Americans do you know the Real truth about our "Poor" ?

Question

Acording to Robert Rechter of the Heritage Foundation.org (his latest research) shows that 46% of the poor own their homes,80% have air conditioning in their homes,75% own at least one car.What is wrong with this picture and the constant crap we hear from the libs about "the poor"!

do not have to define poor or answer my own question.that is what "think tanks" are for.wake up people!

Answer 1

Most poor people around the world would laugh their @sses at what we call poor here. The reason you hear so much about the poor is because they're a means for democratic politicians to get votes. They convince people they're "poor" and they'll rob from the big mean corporations who made them that way and "return" it to them. It's a great tactic because you can't argue with those who use it or you get accused of being "greedy" and mean-spirited.

Answer 2

I read the question than I read ALL the answers. I couldn't help wondering how many "poor" people participated in this discussion. Also almost everyone are talking about material things, what about educations. How many educated poor people are in this report, that I am sure not a lot of people know about. Some people also buy expensive sneakers because it last longer. Being poor is different to everyone. I think poverty in the so called developing countries can not be compared to poverty in say the US, UK or Europe.
Poverty will never go away but we as a people should try and help each other as we can.

Answer 3

What I find to be the "real truth" about America is how apathetic towards the poor many people have become. Do you really think that just because 46% of the poor own their homes that there is no issue at all? And why would you think that "the poor" is just a cause for "the libs." Your statistics offer a very myopic presentation without context. Poor doesn't have to mean homeless. These statistics don't offer any insight into the CONDITION of these people's lives. Poor can mean barely making it and constantly having to struggle just to keep yourself and your children in that home you might own. Also, many of these homes are very sub-standard and too small for a family. And just because you might own a car doesn't mean it's a reliable car. They might have a $500 car that constantly breaks down, but that's all they can afford. I don't like this question because it depicts the poor as a highly polarized issue. The poor shouldn't be an issue of division. Everyone should be united on helping the poor. These are PEOPLE that EVERYONE (conservatives and liberals) should have concern for. This question just seems heartless and cold to me. What are you trying to prove by your statistics? Even if those are true numbers, they are without context -- and more importantly, without heart. And what do these numbers REALLY do for those people who need help? Even by trying to minimize our country's problem with the marginalized in society, it still doesn't eradicate it. These numbers just give people like you a feeling of "justification" for your apathy and complacency.

Answer 4

Poverty in the U.S. does not exist, at least compared to the poor in other countries. There are two reasons for this, the first being freedom, and the second being the free market economy. Free markets/capitalism is the most compassionate economical system the world has ever seen. In the U.S., it is very easy to rise above the economic situation you were born into. If you don't want to live in poverty here, there are just a few easy steps to take. First, get the best education you can afford. Second, when you get a job keep it until you get a better job. Third, don't have children until you can afford them. Fourth, don't have children out of wedlock.
And just a note , while the top 2% own a lot in the U.S., they also pay more than 50% of the income taxes. And the top 10% pay 90% of the income taxes.

Answer 5

I once heard the government agency that accesses the amount of poor uses the same algorithm they did back in the 30's & 40's, when food was the most expensive item.

Now, things like AC (which is virtually required in very hot parts of the country) are obviously very expensive compared to the price of food.

And in response to the comment that the poor are the most obese, walk into a McDonalds and price the difference between a salad (things that grow from the ground) and a double cheeseburger (raised cattle, turned beef & factory-converted milk.) Which one should be more expensive, and which one actually is?

Answer 6

The poor are that way because of their own behaviors. they are not going hungry. free breakfast in school. free lunch in school, and lots of school have weekend take home bags of food for kids. Churches donate food to the needy, the community break basket gives food to the needy. at Christmas time you can't swing a dead turkey without hitting someone who is getting free food.
Why is it that all over the world the poorest of the poor always end up with kids they cannot feed. Looks like a sex must be a good subsitute for food. Then why aren't poor people in America skinng?

Answer 7

According to the sub-header, when I search for The Heritage Foundation, I see: "The Heritage Foundation is a conservative public policy research institute." And their stated mission is "to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."

...so I'm guessing that those numbers are skewed in some way. But let's skip that part. Before going further, I'm a Libertarian. (That means I'm sort-of liberal, sort-of conservative--but always on the side of less government and more self-reliance.)

America is a materialistic country. ANYONE can own a pair of Nike's. And in some places, that would be a status symbol. Cars, A/C: same thing (and don't think that the car is a 2007 Lexus, or the A/C is central air). As for owning homes, they don't own them outright--they're paying a 30 year on some $20K piece of garbage.

So, on the things I listed, Nikes are maybe $60-120 new, Window A/C is less than $500 new (or less than $100 used), and that mortgage is $300 per month. A $900 car is TECHNICALLY a car. And that person I decsribed is pretty poor...although I wish they wouldn't by the shoes!

I KNOW there are people taking advantage of the system, but I wouldn't base my reasoning on anything done by the Heritage Foundation!

Answer 8

In America, the only reason why people remain in poverty long term are:

1) They don't work hard/smart enough.
2) They have some physical or mental infirmity that temporarily or permanently keeps them from earning a decent living.

The bulk of the poor fall under that first category and are looking for someone else to solve their problems.

Its something that people are taught:

The classic anecdotal woman from New Orleans after Katrina said, "*Who*'s going to pay my bills?" instead of, "How am *I* going to pay my bills?"

The people of Mississippi got together and started cleaning up and rebuilding as soon as the storm was over.

The people of New Orleans looked for someone to blame and for a handout.

The people that fall under number 2 above, where there is a real dysfunction, *do* need to have a safety net but they also need to live up to some expectations, ie, working at whatever level they are capable of in exchange for their benefits, drug and alcohol testing for benefits recipients, mandatory job training.


For anyone that can think, learn, or move heavy objects there is no excuse for poverty in America and I have little to no sympathy for them.

Answer 9

Unlike the vast majority of countries in the world those born into poverty have a real chance to escape it in the USA. Talent and effort are rewarded in this country. There is an underclass that for the most part do not take advantage of the opportunities that are available. Whether through ignorance, laziness or unwillingness they fail to utilize the free education system that would allow them to better their lives. If I can do it so can you. The market system of deciding winners and losers in society may not always be fair but it is always better than allowing government officials to decide who wins.

Answer 10

Compared to people in other countries these people are not poor, but that is not the issue. The issue is that compared to the cost of living in this country they are poor. What you forget to mention is that many of these people are one paycheck from being homeless. How many times do they skip dinner so their kids can eat? How many of them do not have health insurance or limited insurance or that one major illness will put them on the streets? They might have one car but what kind of condition is it in? You need to look more at the big picture and not just some numbers.

These are people who work their buts off just to stay even and you call this "constant crap"!!! These people should be commended not ridiculed as you have done.

Answer 11

I don't know how they are defining "poor" but I've been to several third world countries and compared to them we don't have any poor people. We may have low income people, even "disadvantaged" people but no "poor" people. I would also say that the poor in the third world countries I've been to are entitled to a lot more self respect than the "homeless" in this country. The only people I EVER saw beg were obviously physically unable to work. The "will work for food" crowd in this country makes me sick after what I've seen. Ever tried offering them a job for food?