Being Poor is NOT a Crime

[sanctus]

Of course, they deserve help. But they also have to accept some responsibility. The two key precursors of poverty are obvious- quitting school early and starting a family without benefit of reliable employment and, in many cases, a stable partner. Kids know that. They have to be reminded forcefully that poverty is often a choice less than it is a condition.

Fine, so you come across some woman who is poor with three kids born before she was 21, trying to eke out an existence and what do you do? Reinforce her bad choices by pointing them out to her? Why not offer to pay her a decent salary to support her family while she attends school? Wouldn't that be more productive than rubbing her nose in her faults?

 

[tamarin]

Ouch! First of all you locate the father or fathers. Are they paying support? And if not, why not? And if not, what's being done about it? You seem to think the public is a giant piggybank. Wake up- it ain't! That being said, I firmly support her going back to school and receiving what's necessary during that period to support her and her family. But I do expect her to attend and I do expect her to finish. Yes, and I expect caseworkers to follow up and offer the necessary support to make sure she can do this. But to hand out money, no strings attached, to people who have messed up - and know it - is utterly foolish.

 

[Riyko]

How easy the solution is for you! How can they "easily" get a job like anyone else? Once in that vicious cycle of poverty and despair, how do they pull themselves free?

They can go anywhere that's hiring and apply for a job even if it's production work it's anywhere from 5-16$ to start out then a raise after 90 days and alot of times benefits. There are places where they can shower for free at, hell homeless shelters will allow them to shower and get new clothes there. If their worried about spending their money they can put it in a bank or have someone teach them how to manage their money wisely.

And yes, why not spend taxpayers money to help people who need help? What the hell else should you expect public funds to go to if not to help members of the public?

For free housing for the homeless no, homeless shelters as long and their needed. Me I think public funds should go towards education and making it alot better. I work my ass off at 2 jobs, i work 105 hours a week. That's because i'm doing something with my life i'm going away to college, i'm spending $2200+ for college fees and to fly to Canada, plus I have to save up about $14000 for tution, books or in my case a computer. So I know that everything I buy I used my own money with and that I had to work hard for it.

Sometimes, all they need is a nudge to get them back on track, so why not supply the nudge?

What kind of nudge, give them my money so they can use it on drugs, alcohol, tabacco? No if I give them my money I want to make sure it'll be used to help them out for new clothes, shoes, food not things that they don't need.

 

[wallyj]

I agree Rikyo. I will help anyone when it is necessary,also I will give grief to anyone when it is necessary. Take care,life is short,you are always #1.

 

[gopher]

In the States, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.


Reliefs, incentives, abatements, subsidies, tax preference items, oil depletion allowances (including those for nonexistent oil wells), and others are forms of corporate welfare enjoyed exclusively by the wealthy. in the USA.

The criminal war on Iraq is another form of corporate enrichment as shown in Republican Kevin Phillips's American Theocracy and as endorsed by conservative William F Buckley.

Being poor is not a crime, nor should it be. Being wealthy and using wealth to exploit the poor, however, is sin according to the Bible. See the Book of Amos as an example.


For more on corporate welfare see:

http://www.ctj.org/html/publist.htm#corporate


While I agree with those who object to welfare for the poor, it is only fair to object to welfare for the rich as well. Both should have to work for their enrichment just like you and I do.

 

[sanctus]

Ouch! First of all you locate the father or fathers. Are they paying support? And if not, why not? And if not, what's being done about it? You seem to think the public is a giant piggybank. Wake up- it ain't! That being said, I firmly support her going back to school and receiving what's necessary during that period to support her and her family. But I do expect her to attend and I do expect her to finish. Yes, and I expect caseworkers to follow up and offer the necessary support to make sure she can do this. But to hand out money, no strings attached, to people who have messed up - and know it - is utterly foolish.

I agree, in essence. However, in a rich country such as ours, yes, I think we are a piggybank. I think we have a moral obligation to make sure those less fortunate than ourselves are taken care of at public expense.

 

[tamarin]

And with the proviso that that aid not only help but also improve and encourage. Aid is a first step but it must not exist in isolation.

 

[sanctus]

And with the proviso that that aid not only help but also improve and encourage. Aid is a first step but it must not exist in isolation.

Agreed