Question for the people who keep saying "poor people just need to get a job"?...?

Question

I keep seeing people say this in response to a lot of debates about government programs.

My question is- do you think there are enough full time jobs w/benefits to go around? Is there enough well paid work out there for every single person to make a good enough living to pay for their home, food, AND health care?

And if not, are you simply suggesting that the people who do not make the cut, and can't get the better jobs, don't deserve medical care when they are sick? And their kids?

Or do you think that, in fact, there is enough to go around already that if every single poor or homeless person "got off their fat a*s" tomorrow, everyone would be fine?

This is the one thing about conservative attitudes that doesn't add up for me, so I'd really like to hear what people think.

A lot of people are talking about their own experiences here as though the think if they can do it, everyone should... my point is, in terms of numbers- is it actually possible for everybody to do what you have done? Are the resources there, or will someone always be left behind and stuck in a job where they simply can't afford the basics? And should those people be punished by being denied medical care?

Mary, no that's not what I mean- I'm asking if there are enough jobs that enable people to afford medical insurance available for everyone to get access. In which case there would be no need for an NHS.

Wow, sgt_mjc, at what point did I suggest I was talking about myself? I am a college graduate with a great job, and have never taken a penny off the US government. In fact I work overseas so rest assured I go nowhere near your precious tax dollars.

Answer 1

If there wasn't then why is there 12 million illegal aliens in our country working! They work the low wage jobs, that poor healthy people won't take because of pride. I hear the words, " I am not working at a fast food joint" all the time, and my response is, your not hungry enough.

Edit: By the way, McDonalds, Wendy's, Arby's, ETC all have benifit packages.

Answer 2

My dear, not every job is or should be a full-time job with benefits. A cushy, well-paid job with full benefits is an EARNED reward. Medical insurance is not a right. Sorry.

In this country everyone has the right to the medical care they can afford -- unless, of course, they are an illegal alien, in which case they have the right to the best medical care that everyone else (you and I) can afford.

There are some basic truths that you are ignoring. Firstly, everyone has to start somewhere. There is a reason that youth brings energy -- it's so you can work hard and acquire luxury that you'll enjoy in your retirement years. Sometimes that means working crummy, under paid jobs while still in school and maybe, just maybe, forgoing medical insurance. I did it and I bet your parents did it too.

Secondly, the hard reality is that some people are just going to NOT do it for themselves. They will sit on their hind ends, take whatever scraps are thrown their way and then, trust me, they will complain about the quality of the scraps they get. You can't help them because they do not want to change.

Answer 3

I have started at the bottom of the pay scale just 11 years ago working and "living" at the minimum wage. Any opportunity I had to move up in pay or job I did. After all my hard work and the rare chance I have moved up to where I am today. I was homeless at one time and now I own a home and have a job with respectful company. I am lower middle class but I am a decent hard working person. I feel no pity for anyone that fails to take advantage of their chances, I used to be one that constantly did nothing but complain about those that had it better than I did. There are enough jobs to go around, I am waiting to hear back on a job I interviewed for yesterday... allowing me to make $3.50 more an hour just to start.

Answer 4

Pay no never minds. Most of the people who say these things are the brainwashed poor. They are up to their eyeballs in credit card debts and mortgages and think that they are living the good life.

A little brainwashing goes a long way with soft heads. The average wages are £25,000 pa which is a struggle WITHOUT any debts.

What do they expect? Health-care for themselves only? If so why don't they have private insurance plans but prefer the NHS?

Answer 5

This is similar to a question I asked a while ago.

No there are not enough decent jobs to go round. I'm a graduate and like many other UK graduates found myself working in a call centre for £6 per hour (about $12) because it was virtually impossible to get a graduate level job. Every one I applied for had about 50 applicants!!!

My other half trained as a mechanic but it is really hard to get work in that area in the UK because the market is flooded with Eastern European migrants and as a result jobs are getting scarcer. He ended up having to take minimum wage work because he just could not get into mechanics, despite his qualifications. Then he kept being accused o f "having no experience" when the only way to get experience is to get a job! Its a vicious circle!!!

Many people, even those who have worked hard at school and got themselves educated, can't get a well paid job and are going to be poor. Capitalism by its very nature will always seek to maximise its profts and minimise its outgoings - this means employing the least number of people on the lowest possible wage.

Think about it. No company will employ 50 people on £500 each per week if they can get the same amount of work done by employing 25 people on £250 per week!!!! So thats 25 jobs theoretically "gone".

This is why I find it insulting to read "get an education and get a job" because I and many others have DONE this and can't get a decent job.

Thank God we have the NHS in this country so we don't have to worry about healthcare.

The people who spout "poor people are lazy and should get a job" are those who are successful themselves and don't understand or care about the fact that some of us are not so fortunate. Some of them are even "the idle rich" who sit on their backsides all day making money from shares and stocks or were born into money they never had to work for. they cite isolated incidents of poor people becoming rich and successful as "evidence" that "anyone could do it if they worked hard enough" which is not true - we do not all have the same talents and abilities.

Answer 6

Poor people already get government provided health care.

But no one, should be allowed to collect government benefits, if they are able to work, and don't do so.

Even if it is a min wage job at Burger King.

Some how parts of out society have decided that an 18 year old, should make enough money on their first job, with no job skills, to support a wife and children, own a home and have money left over.

What ever happened to the days, when people went to work, received on the job training, after working several years, they earned enough to get married, then after working several more years, they earned enough to start a family.

Now everyone thinks they deserve to have everything they want, RIGHT NOW, and if they cannot afford it, then the government should provide it.

Life is about making choices, when you make bad choices, you have to pay the price for those bad choices.

Getting married and having a family at 18 years old, is a bad life choice.

So it seems you are trying to say, because they made a bad life choice, the rest of us, should bail them out.

What ever happened to individual responsibility?

Consservatives have no problems providing a safety net, bad things happen to good people, and they need temporary assistance to they can get back on their feet.

Notice I said temporary, it shouldn't be a long term assistance.

At some point, people have to take charge of their own lives and suffer the consequences of their own choices.

Answer 7

Surely it is better for people to have some sort of job - some aim in life. In too many families it is generations since anyone had a job. Of course we are a wealthy country and can support the sick and the unfortunate and I have no problem with that, but surely it not healthy for a young man to see a of lifetime of unemployment as a career option.

Answer 8

Sorry, I didn't read all the way through... But, here it is in a nut shell (maybe a bad pun).
We have laws requiring all children to be enrolled in school. We have taxes to pay for those schools -- even if you have no children or no children still in school, you still must pay. We have laws and regulations requiring that all teachers meet minimal standards of education and must be licensed. This being the case, we already have a "universal education system." At best, it produces only two things. Those moving on to higher education and those moving directly into the work force. The later are given little to no marketable skills prior to their arrival. Given these facts, the only thing(s) then that determine whether a school is a "good school" or a "bad school" are the students and their parents. The only true variable left in this equation that cannot be controlled by the parents, students or faculty are physical/mental disability. Everyone likes to blame the administration. But really, is there any possibility at all that it could be due to a flawed decision making process on the part of the individual? Ownership. It has to begin there.
Can we agree that without a decent education, the likelihood of getting that great job with all of the benies is slim to none? That being the case, it should be up to the individual. The "free" education is available. AND, the state schools of higher learning offer a lower tuition fee than do the private schools -- all at tax payer expense. How much more opportunity does one need?
Which then brings us down to the bit about employee benefits packages, personal responsibility and government aid programs. Because the government has already done so much to ensure that you will have every opportunity, it strikes me then as just plain greed that allows those who did not apply to their fullest ability to think they have the right to demand from us (the employers and tax payers) that we then must pick up their tab for things such as health care.
Everyone complains about "the government this and the government that..." They complain about the cost of living and excessive taxation. You want to raise the minimum wage because so many are living below poverty. But was minimum wage ever meant to be a means of support? Or was it intended to be a means of getting one's feet wet -- letting them see what the market place is all about before they have responsibilities and debt? Have you ever heard of trick down? Well, raising minimum wage would creat a trickle up. How would you feel if you'd been at the same job for say, the last three years and they came in and raised minimum wage? You have three years seniority and now suddenly the new guy coming in is making the same as you? Are you going to feel a little slighted and then ask for a raise to reflect that three years? You're given that raise as are those above you. Suddenly, the company for whom you work has to make a decision: either raise the cost of its products and services, let someone go or close its doors. They now find themselves in a position of having more money going out than coming in. Something has to give. Raise their rates and suddenly that minimum wage increase is made worthless. Letting someone go means that people previously employed at a reduced wage are no unemployed. Any way you cut it, the company is in the business of making money. If the cost of labor is too much here, they'll shift their base of operation overseas. The bottom line being, medical, dental, wage increases all cost money. The money HAS to come from somewhere. As a conservative, I believe in rewarding those who do well and witholding from those who don't. With effort comes privilege. If you want more money, if you want the benefits packages, earn them!

Answer 9

I do not understand what you are trying to say, is it that if you are unemployed you should only be expected to take a job if health care is included. If i was you i would be campaigning for a health care system like we have in the UK.

But you are saying this is a "Question for the people who keep saying "poor people just need to get a job"?...?" and then going on about them not being able to afford medical insurance if they get a job. it appears that you are trying to say this is why people are staying on benefits rather than getting a job

Answer 10

My dad was raised in a single mother home during WW2 and was dirt poor. He was left back twice in grade school and went to a few months of high school before dropping out. He reading skills are adequate but his writing looks like a second graders'. He always worked and the job he had for 30 years was working in the NYC sewers (like on the Honeymooners) which is not a very desirable job for most people. I was raised in a nice home and went to private schools because we lived within our means and did not splurge on $100 sneakers and bling like the so-called poor people here in NYC. Most of these "poor" people would tell you that they are too "strong and proud" to work inside the sewer so they would rather sell drugs and have babies they don't care about. I think that most able-bodied people can work if they want to. I'm sorry for you if that sounds too "Republican" or "Conservative" for you but it is my reality. I think it's time for all of the bleeding hearts to open their eyes and see what is really happening rather than crying for all of the overweight lazy "poor" people in this country who are too "proud" to work. Even the illegal Mexicans are lined up at 5am to get picked up for day work. I don't see anybody else doing that.

Answer 11

Well, on one hand people complain about the shortage of jobs, and then on the other hand they wonder why people want to send illegal immigrants back home. It isnt true that they're taking "all the jobs nobody else wants." I know plenty of people who will do the hard work but cant get a job because employers are tripping over themselves to hire an illegal immigrant , that they can pay less wages to.