"There are no dirt poor Americans any more" - True or False?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

And everyone gets their own elephant for transportation

Why not moped? Elephants eat too much.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Why not moped? Elephants eat too much.

Elephants are being promoted by the Gaia project.

[scandal 951]

Why not moped? Elephants eat too much.

Did you ever ** an elephant?

It's a real b!tch climbing up on the step ladder.

Sheep are much easier. Safer, too.

[jundp 191]

I understand how you feel, I have been to countries where they have real poverty.... poverty you can't escape, I wanted to take pictures of some of the things I saw but I would never do it if anyone would be aware of it, not only does the person with the camera look like a silly tourist, it seems it is degrading to the person who is the subject of interest.

I could never be a successful photographer where it involved intruding on people.

I agree. There is some 'real' poverty here where I live. In my work with St Vincent de Paul we see it and no matter how much we give or do, it doesn't seem to make a dent. We may help two or three families, but there's a line of families in need waiting to take the place of the people we've helped. These are NOT people who sit around doing nothing either. These are people who are working at low paying jobs doing their best to get by.

I don't know about other parts of the country, but I would imagine poverty is worse in other parts of the world, though it wouldn't seem that way to the mother struggling to feed her child here in the good ole US of A.

[AlHayatZween 2]

I understand how you feel, I have been to countries where they have real poverty.... poverty you can't escape, I wanted to take pictures of some of the things I saw but I would never do it if anyone would be aware of it, not only does the person with the camera look like a silly tourist, it seems it is degrading to the person who is the subject of interest.

I could never be a successful photographer where it involved intruding on people.

It's true... i could never be a photojournalist... just take pictures, print 'em & get paid...

When i think of dirt poor, i think of places like Niger... granted, haven't seen anything like that here... But still some folks are living in pretty desperate conditions. It's pretty sad b/c there is a lot of money & opportunity in this country. Unfortunately, i don't have any answers...

[Nagishkaw 510]

the appalacians AND RESERVATIONS got some po folk.

[Susita 175]

When i think of dirt poor, i think of places like Niger... granted, haven't seen anything like that here... But still some folks are living in pretty desperate conditions. It's pretty sad b/c there is a lot of money & opportunity in this country. Unfortunately, i don't have any answers...

I agree, I've been to some bad areas here in NYC - very poor neighborhoods. Let's just say these people are living in the Hilton compared to some places that I've seen in Peru. Houses made out of random material with no roof, no running water, no electricity, dirt floors... no sewage system. Unimaginable.

[Danno 1,228]

I agree. There is some 'real' poverty here where I live. In my work with St Vincent de Paul we see it and no matter how much we give or do, it doesn't seem to make a dent. We may help two or three families, but there's a line of families in need waiting to take the place of the people we've helped. These are NOT people who sit around doing nothing either. These are people who are working at low paying jobs doing their best to get by.

I don't know about other parts of the country, but I would imagine poverty is worse in other parts of the world, though it wouldn't seem that way to the mother struggling to feed her child here in the good ole US of A.

See, this is where you are being conned.

A mother of three on food stamps in my state gets $526 a month in food stamps. (many states are higher)

Her kids also get free lunch and breakfast at school.

This woman might have trouble with the cable bill, she might have trouble making the SUV payment she might even have trouble with rent (unless she is section 8) but how could she possible be having trouble feeding her kids, she spends twice as much as I do on groceries?

[Marilyn. 340]

See, this is where you are being conned.

A mother of three on food stamps in my state gets $526 a month in food stamps. (many states are higher)

Her kids also get free lunch and breakfast at school.

This woman might have trouble with the cable bill, she might have trouble making the SUV payment she might even have trouble with rent (unless she is section 8) but how could she possible be having trouble feeding her kids, she spends twice as much as I do on groceries?

maybe they aren't using food stamps...

[Susita 175]

See, this is where you are being conned.

A mother of three on food stamps in my state gets $526 a month in food stamps. (many states are higher)

Her kids also get free lunch and breakfast at school.

This woman might have trouble with the cable bill, she might have trouble making the SUV payment she might even have trouble with rent (unless she is section 8) but how could she possible be having trouble feeding her kids, she spends twice as much as I do on groceries?

I don't even spend $526 a month on food

I think food stamps are a big help for many right now who are losing or have lost their jobs during this recession and are living on unemployment or no income because they can't find a job. However, it's the people who use it as a form of income and don't attempt to better themselves that upset me. It should never be a permanent situation and many people abuse it.

[ria_s 0]

I agree. There is some 'real' poverty here where I live. In my work with St Vincent de Paul we see it and no matter how much we give or do, it doesn't seem to make a dent. We may help two or three families, but there's a line of families in need waiting to take the place of the people we've helped. These are NOT people who sit around doing nothing either. These are people who are working at low paying jobs doing their best to get by.

I don't know about other parts of the country, but I would imagine poverty is worse in other parts of the world, though it wouldn't seem that way to the mother struggling to feed her child here in the good ole US of A.

Edited January 14, 2010 by ria_s

[_Simpson_ 250]

I agree. There is some 'real' poverty here where I live. In my work with St Vincent de Paul we see it and no matter how much we give or do, it doesn't seem to make a dent. We may help two or three families, but there's a line of families in need waiting to take the place of the people we've helped. These are NOT people who sit around doing nothing either. These are people who are working at low paying jobs doing their best to get by.

I don't know about other parts of the country, but I would imagine poverty is worse in other parts of the world, though it wouldn't seem that way to the mother struggling to feed her child here in the good ole US of A.

We could argue about what real poverty is but I would rather address the difference between " good ole US of A"(that comment alone tells me alot about your opinion on the USA as a whole) poverty and poverty in 3rd world countries. In the USA people have choices/opportunity where in many 3rd world countries if you born into poverty you will mostly likely be in poverty your whole life. Here in the USA often the "poor" are people who have made poor decisions and continue to as long as we keep throwing money there way, Im not saying lets kick em to the curb and forget about them but we need to take more of a tough love approach and quit giving them such a big security blanket that they will always fall back on.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I don't even spend $526 a month on food

I think food stamps are a big help for many right now who are losing or have lost their jobs during this recession and are living on unemployment or no income because they can't find a job. However, it's the people who use it as a form of income and don't attempt to better themselves that upset me. It should never be a permanent situation and many people abuse it.

ah yes I agree many people have fallen on hard times because of the economic situation and need the temporary help

[Danno 1,228]

ah yes I agree many people have fallen on hard times because of the economic situation and need the temporary help

There is a case to be made for temp help, but think of all the folks we could be helping if we weren't over doing it on food stamp dollars.

Can anyone claim 526 for a family of three is a "safety net" program?

I don't see what would be wrong with keeping track of every dollar people get in Gov't hand-outs, and in the same way that Social security sends you an occasional letter detailing how much you have paid in..... except in this case it would show how much you have "taken out."

Many people do get their ####### together .. or get over a rough spot and become stable.

What would be wrong with repaying at a very modest rate, the funds you consumed? They did come from taxing other citizens.

The only reason I suggest this is to help diminish the ever growing "entitlement mentality".

[_Simpson_ 250]

I would have no problem with the government making these people pay it back once there situation improves. I think people would spend every penny wisely if they knew they were going to have to pay it back. I really take issue with the people that abuse the system though, not the ones that need help when things go south that are beyond there control. Sure one could argue that well they should of had a savings account but I think that we have take into account people are not perfect and make sure as a collective not to treat everybody as perfect and help them in times like this.