This is a great book about the inherent racism, among other things, in America's welfare system - as the book's title ably demonstrates. Unlike anti-welfare polemics written by rich white guys for the Heritage Foundation you can't accuse Star Parker of not knowing what she's talking about. She lived on welfare, had four abortions, and she was a member of the dispirited poor - and she's black.

Still, liberals won't like it one bit. Or, progressives, or whatever they want to be called. Ms. Parker believes wholeheartedly that most (not all, as some reviewers falsely claim) of the poor's problems stem from their mindset. She's not entirely wrong. But detractors will immediately say she's racist - but wait, she's black. Hmm, we can't play the race card but we can play the capitalism is exploitative card. Capitalism is greedy, that's why poor people are poor. Besides that America is racist - they keep the poor, usually black, man down. But Parker tackles these issues based partly on her own experiences and partly on statistics and theory (the last two is where I wish the book was footnoted). Progressive supporters of the Great Society won't admit it, but welfare has had a detrimental effect on the poor and the black family, especially the latter (Moynihan was a prophet). What else could it be? Parker has an answer. It is not just the various Great Society programs that make it feasible and seemingly acceptable for poor men and women to be promiscuous - there is a loss of morals in this country. She is right about the detrimental effects of moral relativism and "multiculturalism," which are nothing but excuses to screw and do what you want.

An excellent book if you can find it cheaply. ( )