Commercial Appeal Article

The article in the Commercial Appeal was incredibly interesting. Basically, the author went into great detail and served to write in such a way that I became pretty upset. He discusses Memphis' poverty economy and plays very much into stereotypes many people, including myself prior to this class hold. His interviews and comments from "the impoverished" who use the system of social safety net programs like food stamps and Section 8 subsidies depict the poor as lazy and manipulative. He does such a great job at stirring up emotions and historical precedents that there are 122 comments, like this one, 

"Terrible news for those of us that WORK.... these are leeches that destroy the economy. For every dollar that is give as a handout from the government.... a dollar is taken away from a hard working taxpayer. A dollar the hard working taxpayer could use to educated his children, a dollar that could be used to start a small business and create jobs, a dollar that could save the life of a small child with a disease. Instead that dollar provides enough of a cushion for a welfare mom to spend "her" money she got elsewhere (most likely illegally) to get another tattoo on her fat butt, another gold tooth, to buy cigarettes, beer, drugs... or to make another trip to Tunica...... and Obama smiles." 

I feel like this article was presented to us as a way to remind us that despite our semester of education in the difficulties of the urban poor, many people will continue to be on the opposite side of every argument we make. Thoughts? Was anyone else pissed off at the article or the comments?

Also, here's the article link: 
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/dec/30/poverty-industry-drives-memphis-economy/