Are poor people in America, stupid/lazy?

Question

in a country where there is welfare, free h.s., democracy, freedom of speech, medicaid etc. what is the excuse of a poor American?
why is it that so many immigrants come here from europe and asia, hold spots in top universities and take in good jobs. these immigrants came from countries who couldnt give them democracy, medicaid etc, thats why they left. if the immigrants can make it without those luxuries, why cant americans with those luxuries?

Answer 1

Sadly the problem is in our welfare and medicaid system. There are many of use that should be on these systems that can't get into them, but work hard because of it. Then there are those that that don't need either, but the government helps them out and they live a life on easy street. These people may be lazy, but they are far from stupid. Now don't get me wrong, there are those on the system that are there that need the help and those tend to be some of the hardest workers that have just hit a hard point. Most likely these people will leave the system and go back to work. Please don't blame the whole for the corrupting actions of the ones that destroy a good system.

Answer 2

There is a great deal of the 'someone owes me' attitude in the US.

Everyone has the opportunity for education - no excuses. Everyone can achieve higher education - no excuses. Everyone here really does have opportunities that they piss away -- there are no excuses.

Before anyone says "you've never been poor" -- think again. I was a teen mother - and my exhusband and married when were 17. We busted our butts, never collected a single DIME in welfare or medicaid. We paid our bills, scrimped our pennies, and we both have college degrees today. We are financially secure (although divorced - but that's another issue) and we both work hard. No one handed us a thing - and we made it to success. So I truly believe that if you can't make it in this country then yes you are probably lazy or self-centered , or both.

Answer 3

It appears to me as an outsider looking in, that in America as with all other countries that there is no such thing as equal opportunities....Take the rural populations of both black and white people....Are their schools,Hospitals,Homes etc as good as say the ones in New York and other big cities?...of course not!.....some people achieve success ,others achieve little and others fall by the wayside....Then of course we have the poor "illegals" immigrants who come to your country looking for a better life!....Talk to them about all the "luxuries they enjoy in America!......Yes..America "skims the cream" and will happily take immigrants qualified to hold "top jobs"...You said it all!!

Answer 4

Some are just that. Lazy. They think they are owed. Some however are poor through no fault of their own. Dead parents, lost jobs, etc. Wish we could weed out the lazy from the poor.

Answer 5

Some of the immigrants get special benefits we as citizens dont get.They dont pay taxes and get special treatment just because they are immigrants. While I agree some are just lazy there a large number who get around the system. So they are not stupid.

Answer 6

good question...

not all poor americans are lazy, a friend of mine has had a troubling life. her father held one of the top positions in his company...but due to a car accident a part of his brain was damaged and he now works at walmart due to his 'mental disabilities' ... so i guess by now her family is considered 'poor' all because of a car accident. basically, some ppl cant change the position they are in, they can try all they want but society has its rules and qualifications... then of course there are ppl like the Hilton sisters who dont know sh*t, but get paid thousands for making an appearance....

as for immigrants, well i am one myself. Born in Lithuania, mom got remarried to a (i guess u could say succesful) Danish man. He pretty much took us out of europe and in time moved us to US.... i admit that im in a pretty darn good college right now too.
i guess the reason for us immigrants succeeding so much farther is because we already know what it is like to live in hell... i cant say my childhood was all that happy, both parents worked from 8am to 9pm (i never got to spend time with them)... as a kid i experienced a lot of things kids shouldnt go through... i saw my mother and brother abuse by my father, my mom at one point tried to kill herself, ive seen gangsters shoot eachother in the playground where i spent time with other kids. Basically, life was no fun
i guess i hold my past as my motivation to find a better life...i know that i dont want to go back to what i felt as a kid so getting a good job is important...and if you ask many other immigrants they will tell u a story that is similar to mine.
in addition, education is better in US - my first grade teacher in europe used to literally hit us with a ruler if we did something wrong( i think that has changed by now though)...plus, with a degree from an american college can get you a job anywhere in the world...whereas a degree form anywhere in the world will doubtfully get you a job in america or any other top country...

so to sum it up, most americans (not all) are raised in spoils and riches, never experiencing the meaning of true work....whereas most immigrants have already gone through a life of hardship and work to succeed so their children wont have to go through the same brutal hardships...

Answer 7

so many of them are just LAZY not stupid though. i get alot of people that apply for a job but want to work under the table so it wont effect there monthly check.....so there not stupid our government is for giving these bastar*s a check every month.

Answer 8

That is certainly part of the problem. However, that leaves more for me.