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Poverty the biggest threat to democracy?

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    Authors Tavis Smiley and Cornel West on how to tackle the problem

  • Duration 7:01
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The topic we cover here on Hannity every night class warfare and as we point out the president's attempt to -- distribute wealth in this country.

We always -- as a strategy actually work.

We'll -- look at some of the key poverty statistics will you be hard pressed to think.

That Obama's economic agenda is helping in any way for example -- total number of food stamp recipients.

Has increased by almost fifty million people since the president took office.

And when it comes to the amount of Americans living below the poverty line while that number has increased by more than six million people since 2008.

So -- numbers indicated the big government is not the answer -- my next guests say.

They actually want greater involvement in solving the poverty issue and they're also saying the poverty so extreme it actually poses a threat toward national security.

So tonight we look at the depth of the poverty problem the impact it has on our country and where the solution.

Actually lives.

And earlier I sat down with the authors of the brand new book the rich and the rest of us -- poverty manifesto.

Professor Cornell west and to have a smiling.

Guys welcome back problem I -- This is a mind and then Travis and I kind of got our career started together and professor it's always good to see you don't think we agree -- good -- I do enjoy it on both you criticize Barack Obama wanna thank you for that.

And we try to tell the truth we're pretty we're critical do we -- -- -- you -- -- -- brought I -- that was kind of guys decide to -- yeah that doesn't.

I don't even met at the title of your book.

I really -- because this goes back to somehow look at it it almost Barack -- who said it's not red America blue America it's United States of America.

I don't like this division.

This wedge Travis.

But the president's using him in the 99 -- the 1%.

The rich and the rest of us so -- it is somehow indicates that that's a bad thing that people are successful.

Not at all Mitt -- -- what he thinks we're engaging in what he calls the politics and -- be no one.

Who happens before wants what mr.

Romney hand they just want to move beyond.

-- copy of opportunity in this country to -- to -- -- to an opportunity to play on a level playing field.

We are dangerously close -- to cementing a permanent.

American catastrophe here and I'm the rich the rich more than the poor are responsible and in fact.

For this catastrophe we have now yet the poor.

-- heaviest price although they're not responsible for the damages -- The Great Recession and you say the -- responsible wait a minute.

How how government policies that are responsible.

Government policy who we now borrow forty cents of every dollar.

43 million Americans in poverty.

One and seven families in America the numbers of -- people dependent as I just pointed out fifteen million -- -- Americans from needing food stamps.

How the rich responsible for the top 10% pay 70% of the bill.

We know about a shot didn't government policies tend to reinforce.

The -- Wall Street and corporate do you leads.

Interest free loan wouldn't that be nice is still has an interest free loan but our banks do.

Wouldn't it be nice of you can take your labor force that can -- -- -- China and Mexico and pay lower wages and -- lost.

If he can -- even when unemployment and underemployment government policy to Lofton reinforce.

That kind of power of the well to do -- -- can -- we're calling for an acknowledgment of poor people humanity and.

Wouldn't imagine -- Hamas I would agree would concede appointee professor I don't want any -- like that.

I'm not not don't want any bailout we really that finally -- every detail about -- we want everybody to be rich.

We -- we can't blame the people that have been successful.

We've got to look at the behavior in the rich.

We've got to give everybody -- good education.

And we gotta get government out of the way.

Why do you how -- -- is that -- -- answer.

-- not blaming.

Know what you gotta make jobs available little brother -- that's the problem you -- -- jobs available intelligent I would be the first to say.

That we -- -- -- Catholic -- critical of Mitt Romney because he's not.

Concern about the pork yes we're critical Barack Obama we don't Barack -- -- better than Mitt Romney but we're critical of the system that he hit the system tilts toward the red.

The single best thing we can do is unleash the power of entrepreneur almost an entrepreneurial -- It was eight years Reagan was president he created 21 million new jobs 21 W -- -- come up with John and the readiness to wait a minute.

And he didn't accumulate five trillion in new debt.

Like Obama has he created -- I didn't want to one million new jobs you -- five trillion in debt.

Then -- military and what a better.

That are written but really -- -- this important point don't.

Entrepreneur -- should have been very different then.

Big banks and big corporation -- and I agree small businesses once they are unleash.

Can in fact from my job with a living wage if of course thinking now on the road unions but when you're talking about corporations and banks to make big money big cut back.

Then we're dealing with -- 1% of the population and I.

I agree with it and 70% Josh -- created professor come from a small businesses which of the very people that have been targeted.

By Barack Obama if these tax cut -- -- inject.

-- -- On this -- we agree the Obama administration has not done enough for small business.

In this country they shot him with a big -- is this.

They've not looked out for small because we agree on there.

But -- -- getting -- it must finally be busted whatever credit you wanna -- to Ronald Reagan he did whatever he did on the backs of poor people this audio this.

-- on the floor.

Shot the numbers like -- Saudi.

You know look -- Whitman felt about Reagan never created five trillion in debt rating gave us 21 million new jobs from radio I'm -- -- -- -- I'm sure.

As the only our president that's not created and that single job.

Steady as lost as of this moment about a million jobs in the country a million fewer people talking he's got Roger -- -- and the poverty rate skyrocketed under Reagan no -- -- -- little and probably can't agree it is not enough greed is not enough.

And we -- -- you put that well -- -- -- Ronald Reagan told us about when he made a total Immersion.

All right guys to know you don't want in the -- -- I wanna -- that I didn't have my brother know the book isn't.

The greatest fascinating even though it irritates a living daylights out of me the original lesson -- I think he made that I didn't have a lot open you just to annoy me but I still think.

This is a conversation worth having I don't want a single American and -- -- good.

There's going to be number of conservatives who do have compassion look at -- and the commodity who would be very intricate.

I'm a little I want the I want to solve the problem but get government out of the way he's.

All right we'll have we want to compassion and justice compassion and justice are the next jump back to New York -- on me you come in studio will solve the problem right here.

We -- it would take you -- -- you -- thank you both for being with us and coming -- DNC --

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