Do poor people in America really have it that bad?

Question

I hear liberals whining all the time about the poor in America and how rough it is. I myself am poor right now because I'm going to school to get an education and not be poor. Something I noticed though about being poor in America. Us poor people have microwave ovens, DVD players, the food there if you want it, VCR's, some even have SUV's. People are not starving here in America. Poor people have it good when compared to other countries. But liberals are so ungratful and can't take responsibility for their own decisions. To them it's "if it feels good do it" and then when they get into a mess, their victims. I made some bad choices in life and I'm paying, but with hard work and good decisions, I'll be OK! God Bless America!!!!

Hey millie c, Did Americans put them out there or did their decisions put them there (i.e. i was a homeless alcoholic for years)

Hey mymadsky, nobody dictates who will live where here in America. And there is hope.

Answer 1

You may be poor, but if you have a bank account, even with a small balance, you have more money than 85% of people in the world.

Answer 2

I have been in some inner-city homes over the years volunteering and assisting poor people and I believe your definition of poor people dose not fit what there is to experience if you just open your eyes.

I saw old rundown houses with grandparents attempting to take care of their grand children. Keeping the utilities on was a struggle as well as food on the table. They were grateful for the assistance that we gave them in putting plastic over their windows to add a little bit more insulation to the worn-out drafty old windows and even the 9-volt batteries that we put in their smoke detectors if they were lucky enough to have smoke detectors at all. Some of the conditions we have seen people living in is just so sad and almost not fit for a human and yet it was all they had!

As you go through school I hope that you get the opportunity to study social services and get the chance to see that what you see as poor really is quickly becoming the middle class. What is really poor is something that you would be completely appalled to live in for even a day.

Yes there are people that are ungrateful, however look up the word liberal while you are there at school and you will see that it is the liberals that make things change for the better and are looking out for the common good and not just worried about them selves with righteous indignation as you seem to be. You will find liberals like Patrick Henry, John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison and the list goes on and on, they were not going to do things the same old way!

Answer 3

There's a real difference between being poor, and not having money in your pocket. Imagine if somebody broke into your place, stole your DVD, VCR, SUV, and Microwave? How would you replace them? If you can do so, then you aren't as poor as you think.

It's all a matter of perspective. When I first moved to Los Angeles, I took a part time minimum wage job at starbucks while I slept on a friends couch, and tried to find better work. One day at the Buck, a lady asked me to make sure that I blended her frappacino twice because "A chunky Frappacino is the WORST thing in the world." I stopped her at that point to cheer her up. If a chunky frappacino was the worst thing I'd have to face in a day, things would be pretty good. I'd hold my blended beverage high for all to see, and announce proudly to all the world that nothing worse than this will happen to me today.

The point is, College doesn't really teach you about poverty. It's a controlled envoronment. Having done both College and poverty, I can definitively tell you that there is a difference. I'm glad you're able to look at the bright side, it's nice to have nice things; but not everybody does (that's sort of what poor means), and it's arrogant to look down on them for their lack.

Answer 4

i think this depends on the situation. i refuse to believe that all homeless people are homeless because of the decisions they made. Every body goes through some ruff times, I'm beginning to think this a pride issue. I'm not afraid to admit when i need help. However You are talking about poor people which i fall into that category. There is a difference between poor and poverty. I live check by check i scrape change for gas and food. I do have my own transportation, and a bed to sleep on for now. I may need a little assistance from my government in the near future. Does that bother you? i may need my country to help me get back on my feet for a little bit. If they are willing to help me then all i can say is Yay! Now to answer your question. In comparison to other countries no i don't think poor Americans have it bad however, being poor sucks. i can't wait to go back to college and finish my education and become a software engineer.

Answer 5

Yes, there is a sector in America that does have it "that bad", you just havent been exposed to it. There are people that are starving, sick or mentally ill with no hope. As someone else said, in Appalachia, inner cities, and parts of the deep south. Look at the homeless.

You say that you are poor, but you had some form of guidance that made sure you were and continue to be educated so that you can eventually support yourself. You have food, shelter, water, and you have healthcare.

Poverty tends to be a generational evil. Don't take for granted the guidance that got you where you are now.

Answer 6

American poor means $150.00 Basketball shoes $200.00 Team jacket, $300.00 Medalion $100.00 Jeans, No belt to hold it all up priceless. Go sit at the welfare office and then tell me I'm wrong. Oh by the way who pays for the unlimited time on the cell phone.

Answer 7

No, very few US citizens are actually "Poor" in the sense that there is absolutely nothing they can do in order to better their lives, thus the statistics that you have provided are actual facts, however, via our absolutely corrupted so-called government, media, and self interest lobby groups... of which all are contributing to the fall of America in many ways, one in particular is the deliberate flood of illegal aliens into our country, of whom most are actually "Poor" thus the hard working US citizens are being forced to pick up the tab, so to speak, and the bottom line is that the loony liberals voted for the scum in office that deliberately caused this mess...

Answer 8

That's the point there is opportunity everywhere in the US. Those that are on the street are usually there because of drugs or alcohol abuse. There are those that slip through the cracks & are unable to receive help. The ones on welfare live better then I do - get behind one in a check-out line, they have name brand everything - thick steaks & so on - me I look for what's on sale. So compared to other countries our poor is their wealthy!

Answer 9

You have a point about poverty in foreign nations being different from poverty in the United States. But your baseless and unsubstantiated stabs at "whining" liberals sabotages your otherwise interesting question.

Here's another question: in a country so rich as the United States why should there be any poverty or homelessnes at all?

As for poor people having all those amenities, people make businesses out of lending and giving credit to low-income consumers. Having a DVD player and a microwave (throw-away technology at it's best) have nothing to do with having an education, a healthful lifestyle, and other aspects of an upwardly mobile class. Which the poor in the United States tend to not be.

Answer 10

Amen Jamie!!! There are different levels of poor, even here in America, but I feel that none of those levels can even start to compare themselves to the poor people in the rest of the world.

I know we have homeless people, but unlike other countries we have homeless shelters, food shelves etc., etc., etc.

Edit: I see people still don't get it. Yes there are poor people here in the United States of America, but there is more ways to help them and pull them out of poverty here then there is anywhere else in the world.

Answer 11

How are you defining poor? If you have all of those creature comforts, it sounds to me like your life is too pampered to be considered that of someone poor. Secondly, making a blanket statement about poor people in general does a better job of exposing your ignorance than I or anyone else ever could. There are so many TRULY poor people out there who are neither lazy nor stupid, which doesn't seem to be something you've come to terms with. Also, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that you've never been abroad. Am I wrong? If so, where did you go?