Do poor people choose to be poor?

Question

Poor people choose to be poor. This is the argument I get from Republicans as to why to cut any help to the poor

Answer 1

Not all of them. There are going to be people who abuse the system, however, I don't remember sick, elderly, those who lost a spouse due to death or divorce, or those who are trying to make it CHOOSING to be poor.

This is what my MAJOR problem is with many Republicans or Conservatives. They only look at black and white. If someone is poor, then it is because they are lazy or choose to be poor. Believe it or not, there are different problems with being poor or becoming poor.

It's time to start seeing shades of gray...

EDIT: To Zach - 80%!!!! Show some proof. You can't because it's a sorry lie. A 14-year-old can make $6 an hour because they are LIVING WITH THEIR PARENTS. YOU TRY LIVING ON $6 AN HOUR AS AN ADULT. After working 40 hours, you gross $240/week. After taxes, you're stuck with approximately $200. That is $800 a month. A decent apartment is $450 depending on where you live. On top of that, you have utility bills and FOOD. Now what if that same person has a child?

Get a freakin' clue...

Answer 2

Sure, the Chinese choose to be Chinese, the Robin chooses to be a Robin, but the Crow does not want to be a Crow, but would then the rich of course deserve to be rich. This makes as much sense as the notion that the poor choose to be poor.
However, there is one way in which all of this is on the same plain. It is about class. It is about the fact that the rich class of people in America today are being given the right to steal. What else explains the fact that one person can work two jobs and barely make it while another is born of a rich family and does not have to work any jobs to make it way above average.
No, the notions and explanations of the rich class are bad justifications that attempt to serve and dismiss the guilty souls of the rich class of people in America.
No, it is time for progressive taxes again. The unhealthy hording of wealth in America has to end before the character of America is permanently destroyed. The whole idea of earning a living is being undermined. Wealth allows a class of people to inherit to much unearned capital which is then allowed to earn even more capital so the children of the wealthy do not have to raise a finger to be rich beyond the average hard working Americans fondest dreams.

Answer 3

I don't think that anyone chooses to be poor; some just have horrible circumstances thrust upon them, especially those in third world countries. In the United States, however, there are so many opportunities for people that if one one works hard enough, they can pull out of it and live at least a middle class life. All it takes is a lot of perseverance. Most people who are poor, though, are probably poor through being born into bad situations.

Other people, however, become poor through their own bad choices. Drug addicts and high school dropouts are only in that position from their own mistakes. But making the statement that people choose to be poor would definitely offend anyone who was born into an extremely penurious family.

Answer 4

I know my answer is low on the list. The poor did not choose to be poor. If you wake up and your house is on fire you didn't choose it. But now you decide if you want to stay there. It is going to be a hard fight to get out. Some would give up. The choice is yours. If you don't want to work hard you will continue to be poor.

Answer 5

Depends on the person. "Poor people" is too general. Some people can't help being poor. For example, those who can't work because they are disabled, those down on hard times (temporary), etc.

Some poor people choose a lifestyle that makes them poor.
There are poor people who are on welfare and don't want to work. There are poor who are drug addicts or commit crimes. There are poor who do not care about education for themselves or for their children. There are poor people who keep popping out babies even though they can't afford to have one.

Answer 6

Some. Some people choose to be poor just to be sure money doesn't ruin themself. Being addicted to money can ruin someone's personality.

Others are just unfortunate. For example, some get their houses burned down in wildfires, or get kicked out of their house young. Some people have families that have no money to pay for education.

Some are just not the sharpest tool in the drawer. They start smoking at middle school and do drugs and stuff. They just stop doing schoolwork and it is hard when they grow up because they didn't do so well.

Trying to be poor? I'm not sure. But some. Not many, though.

Answer 7

Poor people don't necessarily make a conscious choice to be poor, but many are not willing to make sacrifices or work hard to avoid poverty. Many simply repeatedly make poor choices and refuse to take responsibility for those poor choices.

I have no desire to help someone that isn't going to try and help themselves. You can't make someone a responsible adult just by giving them money. If someone is willing to work hard to better themselves, then I'll do whatever I can to help them.

Answer 8

Sure, the food at the pantry is great, much better than buying stuff, a little heavy on the mac and cheese, but its free.
And the clothes....great if you like the vintage look, but I mean where can you go anyway? If you like watching your car fall apart if you get over sixty, what the heck you haven't got insurance and can't afford the gas, so who cares, if you had an SUV it would take a weeks welfare check to fill 'er up.
And the housing...great neighborhoods, a 24 hour shoot em up, you don't need the movies at all. Just a bullet proof vest.
Who wouldn't choose to be poor with all those perks?

Answer 9

"Poor" is a relative concept. Are we talking Bangladesh poor or USA trailer park poor? In the US, lower economic status can be caused by a lack of opportunity, bad lifestyle choices, failure to defer gratification, or bad luck. Other than Mother Teresa types, very few people decide to be poor and work their way down to the bottom. Rather, they are unable to work their way up and out or get brought down by a series bad choices (Do I buy a savings bond or meth? Hummm...) The US provides more opportunities and routes up than any other society in history, but that doesn't mean everybody will or can take advantage of them.

Answer 10

I'm sure a very few of them do, just by not wanting to try to get ahead.
But most of them hate their position, but there is no way out, when you have to work a low paying job to survive, making little time to acquire an education and better oneself.
The only alternative for most people is the military, where they can get some technical skills while being paid.
But then you are taking the chance of getting sent to war, and being blamed for wanting to go, by the same people blaming you for being poor.
When it comes to right-wingers, the poor will always be the ones to blame for any and all of their problems, because it makes it easier to ignore.