The Lies We Tell Ourselves

[kayevcee]

Ending comfortable myths about poverty

This is a remarkably well researched rebuttal to the appalling stereotypes pushed by certain newspapers and an alarming number of politicians concerning poor members of our own society. it breaks down popular preconceptions and delves into the statistics behind government talking points (effectively demolishing said talking points in the process).

The text does have a Christian bent as it was compiled by a coalition of four church groups and was originally intended for churchgoers, but that doesn't invalidate any of the research contained within.

This coming week I'll be getting a bunch of copies printed for the folks at my local church and I've been badgering the resident priests to mention it in upcoming sermons. Time to get the word out.

-Nick

[legios]

Too late for serious reading this evening, but I have grabbed the .pdf of the report for perusing in due course.

Karl

[kayevcee]

This TED Talk is perhaps a bit easier to absorb than a 32 page PDF, on a similar theme

My dad and I have just finished stapling 40 copies of The Lies We Tell Ourselves to put out at the back of our local church (though dad hasn't been there in years, preferring to attend Mass somewhere with a few less screaming babies). Palm Sunday is always a massive turnout so hopefully we'll move them all out and even get a few back to pass on in future.

-Nick

[The Doctor]

All good stuff but I fear we will not see a big change in public attitudes until either the tabloid press start reporting this stuff (unlikely) or the general public notice changes in their lives as the full extent of Government enforced poverty really kicks in post April.

-Ralph

[kayevcee]

I know it's not going to make much of an impact on the wider community, but if I can help a few people in the small segment of the community I'm involved in to see the depth and breadth of the lies they've been fed for years, then maybe there'll be a few more people questioning what they read and hear.

Maybe those people will pass the message on. Maybe it'll "go viral". Most likely it won't. Still, it's better than nothing.

-Nick