I don't buy that..that people are hoping for an underclass. How does it benefit them? More taxes? More crime, which is not a necessary aspect of poverty...but there is one thing that might go through peoples' minds..and that is...my son and now my daughter..is not going to fight in any wars so we just better have some people who will do it instead..so for that reason, which I have never heard anyone voice before, and I think it is subconscious until this very moment...I think people do accept behaviors which almost gaurantee poverty (drugs, crime, children out of wedlock)so that there is a "class" of people who will do the fighting. I think there is no other reason that people would want other people to be poor..they might have to pay more for garbage removal, for dairy products, etc., but they would pay fewer taxes and would be safer and towns would be prettier. They are allowed to be kept poor, and many things stated on this particular thread will keep people poor and drag more into their midst besides...for only one reason I can think of, and that is to die so that your son or daughter might not have to. And no, I don't think this is nice or good civic practice or even humane but I think it is happening on a subconscious level. mg