[akytt]

There. Exactly there. We have something they don't have, thus it won't work. Do you have any evidence that there is a link to poverty in any of this? Did you not read about results in Bucharest? Have you _been_ to Bucharest? No,you guys are no special snowflakes and until somebody has tried a similar program with similar funding levels, engagement and duration and has found it not to work, you don't get to say "we have poverty".

[_archon_]

I agree with akytt, though I think there's a more general truth in play that hasn't been noted. Ongoing poverty perpetuates itself, which is why none of the short-term programs in the US have had lasting impact. We succeed, and find a way to uplift a cohort of people from poverty, but we don't address the root cause which would reduce the rate at which people enter into poverty. And so, a similar size group slides in to fill the uplifted cohort's place. When economic circumstances are favorable, fewer people are in poverty. Other times, more. Creating permanent economic booms would be great, but we don't know how to do it long-term.

What we do know how to do is to ensure that youths have the opportunity to learn, grow, and become self-aware before they enter the high-risk period of their adult lives. In the US, the focus is on access to academic education. We don't really address personal growth and self-awareness, except in using punishments to force youths to adhere to rules and conform to a certain degree.

Trill-i-am (GP) argues that perpetual poverty will engender escapism, resulting in drug use and reducing or neutralizing any productive effects of such a system in the US. Akytt (P) notes that the system is adjusted to fit the circumstances when implemented. I propose that on a longer time scale this program may result in a reduction of poverty because individual adults will be more likely to do something productive with their emotional energy and free time. The program puts kids in a situation where they can freely make self-directed choices that can improve themselves or uplift a team.

I have two questions. I would like to know what the average TV/[non-self-directed streaming] time is for kids in the US and Iceland. I would like to know what happens to local (adult and child both) poverty rates as well as adult drug use rates in sustained program cities and in comparable non-program cities over time.