Is there any excuse to be poor in America with all the oportunities this land offers?

Question

Poor people in America aren't really poor compared to the rest of the world. Most poor people in this country have a roof over their heads, a tv, a cell phone, etc.

Answer 1

I think the term "poor" is too broad. Some people really don' t have as many opportunities as others and have to work harder and longer to achieve their goals. A good example of the excusable "poor" is the man Will Smith portrays in the movie The Pursuit of Happiness. People like that are respectable. However, it is the people that refuse to work and spend the time they could be using to get a job to constantly file for SS Disabilty because they broke their foot in 1992. The money we're wasting on cases like that would be better spent on our seniors.

Answer 2

things were good when we were kids because men came back from the military (WWII) and so much was offered to them in benefits. Communities sprung up overnight, they had money to burn, zero down to buy a house, so they got married, had kids and lived the american dream. What you're asking in reality is why has the dream faltered, why have the benefits run out, and I think even though we've pulled together, it's because we haven't won a war in a long time. When there is war there are jobs, we used to make bullets and tanks and lots of things for war and had money in our pockets because of those jobs. Then people became greedy wanting higher and higher wages and along with higher wages came higher cost of living which left some people in the dust, and will leave more people in the dust as time goes on. Greed has consequences to all. If all can't pay their bills then it's expected that the greedy ones pay their bills and rightly so. By helping out God blesses them with more and everyone survives. So far only around 50 billionnaires have agreed to contribute part or half their income for charity. So far I haven't seen them start up a steel mill or something else that can put Americans to work in groups. I did however see the bailout of the car makers. Hopefully that was a start. If we have affordable cars (that's a laugh) now maybe we can start up again at getting to any job. I suspect though with the Russian fires that might increase the cost of gasoline and wheat in our country. Seems it took Japan ten years or more to get out of their real estate problem, hopefully it won't take us that long. Perhaps we're expecting ours to end too fast. Then again, we might surprise ourselves and come thru sooner than expected.

Answer 3

Thats too general of a statment, people sometime compare america to 2nd and 3rd world countrys and say look at how much better we are than them. We should compare ourselfs to other western cultures, haveing a roof over the heads of our poor isnt really something to brag about. As far as an excuse too be poor I wasnt aware that being poor was a moral issue. Someones got to be a ganitor, someones got to do the dirty work if you belive this makes someone a bad person then youve got issues. I think compared to most countrys in the world we would rank higher in most respects but compared to western countrys we arnt any better if we are in one area we are behind in other areas.

Answer 4

Ever been to Rosebud? There is a difference between truly poor and just disadvantaged. Are you talking poor as in a place with no opportunities (such as many Indian reservations, the mountains, rural communities, etc. - places with no running water, sewers, electricity - yes, those places exist in America) or poor as in lower class in the city with welfare services, charity hospitals, public transportation, etc?
If you have ever been poor, you would know that it is easier and MUCH cheaper to get a prepaid cell phone that you use sparingly and for emergencies than monthly service... be very careful what you use as your criteria!
Walk in those moccassins a while before you make judgments. I was one of the lucky ones who was able to work VERY hard to overcome the disadvantages, and I had to do things that the majority of the more advantaged would be unwilling to do. It is unbelievably hard to get out of that hole... so instead of judging, count yourself lucky to not have to be in that place. Educate yourself about the truth of our country, and be grateful for everything you have! And instead of judging, find a way to help and encourage.

Answer 5

Some people are poor because they are lazy. Some people are poor because of their circumstances, i.e. they are born with a mental handicap, etc. Some people are poor because of their low self-esteem. I know educated people with P.H.D.s who are winos and will never amount to anything. Some people think it is righteous to be poor. There are many reasons that people in America are poor BUT most people in America are poor because they want to be. Look at people who win the lottery and then a year later they are broke again. But even the poorest people in this country have it better than the majority of people in third world countries.

Answer 6

The only justifiable reason to be poor in the U.S. is less an economic one than a political one.

I know of several businesses with long records of moderate success who supported their local police, paid taxes according to law, hired good workers and paid them well and, yet? They're now gone.

Why? That same government they paid to "protect and to serve" has abandoned millions of us in a sudden reversal of loyalty.

Many cities now support, protect, ally with their share of 50+ million illegal aliens and their U.S. born children (to whom the 14th Amendment's birthright citizenship does NOT apply - read the Congressional Globe, 1866 - 1868).

I've seen where they even side directly against loyal, legal citizens.

If, in democracy, government is our loyal bride, then I charge them with CUCKOLDRY!!!


...

Answer 7

you have to understand, this nation was founded on cheap labor....for God's sake Patrick Henry was a slave owner! You cannot have fabulously rich people in a nation, without having a large class of people to exploit...that's just the way it works. Oh yeah by the way, there are a lot of people without a roof over their head.

Answer 8

We actually have a higher percentage of people living at or below the poverty line in this country than many other countries do. And while what you consider to be a poor person still has a roof,tv etc. There are hundreds of thousands that don't have that. Have you ever seen skid row. Do you see tent communities where you live, cuz I do... There is an excuse for being poor in America, and it is that somepeople are so greedy they don't care about anything or anyone that won't make them more money and that includes the CEO's and stock holders of every company in the u.s. Down size and drive out anyone that makes enough to support them selves and hire in some kid for $8 an hour to do their job, that is the american(business) way.

Answer 9

Nope, anyone can succeed here.

I studied in England and I had a professor make a hilarious comment to me. He said "America is the only place in the world where people drive to pick up their welfare checks."

Think about that one...

Answer 10

Yeah you can... America is the land of dreams to some people but please be reminded that most dreams just don't come true... There may be a lot of opportunities but not all of those opportunities are given to anyone and everyone...