DC Econ: The Challenge of Inequality: The Numbers Game

What are the realities versus the myths of poverty? One of the myths of poverty is that inequality equals poverty. This is not true, yes there are differences between incomes of the rich, the middle class, and the poor, but living in poverty is s state where you cannot afford the basic necessities for life. One lie the left floats towards is that the poor are unable to make a living for themselves and therefore the government needs to give them money, handouts, and things like that. The right usually tends to think it is their own fault for living in poverty while in an economy with endless opportunities. The reality is that if we want to help the poor, we need to end crony capitalism, relax zoning laws, and the government needs to stop giving poor people things for free. Both also need to realize that there is more to life than just having enough money, there is dignity, worth, and for Christians, most importantly Christ.
How can we understand the root causes of poverty? We can understand the root causes of poverty by understanding why those things cause poverty. For example, zoning laws make building houses and apartments more strict and expensive, hence, causing the price of housing to increase and sometimes for poor people to move. Government handouts cause poverty because many people get comfortable in their poverty. Why work more than you have to when the government is giving you free things? Also, cronyism, while it is disguised as consumer protection, making it more strict to become a doctor, or restricting healthcare competition, although it may increase the quality, it is making the price increase very much as well and hurting those in poverty.