Why do people think that becuase a person is poor that they have no rights. That they should not be allowed to live in a better neighboor hood or go to a better school. What I am trying to find out is why are poor people treated like they have no rights?
2006-07-19 09:30:29 · 7 answers · asked by senatormorgan2000 1 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
I honestly think most of the anti poor rhetoric is learned...the people that are barely making it are proud of their accomplishments and want to believe the political hype that they are better than the people who aren't making it. The people at the top profit from this hierarchal reinforcement. I also think that people that are barely making it know that they are only one illness or accident or bad law away from being one of those at the bottom. And they can't think about that, so they focus on what they are doing to keep themselves where they are. They just assume (***-u-me) that others could do it too. It isn't easy for a lot of people to put themselves in others shoes. There's alot of competition and it appears to be that competitive attitude that prevent some people from charitable feelings. You know, charitable feelings don't cost you anything but a few heart strings. Sometimes we just want someone to CARE. Thanks for the question.
2006-07-19 10:12:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a persistent belief that anyone who works hard and forgoes short term gratification for long term goals will be rewarded with a better living and wealth in the US. So, assuming these noble actions will always yield financial outcomes some believe they can determine a person's character/motivation/intellegence by their status in terms of wealth and where they live. You can hear this in some through their indignation that someone would dare feel that the playing field is somehow unfair. The more you believe that there is equal opportunity, logically, the more you would feel that a person's lack of wealth is a sign of a disfunctional issue within them.
However the question, as has been questioned by many economists including Paul Samuelson, Alan Greenspan, is whether the US is still the land of opportunity that it used to be. By far, the primary cause of wealth of a person in the US is the parents that they have. While there are no doubt examples of people working their way up, these people are not the rule, and more and more the exception.
The Economist magazine last month discussed the declining mobility of lower class individuals to upper class in the US, pointing out that it is now easier in France to work your way up the social ladder. No disrespect to the French, but FRANCE?? If you doubt this, and the Economist, you can refer to the GINI indexes kept by the world bank, and it supports this point of view, the top fifth stays the top fifth throughout their lives.
So, the wealthy are rich because they are smart. If the poor are smart, they would be wealthy too, despite the fact that their parents were also poor. So they say.
The sad issue with all this is that many not so wealthy have bought into this nonsense. Look at the "death tax" non-issue for 95% of everyone in the US, but for some reason we all work our a$$es of for this elite group thinking we will someday be like them and have to struggle with estate taxes for our kids.
2006-07-19 10:12:56 · answer #2 · answered by bizsmithy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since when is living in a good neighborhood or going to a school of your choice a right?
We all have the same basic rights, but the perks that come with being a productive member of society are earned. You can't just sit on a street corner with a "give me some money because I'm pathetic" sign and expect to live in a nice house in suburbs. You have to do something productive to earn that privilege.
2006-07-19 09:41:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It usually is because of their lack of education and refinement. Not that it is ok, but I believe these lead to it. A lot of things happen to come with poverty, such as crime, promiscuity, illiteracy, and many others that the well off do not want to be bothered with, nor to influence thier child in school. It's an unfortunate result of the democratic society that will not go away anytime soon, if ever.
2006-07-19 09:37:50 · answer #4 · answered by Olive Green Eyes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you like ppl walking up to your car window when you are at a red light begging for money? I work hard for my money, why can't they?!!! They are moochers.
2006-07-19 09:37:55 · answer #5 · answered by WyoHunter 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because rich people like to have Guinea pigs to do things too
2006-07-19 09:37:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
stick your head up ande do your own thing don't worry about the snobs,being your own person makes them mad
2006-07-19 09:36:49 · answer #7 · answered by honeysuckle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋