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The Unexotic Underclass

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Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#71

Post by vixen99 »

Just my view: reading this is like being harangued by some irate ranter. The style will ensure minimal impact on those who should read it.

Small point: why the focus on the Roma as against non-Roma Romanians and Bulgarians who are also very poor but shut up, get down to work and obey the law. Anecdotally (I live in Romania) I would say that many Roma do just that. Plenty join the professions as doctors, lawyers, engineers and media folk or simply do an ordinary job of work but there is a criminal minority who are the authors of their own problems. However it's pointless trying to explain this to some of the right-on human rights brigade.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#72

Post by ippisl »

ebiester wrote: post #44

It's pretty simple. The Unexotic Underclass Doesn't Have Cash. In 2007, the bottom 60% of the country had 4.2% of the country's wealth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Distribution_of_Weal... Frankly, it doesn't make sense to target anyone but the top 40% of the country. Roll a 20 sided die. If you roll a 1, put in the pile that goes to the bottom 60%. If you roll a 2-20, put it in the money that goes to the…

First, people do talk about healthcare costs and education costs and housing costs as grand problems.

And startups can do something about those. For example:

1. Co-Abode.com which connects single moms to share houses , while getting cheaper prices and better support from each other.

2. A recent YC startup , which helps people who are getting a divorce, settle without lawyers in a relatively peacefull and much cheaper process.

3. All those new education startups who make college more affordable.

And there are plenty more , and plenty more that's could be done. One such example:

Making dental crowns is costly. There are some few large companies who built a small cnc machine who automates this, which can reduce the costs of the whole process by a lot. But they are expensive to acquire.

Find a way to make this available for cheap for every dentist in u.s./world.

Now the question is how does get into those opportunities ?

Well, i don't think it's hard. just focus on the right area , and try to join the communities which try to think about those things. I'm pretty sure they are willing to share problem and ideas in order to see solutions being made.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#73

Post by sgt »

Who is C.Z. Nnaemeka ? Is this a pseudonym of sorts? Born to Nigerian parents, she has a philosophy degree and has worked in the finance industry. I did some googling to find out more, but there's very little information available.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#74

Post by sgt »

justzisguyuknow wrote: post #35

"Of the single mothers, the majority is White, 1 in 4 is Hispanic, and 1 in 3 is Black." This does not add up.

Caucasians (aka "White") is a pretty broad term. It does not necessarily mean that you have to be as pale as a Finnish or British person, in order to be classified as white.

As far as I understand it, many arabs are also caucasians, including most bedouins in North Africa. So again, it covers a lot of people, so logically it should (as far as I understand it) cover hispanics with 50%+ european origins as well.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#76

Post by shadowcats »

ippisl wrote: post #72
ebiester wrote: post #44

It's pretty simple. The Unexotic Underclass Doesn't Have Cash. In 2007, the bottom 60% of the country had 4.2% of the country's wealth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Distribution_of_Weal... Frankly, it doesn't make sense to target anyone but the top 40% of the country. Roll a 20 sided die. If you roll a 1, put in the pile that goes to the bottom 60%. If you roll a 2-20, put it in the money that goes to the…

First, people do talk about healthcare costs and education costs and housing costs as grand problems. And startups can do something about those. For example: 1. Co-Abode.com which connects single moms to share houses , while getting cheaper prices and better support from each other. 2. A recent YC startup , which helps people who are getting a divorce, settle without lawyers in a relatively peacefull and much cheaper…

Somewhat controversial idea: a startup that focuses on cognitive enhancement (IQ, mood, impulse control, mindfulness, stuff like that).

Supplements, meditation, and brain training can probably have a non-negligible impact, but I don't see the "underclass" partaking in those currently.

IQ and income: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient#Income

Victorians smarter than us: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/10053977/The...

Anyone want to brainstorm more on this? Email me: lolcatrampage@gmail.com

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#77

Post by gadders »

ebiester wrote: post #44

It's pretty simple. The Unexotic Underclass Doesn't Have Cash. In 2007, the bottom 60% of the country had 4.2% of the country's wealth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:U.S._Distribution_of_Weal... Frankly, it doesn't make sense to target anyone but the top 40% of the country. Roll a 20 sided die. If you roll a 1, put in the pile that goes to the bottom 60%. If you roll a 2-20, put it in the money that goes to the…

Yeah, but there are a LOT of poor people. For reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fortune_at_the_Bottom_of_th...

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#78

Post by Sven7 »

vixen99 wrote: post #71

Just my view: reading this is like being harangued by some irate ranter. The style will ensure minimal impact on those who should read it. Small point: why the focus on the Roma as against non-Roma Romanians and Bulgarians who are also very poor but shut up, get down to work and obey the law. Anecdotally (I live in Romania) I would say that many Roma do just that. Plenty join the professions as doctors, lawyers, engi…

Who do you think should read it?

I doubt this can be written in any other style other than a rant.

It will have an impact on people for whom money isn't an issue and who already doubt if there is any real utility to the work they do.

Re: The Unexotic Underclass

#80

Post by mikecane »

kstenerud wrote: post #5

All of this moralizing and "solve big problems" talk is really getting old. On average, chances are pretty low that a particular individual will ever solve a big problem, so stop worrying about it! It's not for others to say how you "should" spend your energy anyway. The moralistic fluff is unnecessary. Those who aren't motivated will ignore it, those who are motivated don't need to be reminded, and the moralizers wi…

>>>On average, chances are pretty low that a particular individual will ever solve a big problem, so stop worrying about it!

Oh that Jonas Salk. He was just a big waste of time. /sarcasm

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