PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
April 22 - LATEST SAHEED NEWS! "Saeed Sends Easter Message from Hospital Bed" - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/April/Saeed-Sends-Easter-Message-from-Hospital-Bed/ "Sometimes we want to experience the glory and resurrection with Jesus without experiencing death with Him," Abedini wrote. "We do not realize that unless we pass through the path of death with Christ, we are not able to experience resurrection with Christ."Abedini signed the message from a "prisoner of darkness in Iran, but free for the kingdom and light."
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.\
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- For leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- GO TO SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release
The U.S. State Department believes the Russian army is now prepared to launch an invasion of eastern Ukraine if President Vladimir Putin decides to pull the trigger, according to a senior Administration official."At this point, they are amassed and they could go at a moment’s notice if Putin gave the go ahead," the official said...Top Ukrainian security officials said Thursday that Russia now has 100,000 troops on its side of the Russia-Ukraine border.(Sources: CBS News, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Daily Beast)
As the Lord leads, please pray:
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
NEWS/PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
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Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
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Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images [1]
Poor Americans may be “better off” today than before the government’s War on Poverty began in the 1960s, as a New York Time article [2] published last week said. But they remain “far behind” and will continue to do so unless work requirements are strengthened in the nation’s welfare programs.
Indeed, the living standards of the poor have improved [3] over the last 50 years. Prices on household amenities have gone down over time, and taxpayers have poured roughly $20 trillion [4] into means-tested programs over the past five decades – and will spend $14 trillion more in the next decade alone. But although today’s poor may have more cell phones and dishwashers than previous generations, self-sufficiency has hardly budged since the 1960s. That’s because most welfare programs are designed simply to provide material goods rather than to empower individuals by promoting self-sufficiency.
The federal government operates roughly 80 means-tested welfare programs that provide cash, food, housing, medical care and social services to poor and lower-income Americans. Of these programs only a couple have any work requirement, and those work requirements have been diminished [5] under the Obama administration. Work requirements not only encourage individuals to move towards employment, but also serve as a gatekeeper to ensure assistance goes to those most in need.
Of course, jobs are harder to come by during tough economic times. But even in good economic times, work rates are low among low-income households [6]. Encouraging work in the welfare system – requiring able-bodied adults to work, prepare for work or at least look for work in exchange for receiving assistance – should be at the heart of welfare reform.
A stronger economy that encourages job growth and opens opportunities for more Americans would help. So would finding ways to make higher education more affordable, such as reforming accreditation [7] and expanding online learning, as well as expanding school choice for K-12 students to bring quality education to even the lowest-income communities.
Big-government policies that restrain job an economic growth, such as Obamacare [8], do not help.
Neither does the sharp increase in unwed childbearing – a leading cause of child poverty [9]. Today, 40 percent of American children are born to unwed parents, which significantly increases the likelihood they will grow up in poverty.
Living standards aside, the War on Poverty has failed, and many Americans are struggling to prosper in the nation that should be the land of opportunity. Pouring trillions more into a failed government system will not make Americans more self-sufficient or prosperous. Reforming welfare to encourage work for able-bodied adults, strengthening the institution of marriage and providing greater educational and job opportunities will do both.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/05/05/enough-poor-americans-better-living-standards-used/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/2014_5_5_PovertyNYT_Sheffield.jpg
[2] New York Time article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/business/economy/changed-life-of-the-poor-squeak-by-and-buy-a-lot.html?hp&_r=1
[3] the living standards of the poor have improved: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/understanding-poverty-in-the-united-states-surprising-facts-about-americas-poor
[4] roughly $20 trillion: http://www.heritage.org/research/testimony/2012/05/examining-the-means-tested-welfare-state
[5] have been diminished: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/09/an-overview-of-obama-s-end-run-on-welfare-reform
[6] work rates are low among low-income households: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/09/how-to-reform-food-stamps
[7] reforming accreditation: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/09/accreditation-removing-the-barrier-to-higher-education-reform
[8] such as Obamacare: http://blog.heritage.org/2014/02/16/obamacare-murdering-jobs/
[9] cause of child poverty: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/09/marriage-americas-greatest-weapon-against-child-poverty
Copyright © 2014 The Heritage Foundation. All rights reserved.
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