PRIORITIES, PEOPLE. There's a great op-ed in the Post about how Tony Blair's government managed to take a big bite out of child poverty and how America should do the same. A conservative, of course, would tell you that whether or not millions of children grow up in poverty is none of the government's concern, and if you happen to feel bad about poverty you should just donate some money to poor people. A sophisticated liberal recognizes the need of structural change -- government action. Thus, leave the panhandlers alone and spend your money on something like a subscription to The American Prospect to help build support for the cause.
--Matthew Yglesias
