I disagree that politicians cannot do anything about poverty. They lack the 
political will to act. Research studies by Vicente Navarro and others show 
that political parties that implement redistributive policies when they are 
in power have lower poverty rates. I refer you in particular to the 
following study:

Navarro, V. & Shi, L. (2001). The political context of social inequalities 
and health. International Journal of Health Services 31:1, 1-21.

T. Bryant


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diana Liw" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2007 11:19 AM
Subject: Re: [SDOH] Test of political theory: Poverty in Ontario


> When will people stop the rhetorics and realize that politicians can't do 
> anything about poverty or fight for poverty, it's the People that need to 
> do that?
>
>>>> Dennis Raphael <[log in to unmask]> 10/11/07 8:13 AM >>>
> Colleagues:
>
> As many of you know the Liberal Party of Ontario has won a majority in the
> provincial election.  They have pledged to develop an "anti-poverty"
> agenda. The Toronto Star -- owners of a "War on Poverty" effort-- 
> enthusiastically endorsed the Liberals.  The Daily Bread Food Bank says
> they had not endorsed the Liberals, although it sure sounded like that to
> some of us.
>
> Erik Olin Wright argues that one view of entrenched poverty is that
> policymakers are simply uninformed and can be convinced of the benefits of
> reducing poverty through advocacy and argument.  He argues that another
> view is that policymakers are well aware of poverty and its effects and
> that poverty persist because significant societal sectors PROFIT from its
> presence.  The solution therefore is not to CONVINCE policymakers to
> reduce poverty but rather to FORCE them to reduce poverty through
> political pressure.
>
> Such thoughts led me to post this on a poverty blog in Toronto.
>
> http://blog.hungrycity.ca/2007/10/why_a_poverty_reduction_plan.html
>
> "It would be wonderful if McGuinty and the Liberals would be held to their
> promises. Sadly however, 200 years of political experience points out thet
> liberal politicians are beholden to their business backers, not to
> citizens, and especially not to the least well-off and their supporters.
> Erik Olin Wright argues that there is poverty not because leaders are
> well-meaning but misinformed, but rather that powerful interests benefit
> from the presence of poverty. These leaders and interests must not be
> convinced to reduce poverty, they must be forced to reduce poverty by
> political action. And re-electing liberals in a majority government is not
> the means by which this will occur."  - dennis raphael
>
> Will there be poverty reduction in Ontario?
>
> Tune in again in four years...
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Of related interest:
>
> Poverty and Policy in Canada: Implications for Health and Quality of Life
> by Dennis Raphael
> Foreword by Jack Layton
> http://tinyurl.com/2hg2df
>
> Staying Alive: Critical Perspectives on Health, Illness, and Health Care,
> edited by Dennis Raphael, Toba Bryant, and Marcia Rioux
> Foreword by Gary Teeple
> http://tinyurl.com/2zqrox
>
> Social Determinants of Health: Canadian Perspectives, edited by Dennis
> Raphael
> Foreword by Roy Romanow
> http://tinyurl.com/yptzae
>
> See a lecture!  The Politics of Population Health
> http://msl.stream.yorku.ca/mediasite/viewer/?peid=ac604170-9ccc-4268-a1af-9a9e04b28e1d
>
> Also, presentation on Politics and Health at the Centre for Health
> Disparities in Cleveland Ohio
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4129139685624192201&hl=en
>
> Dennis Raphael, PhD
> Professor and Undergraduate Program Director
> School of Health Policy and Management
> York University
> 4700 Keele Street
> Toronto ON M3J 1P3
> 416-736-2100, ext. 22134
> email: [log in to unmask]
> http://www.atkinson.yorku.ca/draphael
>
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