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Over the past 40 years, Congress has spent almost $7 Trillion on America's War on Poverty. Yet, today there are still 37 million Americans -- 7.4 million of which are children -- living under the poverty level. And, that number will grow to an estimated 60 million by the end of 2010. That's almost 25% of our nation's population. With the Rich getting richer, the middle-class struggling, and the poor getting much poorer, America needs to find an answer to its economic and poverty problems before they destroy all hope for our nation's future. Why should you care? A recent study from the Center for American Progress indicates that childhood poverty alone costs America almost $500 Billion each year. That's nearly 4 percent of our nation's annual Gross Domestic Product. Include all the other costs of poverty (justice system costs, prison costs, Not-for-Profit Organizational expenses, loss of economic opportunity, human suffering) and the true cost of American poverty skyrockets to over $2 Trillion each year. Those are your tax and charity donation dollars.
Simply put, American Poverty is an economic illness. Yes, that's right. It's a disease that is curable once you understand the underlying elements involved, and eliminate the historical, political, economic, and racial barriers that prevent proper treatment. American Poverty is all about simple economics and the movement of money within closely defined areas and neighborhoods. Lack of sustainable economic opportunity and development, a continuous out-flow of money, and the inability of a community to sustain itself are the main elements of entrenched poverty. So, what's the Solution? More wasteful government programs are not the answer. Neither is an increased number of Not-For-Profit services for the poor. There are enough government programs and Not-For-Profit Organizations in place already, and these only serve to treat the illness of poverty, not to cure it. The successful East Lake Community Project envisioned and developed by Atlanta businessman Thomas Cousins provides us with a model to attack American Poverty at its roots, and to cure it once and for all time. But, to apply the East Lake Model to other impoverished American communities will require the help, leadership, and investment of America's Billionaires and Multi-Millionaires -- people like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Ted Turner, and Oprah Winfrey. How Can You Help?
All money raised from our ForgottenTown™ program and T-shirt sales will be used to produce and film the show in depressed communities around America. The money will also be used to provide micro-loans to poor people who don't have the money to start a business. |
