Since the US is the "richest nation in the world", does it owe everyone a living?

Question

I am growing weary of the "the US is the richest nation in the world and yet it has people begging on the streets." So, are all of us productive people expected to cowboy up and take care of all of the "disenfranchised". After all, we're rich, right? Just peel a few more hundreds off the rolls in our pockets to help?

Answer 1

we might be able to help

... if we had things like priorities

but the priorities we do have are all screwed up, so no ... we don't

our system is based on people 'doing' for themselves ... the shame is that people feel this country owes them something, and the truth is it doesn't, more to the point our government doesn't produce anything, and it never will

being rich and privileged means there will be rich people that want to help others in need ... the key word being 'need', which does not mean "stop what you're doing, free hand-outs here"

Answer 2

I hear you loud and clear!

Yes, we have a lot of homeless people. I won't go into all the reasons why there are so many. I do believe we should take care of them if they are really in need. If they have problems we should address that issue. The only trouble is, I don't know a reliable solution.

One thing that didn't help is when all the governments in closed down so many mental hospitals and forced many mentally handicapped people out on the street.

What irritates me is that we have no problem helping out the rich with various tax breaks, bail outs, etc.

Jesus said we will always have the poor with us, and He was correct. Nothing is 100% in this world.

One day I had the honor of meeting Mother Teresa. I asked her about how we can help the poor people in other countries. She told me to take care of your own first!! That really surprised me.

If anybody should help the disenfranchised it is us. Even if it is only a few dollars to your favorite charity. We give money every month to the Salvation Army.

This new government of ours is beyond my comprehension. Its dispersion of its funds (our money) doesn't make sense to me.

You have asked an outstanding question. One of the best I have seen on Y/A. But a complicated subject. So many books have been written about this problem and yet no realistic solutions.

It is going to be interesting to see what type of answers you will receive from this question. Again, thank you for such a thought provoking issue. It didn't sound mean spirited either.

Answer 3

Tell me one thing the US has it did not acquire through war.

You claim the US is productive. What exactly does it produce? What do you produce? Do you really work more than people in S. America? Why is the US rich?

The US does not owe alms. The US has stolen from very many people who are now indigent. Every time you see a person on the street, think about it. If he is a Mexican, remember how the US stole half of Mexico and how the Mexican economy was enslaved by NAFTA. If he were black, remember that your own economy was built with the hard work of unpaid slaves. You have nothing you have not stolen.

Answer 4

I don't even like seeing a (possibly) illegal immigrant dying in the E.R. waiting room in L.A.. I doubt she had insurance, Ms. Rodriguez, who died without care, is the ugly face of the politics surrounding medicine in the USA today. I'm sure if she had had money, she'd have been admitted already by the physician she couldn't afford to see. Many people without insurance in the USA go to the emergency room before seeing a doctor. They wait until it's really urgent. I know because when I was relatively poor, I had a broken tooth and couldn't afford the dentist, so I just lived with until it got infected, and I went to NYU dental school, and they took care of it cheaply. Another issue is that hospitals are required to provide emergency care even if the person doesn't have insurance; but a big city hospital in the USA that handles lots of charity cases and never gets paid for them can be bombarded every day by people screaming that they're dying and they find out it's not urgent. Other industrialized nations are not dealing with the large numbers of illegal immigrants and down-and-out Americans and their children that cost money to treat; hospitals face budget cuts from state and federal aid reductions, then there are the lawsuits to deal with that are ultimately settled with taxpayer money as hospitals could go bankrupt. I don't pity the poor hospitals, no, but like everything the money has to come from somewhere to keep anything open. Americans want to keep our taxes low, but we still want the services like fire, police, public schools, emergency medical facilities. So many Americans vote against their own interests for some obscure and unscientific reasons. What I'm saying is that those who vote (R) basically wouldn't want their taxes going to support all the little "urchins" looking for a handout, but they never complain about the bigwheels or the fatcats. Now watch them act appalled that they let that lady die in the ER waiting room and 911 wouldn't help her. This's what you voted for if you vote (R) (with few exceptions) I'd like to see affordable medical care for everyone. It's the middle class that's suffering the most here now, since those that are really poor can get Medicaid more easily. but so many middle class "wanna be" with the rich guys, so they go along with whatever the party decides, no questions asked. They point the finger at the poor, but don't criticize the big man with the gun. I think government could negotiate cheaper deals for medicine, but the related private industries don't want to see their profits drop. The Dems. mention national health care in their platform. Critics say it would raise taxes, and if a Dem. President tries to push for socialized medicine, the fight will be vicious from the (R) side. And why? Ultimately the (R)'s don't want their money going to pay for the poor, who in their opinion don't work or are lazy. Businesses would like it, because it would save them from paying for employee health insurance. This could lure some companies to the USA for business. From another viewpoint though, compared to other industrialized nations, which have populations that are full of educated people, and tend to be more homogeneous, the USA is like a more "open world" than Canada or Germany, with a growing 3rd world population... I can't defend the USA's current medical situation; it's unfair, inhumane, and ultimately profit is the main goal. I know there's good quality, and those who come here from Canada or elsewhere for care surely have plenty of money, the gentleman forgot to mention. I think an important thing Americans should realize is that if our government gave us basic health insurance as a tax deduction, we could still get supplemental insurance, companies could still provide benefits if they want. SOme nuts here think the government is going to take away all your insurance and make you come to their long-line public clinics. Even in Canada, you can pay more for quicker service, I've heard. One last idea to run across other industrial nations' minds, though, is this: Imagine if some large hand took a very poor 3rd world country from Africa, Asia, or the Americas, and plopped it down in the middle of Canada or Germany or France. How long before your social system would feel the impact? How long would it last? Would the people readily accept all the newcomers with heartfelt sympathy? I know France, Germany, and Netherlands are feeling the burden, but somehow they're managing. It is true that our military budget is enormous, so that's a big reason why other countries can afford better social services; they don't spend as much on military, and ironically, I wouldn't be surprised if from a "God's-eye" view, these countries that don't spend as much are just as safe if not safer than the USA today.

Answer 5

That is a sure route to becoming the poorest nation on earth particularly when between 5 and 7% of that outgo goes to people who are not even citizens who have put very little into the system but are willing (demand) to take a lot out.

Answer 6

Yeah, you're right. Our government wants to leave the borders open to "help" disenfranchised illegals while Americans struggle daily with debt.

Answer 7

Well perhaps if the government that is taking almost half of our money didn't mismanage it so horribly, we wouldn't have to deal with this problem.

Answer 8

Just plant more money trees, which the left seem to think exist.

Answer 9

yes it worked great for russia

Answer 10

you bet ye.