Is Poverty In America More A Choice Or A Condition?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I narrowed it down to those two views to see where most people lean toward.

Edited June 6, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Seems to me noone in their right mind would willingly choose to be poor.

[mawilson 2,133]

Seems to me noone in their right mind would willingly choose to be poor.

You got that right. Unfortunately lots of people are not in their right mind.

I voted "choice" - assuming we're talking about extreme poverty and not the people who think they're underpaid.

[Jenn! 918]

I would think we are talking poverty as in earning below the poverty level, no?

[Alex+R 0]

Maybe by "choice" Steven meant "making a series of bad choices"?

[mawilson 2,133]

I would think we are talking poverty as in earning below the poverty level, no?

The poverty level is what, 15k? I know a lot of people who make less than $10k a year

and struggle financially, yet make no attempt to ascend out of "poverty". I can only

assume they're ok with it.

[Alex+R 0]

I would think we are talking poverty as in earning below the poverty level, no?

The poverty level is what, 15k? I know a lot of people who make less than $10k a year

and struggle financially, yet make no attempt to ascend out of "poverty". I can only

assume they're ok with it.

You know a lot of people who make less than 10k a year? And live on that? In NY?

[mawilson 2,133]

You know a lot of people who make less than 10k a year? And live on that? In NY?

Yep.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Maybe by "choice" Steven meant "making a series of bad choices"?

Yes, if one is under the presumption that America is full of economic opportunities for everyone, then someone living in poverty is mostly responsible for their economic situation.

I would think we are talking poverty as in earning below the poverty level, no?

Yes.

[phila 0]

I grew up in poverty. Certainly not a "choice". Who the heck would choose to be poor? Hmmm.... should I be rich, or should I be poor?

People born into poverty tend to stay in poverty- the system is stacked against them.

Yes, the superhumans do make it out- but certainly not the norm.

Growing up I knew many working poor who held 2 or 3 full time jobs.

[mawilson 2,133]

I grew up in poverty. Certainly not a "choice". Who the heck would choose to be poor? Hmmm.... should I be rich, or should I be poor?

People born into poverty tend to stay in poverty- the system is stacked against them.

How is the system stacked against the poor? Poor people have the same opportunities

as everybody else, they just don’t do enough to take responsibility and help themselves.

Instead they blame the system and wonder "what the government is doing" to help them.

It's exactly the kind of attitude that causes the problem in the first place. The question

they need to be asking is, "What can *I* do to help myself and not be poor anymore?"

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Seems to me noone in their right mind would willingly choose to be poor.

You got that right. Unfortunately lots of people are not in their right mind.

I voted "choice" - assuming we're talking about extreme poverty and not the people who think they're underpaid.

I'm not sure that apathy counts as a choice.

[homesick_american 1]

I grew up in poverty. Certainly not a "choice". Who the heck would choose to be poor? Hmmm.... should I be rich, or should I be poor?

People born into poverty tend to stay in poverty- the system is stacked against them.

Yes, the superhumans do make it out- but certainly not the norm.

Growing up I knew many working poor who held 2 or 3 full time jobs.

You don't have to be a superhuman to break out of poverty. I had a few friends in Dallas who grew up dirt poor and they got out of the trap through smarts and a hell of a lot of hard work. They understood life wasn't fair and they had to work harder than more fortunate friends, but they accepted it, developed a kick-a$$ work ethic, and are now pretty damned successful.

[Alex+R 0]

I grew up in poverty. Certainly not a "choice". Who the heck would choose to be poor? Hmmm.... should I be rich, or should I be poor?

People born into poverty tend to stay in poverty- the system is stacked against them.

Yes, the superhumans do make it out- but certainly not the norm.

Growing up I knew many working poor who held 2 or 3 full time jobs.

You don't have to be a superhuman to break out of poverty. I had a few friends in Dallas who grew up dirt poor and they got out of the trap through smarts and a hell of a lot of hard work. They understood life wasn't fair and they had to work harder than more fortunate friends, but they accepted it, developed a kick-a$$ work ethic, and are now pretty damned successful.

I think she meant that those friends of yours are the exceptions. I'm guessing she included the "of course many make it out of poverty" section to avoid posts like this one. She was just saying it's not the norm.

I grew up in poverty. Certainly not a "choice". Who the heck would choose to be poor? Hmmm.... should I be rich, or should I be poor?

People born into poverty tend to stay in poverty- the system is stacked against them.

How is the system stacked against the poor? Poor people have the same opportunities

as everybody else, they just don’t do enough to take responsibility and help themselves.

Instead they blame the system and wonder "what the government is doing" to help them.

It's exactly the kind of attitude that causes the problem in the first place. The question

they need to be asking is, "What can *I* do to help myself and not be poor anymore?"

Are you doing that devil's advocate thing you do, or do you just not understand how America works?

[homesick_american 1]

I think she meant that those friends of yours are the exceptions. I'm guessing she included the "of course many make it out of poverty" section to avoid posts like this one. She was just saying it's not the norm.

I read what she wrote and I stand by what I wrote. I think some people born into poverty do give up trying, or they never try in the first place. If they're not going to at least TRY, then I don't really want to hear any b!tching. I have respect for people who at least TRY.