder than you do
They are also tired after a long days work

The poor have longer commutes
Less services like quality schools with well stocked libraries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did not read the article but I think they should have internet access if possible, but not necessarily iPads.

Agree about internet access. This is becoming essential to the job search these days.

So they can use the Internet at the library.

But the libraries are in the nice expensive areas
Poor cannot walk down the road to the library when there it is far away
Poor cannot take the bus after school/work because by the time they get there and get back it will be dark and that is a dangerous time to walk around alone in the 'hood.
bus fare costs money as well.
buses are not so reliable

So poor are lazy too?[/quote

No, the poor don't like taking the bus both ways to do what can be done cheaper at home by logging onto the internet.

If you want the poor to be thrifty, fine. If you expect them to waste their time and money for no apparent reason, because you feel they require some sort of penance, then you are a fool. Take your tax dollars to a country with no social support system. I'm sure you can find one.

[Anonymous]

I live next to a housing project, and while some people that live there are undoubtedly working hard and commuting a long way, many others appear to do little that is productive. However, I still feel that it isn't a problem for a child living there to have an ipad. The kid doesn't get to choose whether or not his parent works hard or contributes to society. Hopefully the ipad will help him to develop some skills and knowledge that will assist him in entering the job market in the future. It's not like its a wii or something, it does have educational and informational uses.

[Anonymous]

America is poorly educated compared to most industrialized countries. My dh works in a specific type of field and he says for every one of him there are 20 Chinese/N.koreans that do the same thing.

If even just one poor child w a lousy IPad gets inspired or learns something from having an iPad why deny him that. We are only hurting ourselves as a country with this kind of attitude that begrudges poor people the opportunity to have what other wealthier kids have. The window of opportunity for getting out of poverty is when they are young. If an iPad helps why would you be opposed?

Let me guess, everyone has to live their life exactly like you. Seriously, why does a bitter shrew like you even care?

But, it's okay for rich old men i.e. Cheney (Haliburton) to get rich off your tax dollars hard at work for invading Iraq?

You make me sick op!

[Anonymous]

I don't agree with they way OP worded their thoughts - and I certainly don't begrudge a child an ipad for that matter. Buy, I will say that we have a real problem. I volunteer with a low-income family through a DC charity. The family is fully supported in a nice, new townhome in Columbia Heights. The couple has 5-6 children, and from what I understand they like to have as many as possible because for each child they get more assistance. They have 2 nice cars. The kids all run around with the latest nike sneakers, latest gadgets, iphones etc. A few times I've been offered extra vegetables and fruit. The mom has so many food stamps that she has a ton of excess every month and usually gives away or sells to neighbors. They are such nice people, but they have no incentive to leave the system and boy do they know how to WORK it. They teach their children how to do this as well, and it's cyclical. Very sad.

[Anonymous]

Would you rather they not "work" the system and be on the street. It seems like they are doing what they are suppose to do. What the hell are you doing for them, as a "volunteer?" other than judging them and giving yourself a pat on the back. At some point one of them will want more out there but they will have to educate themselves and work for it. Are you enlightening them to this possibility or are you just a bad example and only make them want to stay where they are.