Jim,

I have a question. I am reluctant to pose it because I have yet to see you respond to a question. It is not that I expect you treat this like a question and answer line. But a little bit of energy from the authors on this blog to model forwarding a conversation would be very nice.

I have asked for that many times. I do understand a "No." But then why not at least acknowledge suggestions (at least on occasion)? What I have asked for is that writers come back on the blog after their posting has been up 24-48 hours with either a follow-up thought, a question they would be interested in hearing readers respond to, a clarification if comments demonstrated a need for clarification, or a simple acknowledgement, like "Thanks for reading and the dialogue." It takes all of ten seconds.

My question in this case: Do you find it benefical to assign the label "The Poor" to a category of humanity? What is the positive goal? If persons are leaving poverty they are becoming _________________________________________ (what)?

"If persons are leaving poverty they are becoming _________________________________________ (what)?"

Skinny?

The first day I read your response I laughed. When I looked at it tonight I realized you may be serious. This is a strange nation in which poor nutrition and poverty looks like obesity. Maybe this would be a good measuring stick for a just sharing of the fruit of our labors -- our nutritional health.

Please help the poor and all Americans by showing support for H.R. 676, currently under consideration in Congress:

Http://hr676.org

Wonderful list of entitlements! Believe the programs designed to help people acquire a direction and job skills should be implemented before any of the others. Every aspect of a person's life--no matter what his or her income level--should not be tended to by the government. The result would be a nation of invalids.

Obviously you didn't really read the website. :)