Are poor people to blame for their predicament?

Question

Are poor people poor because they are lazy, uneducated, or just plain bad people?

And is the inverse logic true. Are rich people rich because, they are driven, smart, and good people?

Everytime I go thru a fastfood drive thru, I see a person working twice as hard as I do, but probably making half the money or probably even a third of the money. Then I get home and turn on the TV and see Paris hilton on Larry King sounding like a complete idiot.

Is blaming poor people for poverty tantamount to blaming a rape victim for being in the worng place?

and do non-western cultures hold this same view of class?

Answer 1

As always, I love your questions!

In my opinion, anyone who believes that all, or even most, poor people are lazy and/or uneducated is completely oblivious. I assume that this question is directed at those of us who live under capitalism (more specifically, the United States), so that's what I'll focus on-

Capitalism does precisely the opposite of what it's supporters believe that it does- It does NOT ensure that all people are afforded the opportunity of improving their lifestyles and creating wealth. Capitalism causes poverty and a VERY unequal distribution of wealth. It serves the purpose of creating profits for private business owners at the expense of the working class- profits that line the pockets of politicians, law makers, and government officials. This is one of the biggest reasons why our government perpetuates racism on all "sides" and wants us to buy into the so-called threat of terrorism... Our government seeks to maintain our focus on matters which will continue to keep our focus off of the things that truly matter- the fact that we are being used to maintain the wealth of the rich. Keep us blind, ignorant, over-worked, preoccupied, and sick- That's what I always say.

Are some people lazy? Certainly. Are some people uneducated? Definitely. But what exactly does this mean in a capitalist society? Many people refuse to work. This is true. But they are not all lazy. There are several who see the truth and refuse to participate in capitalism (capitalism being nothing more than the rich dictating everyone else- a dictatorship disguised in a costume called democracy and free enterprise). Think I'm full of sh1t? Try living on minimum wage (or worse, try living on the wage of wait staff). Try living as a homeless person. Try living as a parent who cannot afford to so much as buy diapers for his/her baby. Try all of the former, and then some, and then dare to claim that the impoverished as a majority are lazy. Many, if not most, cannot afford to be lazy. Their very existence demands constant activity, whether or not their activities are viewed as acceptable by society. This is NOT laziness.

As far as education is concerned, education is a major tool for enslaving us. The job of educators is to teach pro-capitalist history and ideals. It (education) isn't teaching but rather a tool to condition and program. One of the primary purposes of education is to "train" the masses to be a part of the work force (to be on time, to SUPPOSEDLY work for the betterment of ourselves and society, to speak when spoken to, to clock in and out, to do our ''duty'' for our nation...). From the moment that we are old enough to become enslaved, we are trained "to serve our nation" and defend the "freedom" of capitalism. But it's all a conspiracy to feed the wealth of those who stuff the pockets of the corrupt sh1t heads who are running this country.

Think about the very idea of "homework"- The student is being dictated and controlled on his/her OWN TIME. Think I'm being ridiculous? Well, I don't believe so. Capitalism robs people of their cultures. It imports slaves from cultures that are deprived of food, housing, and clothing. Think slavery doesn't exist here? Think again, oh foolish one. You think slavery was ever truly abolished? HA! What do you think you do every day? You support rich people. Your "daily grind" isn't for your own benefit. Your "daily grind" is for the benefit of the rich.

Think white people are "in the clear"? Well then, white people, what do YOU know about your cultures? Are you going to say that your culture is "American"? POINT PROVEN! We have all died a slow death at the "hands" of capitalism. You (white people) have simply been conditioned to believe that you haven't been victims of "culture loss". But this is a nonsense lie birthed by capitalism. Why do you think that poor, "disposable" white people were slaves? For the same reason that black people were slaves- because capitalists must do this to have someone at the bottom of the work force. Poor people are required to renounce their cultural background and accept capitalism... The cultures that resist are "slapped" with harsher rules and deprived until/unless they accept capitalism. (Anyone thinking of the countless black people in prison?)

I'm quite sure that someone will spout off about the middle class- "If capitalism feeds the rich then why is there a middle class?" Get real! The middle class is a capitalist invention that feeds the rich just as much as the impoverished feed the rich. Who do you think funds welfare? Welfare is just another way to keep the rich people rich and the poor people poor. The government doesn't want to pay it (welfare), and they certainly aren't going to force the rich (who line their pockets) to pay it. So who pays for it? THE MIDDLE CLASS. Some might say that the government could just take everyone's money. No need for welfare, right? But remember- We're talking about capitalism- It's more beneficial to keep everyone stupid and "do it on the sneak tip". So, then, what's the purpose of welfare? If you need to ask that question after reading everything I've said then, in my opinion, capitalist programming has trapped your mind.


To the stupid little twit who said that people who work in fast food didn't work hard enough on their educations-
There might be hope for you if mommy and daddy don't take care of you when you grow up. Get real! Lack of education doesn't equate to fast food work. I hope reality slaps the snot out of you when you get old enough to wipe your butt.

Answer 2

Most of it is just an accident of birth. I think it is possible to make something of your life if you are born into a poor family, but it takes a lot of luck, as well as drive and skill etc.

Some people work hard their entire lives and have little to show for it, but I suppose life is unfair.

Answer 3

Some are to blame and some aren't. Some people become poor because they make bad choices, such as drugs or dropping out of school...Other people become poor due to bad luck, such as they were struggling with money and then their house burned down so they had nothing. I agree that people that work in fast food restaurants work harder than some people, but they didn't work hard enough on their education, so they are having to make up for it now. Paris Hilton is horrible and I hope that no one looks up to her as a role model because she does absolutely nothing with her life or her money (no donations to charity or anything). I don't blame poor people for poverty, but yes I do believe that in some cases it is the persons fault that they are poor, but definately not all cases. And about rape...no one deserves rape.

Answer 4

most rich people are from familys that have been rich for generations, i.e. hiltons, and other family's like them. their younger generations don't even know the value of money or hard work, nor have they worked for the lush life they experience. they've done nothing that makes them worthy of the title 'rich' or the misconception that because they are rich they are "driven, smart or good".

most of them are stupid, arrogant, haugty, stingy, and uncaring. a lot of rich persons don't even donate to charities, nor do they use their money or (more importantly, their STATUS) to change the world.

you do get the occasional rich person that built their wealth, but sometimes, to me, it seems like these people would have been just like us (middle class america) had they missed a few of the 'breaks' they received. for example if oprah had not have gotten her early journalism jobs or her own show, she wouldn't be the business mougol she is now. or if bill gates had 'slept' on his idea's that netted him the apple empire.

so, no, i don't believe that rich people are generally rich because they are any more 'good', driven, or smarter than poor people.

i believe that a lot of people in middle america are living two checks away from a very bad situation....poverty could happen to any of us and anyone who doesn't understand that is deceiving themselves. many decent people have been fired, lost their homes thru foreclosure, fire or divorce and found themselves homeless or broke. why do you think those people flip out and kill their families, or abort their children: a lot of the times it's because they can't afford a single more mouth to feed, or they've lost their jobs and can't fathum being poor or can't pull themselves out of a bad situation.

poverty can happen to anyone. not just the lazy, the uneducated or the bad.

also, some people living below the poverty line, find it easier to function just getting by. they focus on the here and now and they have no time, patients or the funds to indulge their dreams, focus on possibilities or finish their education. it's much more important to get any job you can, pay the rent, feed your kids, and save for their education so that they don't live the way you do.

there is a reason for everything. if everyone were like us, who would run the fast food places. if everyone was well-educated and 'too good for a broom', who would be the janitors, garbage men, waitresses or other low-paying job-holders?

what the people discribed here need is more respect and dignity from others. these people aren't stupid, they aren't lazy and they aren't bad.

convicts are bad. rapists are bad. drug-dealers are bad.

poor people are generally good people with little to no money.

and a lot of people who work at fast food places and other low-paying jobs, work there because they don't need a lot of money....i worked there in high school as do a lot of present students. you need 'work experience' to graduate sometimes...ex-cons can only get work like these jobs....retiree's who only want to get out of the house and meet people while making a little money also work these jobs. some people are paying for mistakes they've made in the past....maybe they have a police record, or drug charges or other things that keep them working jobs like this.

at any rate,
my family was poor for generations, but because we are also very smart and driven and very good people, we have progressed with every generation. two generations ago we were on welfare, living in the projects.

my sisters, cousins and i now own homes and cars, have never been on welfare, our occupations include big-3 (auto) workers, authors, journalist, house-wives, store and small-business owners, and such, and we are building our worth and teaching subsequent generations the value of money and business ownership.

we (my family and i) came from poor people. those poor people were not lazy, uneducated or bad people and neither are we.

-hbb

ps
i agree with 'just another yahoo id': welfare was created to keep poor people poor...some people get really comfortable living that way, and who wouldn't? middle class america also pays for that and that keeps us from getting rich (high taxes and such). it seems like the rich, though, don't pay for much and they just get richer. everything is a weird plot by the government...i just haven't figured it out yet.....we're all trapped in the matrix and none of us have a clue.....

Answer 5

I think you have to look at each case differently. I think there are poor people who choose not to better themselves and there are some that are trying hard to better themselves. But those that are trying to better themselves may not have the resources in order to improve their situation.

Answer 6

The Republicans think so.

Answer 7

Yep. There is no reason to be poor in this country other than lack of education or lack of desire to work.

Answer 8

Yes they are. This country offers many opportunities for all Americans. People need to stop feeling sorry for themselves and get off their asses and make better of themselves.

Answer 9

With few exceptions that prove my case, yes, they are to blame for their own situation and station in life.

Answer 10

Yes, they are to blame.