justifying the poor?

Question

Do the poor really have an excuse? now when I say "poor", I mean those who dont have physical, emotional, or mental "handicaps". but those who dont have these or any other "handicap", do those individuals have any right to ask for assistance or help from the demonized rich? Can they really blame the Right, and keep accusing them of corruption and trying to "keep them down"? I hear about the Lefties and poor claiming that the rich are this and that and doing this and that. now I can tunderstand people who have certain "handicaps". If anyone is familiar with the Right or Libertarians, they should know Neal Boortz, radio talkshow host. he mentioned that in America, there are only 3 rules to avoid poverty. stay in school, dont have kids, and get a job. he believes there is no excuse to be poor in this country other than "handicaps", therefore those without handicaps shouldnt receive help. At the moment, Id day Im not taking sides, so first Id like to hear opinions on this.

Answer 1

Millions of Americans are working at jobs that pay poverty wages. They work hard, pay taxes, and for the most part are responsilbe folks. Many of them did go to school and don't have kids either. Why are they the working poor and not rich?

There is a false assumption that all one must do to be successful is work hard. If this were true, 90% of our country would be upper-middle class or better. The truth is, there is only so much room at the top. A large number of Americans MUST be at the bottom, no matter how hard they try to be otherwise.

We aren't all blessed with a middle-class upbringing. Few of us have solid connections in the business world. Many of us were stuck attending sub-par schools. And most importantly of all, many Americans possess very little talent. All these factors are much more important than work in determining financial success in life.

Conservatives will think my argument is an attempt to bash the rich and coddle the poor, but I think I'm just being realistic. I don't feel our economic system is a moral test, as conservatives do. Poor people are not poor because they are immoral. Rich people aren't rich because they are better people.

I hope that gives you some things to think about.

Answer 2

...and don't do drugs.

great advice.

unless...

(1) Your school is so crappy that you don't learn a thing. You graduate without being able to learn how to read. It happens. Or your school is so unsafe (guns, violence or plain ol' bullying) that it's actually safer not to go.

or (2) you get raped. the way the conservatives want things - too bad; you're stuck with the kid anyway.

or (3) no one hires you. You don't have the skills, the social skills, the right connections... or the economy you are in has tanked.

or (3) you get a job, but it's not enough to pay your bills. Welcome to the working poor - you have to choose between food, heating, or the gasoline and car repairs to get to/from work. No car? Forget about a job above minimum wage, for the most part, and that's not enough for a single person to live on, let alone a family.

And then there's the fact that poor living conditions compound poor health effects.

But other than that, you're completely right. Any social ill can be easily solved by a sweeping generalization. All we need to do is listen to conservative radio, and all our problems are over.

Answer 3

clearly Neal Boortz had never attended an university level economics class.

Under a capitalist economic system, there is no way around having poor people. Even with a job, education and (or) no kids; no one guaranteed economic success. Why? Because resources are scarce and there are some that will not have access to any simply by virtue of their birth.

I understand this position. I understand why some with resources take it. They espouse this position because it is usually their (scarce) resources that are being redirected to the poor and they resent it.

But the truth of the matter is the government has a greater role that postal service and common defense. Government has an obligation to help the weakest of us. Those with out access to resources; those who are poor.

I am often confused by people like Neal. Those who would claim to be "compassionate conservatives" but would leave those with out access to resources to starve. It is this people who perpetuate class problems in america.

Answer 4

Boortz is right. The poor give up on success when they put their success in the hands of others. I and only I can make whatever I want out of my life. We have a right to equal opportunity, not equal results. This is the land of opportunity. I started my own business and risked everything I have. That is my choice.

On the other hand, you have Democratic politicians pimping the victim mentality. Blacks get it all the time and they have generation after generation of hearing this negativity. When a city comes along and wants to implement a dress code in government schools, they fight it. When privatization comes up, that is shot down. Never mind that these ideas work. Poverty is a mindset. History shows example after example of people who started in poverty who refused to stay there.

Then you have the feminists. They want special laws because of the glass ceiling. Note, every company has a ceiling. If you want more, go earn it elsewhere. Another example of victim thinking: blaming others for your failures or lack of successes. I have noticed that liberals cannot look at themselves in the mirror and think what did I do wrong.

Then you have the entitlement mentality that feels the poor should have whatever they want. The new liberal issue is health care. It is always something. The rich people earn their money. It belongs to them. Liberals want to come along and steal it and give it to others. This violates the whole premise of our country.

You can also look at the degradation of Christianity as a problem. Christians are taught to think of others instead of thinking of yourself. If you look at many Americans, they vote for people who will make their life better. What we need to do is do things that make all of our lives better. A perfect example is the tax system. Elected officials from both parties are lobbied and pass laws that impact one group: certain businesses, married people, people with kids. All this does is pass around the taxes from one to another. What we really need is the Fair Tax, which gets rid of all of this. This is why so many politicians are against it. Lobbyists make a lot of money. This is a huge business. We, as average Americans, foot the bill.

Answer 5

There are all kinds of reasons why someone might be unable to support themselves other than disability. Think of somebody who loses their job at 55, and did not have much to save, because they brought up children and did not earn too much in the first place. Are there really people who'd tell them they should not have had children?
In every society there is a small percentage of people who really don't want to work, but in my view a really civilized society says, "We don't like it, but we'll support you anyway, because we can afford it, and keeping you in prison would be even far more expensive."

Answer 6

The poor in this country have many benefits, programs, and assistance offered them. Many things the middle class does not have. But when you are in a society that makes it near impossible to break free because it pays too well to remain a failure, then that is a problem. They are caught in the modern day slave machine.

Answer 7

i think of i'm a Vegan because of the fact i'm a sadist and desire to pay attention Vegetable scream in discomfort. (nicely .... an ulterior reason is by using the fact I heard George Bush hates eating Broccoli, i've got faith that would desire to be the clarification why he make those humorous comments. as a result, with a view to not be a clown, I would desire to eat Broccoli.)

Answer 8

There is no reason in the USA for being poor. I came from a very "Poor" family, but got off my butt, went to college while working full time, and finally got my degree and very good jobs thereafter.
If you sit on your butt complaining about the rich, while doing nothing to better yourself, get used to flipping those burgers.

Answer 9

"there are only 3 rules to avoid poverty. stay in school, dont have kids, and get a job."...

Hmmm, well it works everytime its tried so maybe Mr. Boortz has something there...

Answer 10

Unless you are really disabled, you should have to work or starve. This country really screwed up by abolishing the poor farms.