Is Poverty In America More A Choice Or A Condition?

[KarenCee 3]

Do you have any idea how condescending your posts sound?

If they're half as condescending as yours are sanctimonious, I think we BOTH have a problem.

Idiosynrcasies aside, social ineptitude can be a real hinderance when blogging.

So true!

[randolady 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.

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?"

The way our public schools are funded prevent impoverished people from having access to the same opportunities as everyone else. You can't tell me that some poor kid, going to a high school funded by the taxes of families on welfare, has the same educational opportunities as some rich kid, going to a high school funded by the taxes of CEOs and lawyers. In poor school districts, the salaries don't attract top teachers, there's not enough money for enrichment, textbooks are outdated, etc etc etc.

That's just one example of poor people are disadvantaged by our society. There are many more.

[sparkofcreation 0]

I think that it is mostly a condition.

I also think that there are many cases (perhaps even a significant percentage) in which making or not making certain choices could have prevented someone from ending up in poverty or allowed them to climb out of it.

There are also, of course, many cases (often the same ones, in fact!) where a small change in condition could have been the push for people to make a different choice ...

This is why I'm registered Independent.

Edited June 9, 2007 by sparkofcreation

[deemabrouk 0]

it depends on what you call poverty. i personally did'nt understand true poverty until i was outside of the US.

I agree with this 100%.. I saw some neighborhoods in Egypt.. It gave me a HUGE reality slap. I am considered "poverty level" here in the States... BUT I look like a millionaire compared to what I saw..

Edited June 11, 2007 by deemabrouk

[Cry_Tuff 0]

This is the stigma that is imposed on America...where we are suppose to be the richest country in the world..HOWEVER we have millions of people living in poverty, living pay check to pay check, or just barely getting by. I do agree that some people choose to be where they are at...and abuse the system...living off of government benefits. Others however cannot help it. Especially if there is a medical/mental condition, or someone becomes displaced. There are job opportunities out there, but unless someone has a college education, alot of times you won't be given a second look. I know in the UK, my soon to be step son is paid to go to college. Here, the colleges are alot more expensive and you're looking at the price of a home before you actually get your degree for the costs. Just because someone may live in poverty, they shouldn't be judged, as you don't know their situation or what's lead to it. If the government was more willing to help their own people than they were to help other countries, then sure the American people just might be a little better off. But..that's my opinion.

[homesick_american 1]

This is the stigma that is imposed on America...where we are suppose to be the richest country in the world..HOWEVER we have millions of people living in poverty, living pay check to pay check, or just barely getting by. I do agree that some people choose to be where they are at...and abuse the system...living off of government benefits. Others however cannot help it. Especially if there is a medical/mental condition, or someone becomes displaced. There are job opportunities out there, but unless someone has a college education, alot of times you won't be given a second look. I know in the UK, my soon to be step son is paid to go to college. Here, the colleges are alot more expensive and you're looking at the price of a home before you actually get your degree for the costs. Just because someone may live in poverty, they shouldn't be judged, as you don't know their situation or what's lead to it. If the government was more willing to help their own people than they were to help other countries, then sure the American people just might be a little better off. But..that's my opinion.

Your stepson is the exception; most students here now pay at least some tuition to attend uni and it has risen or will soon rise to 3,000 pounds a year, not including living expenses. Unis in England are no longer free and haven't been for some time now.

OTOH, I knew plenty of people at the University of Texas who were on generous scholarships/grants to attend school, and who graduated with not a lot of debt. Even the ones who did have managed to pay it off in the ten years since we all graduated in 1997-1998 and it hasn't stopped them from buying homes, cars, etc. They're doing fine. They all studied business or engineering, though; I guess if they had degrees in philosophy or dance they might be having problems.

There are millions of adults and children in the UK living in poverty, paycheck to paycheck, or just barely getting by...even though it's supposedly "fairer".

[Dan J 277]

I consider it both. But the economic reality is, if you have rich people, you have to have poor people. If everyone makes the same amount of money, you have communism.

So its up to society to decide what rights these poor people get. Do they get health-care? do they get housing? etc.

I do agree that some people don't try to do much to get out of poverty. But on the same note, if everyone in poverty tried to get out of it, there would not be opportunities for everyone.

So yes, its a condition, as long as we have capitalism, we will have people in poverty. And yes some of those people will be happy just staying poor. Some of those people will try to get out, but due to economic realities, be unable.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As someone pointed out on a previous page - its a false dichotomy. A person's circumstances dictate their choices, and indeed their general outlook.

Back when we were living in LA, I saw this documentary about gang-crime in LA. What was really disturbing about it was the fact that many of the kids who join (often at a very young age), do so because they honestly believe that they have no other options; and that turning to crime is the only way that they can achieve a measure of success.

Its not hard to see how that could happen - considering that outside of retail and fast food you really need a degree before anyone will even look at your resume. If you don't have that, can't afford it, or are generally disillusioned with the education system - it stands to reason that you're going to have problems.

One of the side-effects of an ever widening between the rich and the very poor, is the creation of an underclass.

[Ban Hammer 13,658]

As someone pointed out on a previous page - its a false dichotomy. A person's circumstances dictate their choices, and indeed their general outlook.

Back when we were living in LA, I saw this documentary about gang-crime in LA. What was really disturbing about it was the fact that many of the kids who join (often at a very young age), do so because they honestly believe that they have no other options; and that turning to crime is the only way that they can achieve a measure of success.

sounds like choice to me

Its not hard to see how that could happen - considering that outside of retail and fast food you really need a degree before anyone will even look at your resume. If you don't have that, can't afford it, or are generally disillusioned with the education system - it stands to reason that you're going to have problems.

not true.........

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As someone pointed out on a previous page - its a false dichotomy. A person's circumstances dictate their choices, and indeed their general outlook.

Back when we were living in LA, I saw this documentary about gang-crime in LA. What was really disturbing about it was the fact that many of the kids who join (often at a very young age), do so because they honestly believe that they have no other options; and that turning to crime is the only way that they can achieve a measure of success.

sounds like choice to me

Sure - but a choice resulting from a perceived lack of alternative options. If we're being that ####### about the definition - the only people who truly make "no choices" whatsoever are lying in hospital coma wards

Its not hard to see how that could happen - considering that outside of retail and fast food you really need a degree before anyone will even look at your resume. If you don't have that, can't afford it, or are generally disillusioned with the education system - it stands to reason that you're going to have problems.

not true.......

How many inner city kids choose to enlist in the army?

Edited June 12, 2007 by erekose

[deemabrouk 0]

ok.. heres a example of a pet peeve - poverty/ comfortable... When you drive by a housing project.. Shoot.. even if you LIVE in a housing project.. and you see a Mercedes Benz in their drive way (and I'm NOT talking about a 1980's model)..

Hmm.. ok.. you live in a Ghetto... rather Apply that money to bettering your situation.. YOU BUY A FREAKING CAR! yeah you look SO HAWT rolling up to your subsidized public housing in your new Benz...

this is how people get comfortable.......

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

ok.. heres a example of a pet peeve - poverty/ comfortable... When you drive by a housing project.. Shoot.. even if you LIVE in a housing project.. and you see a Mercedes Benz in their drive way (and I'm NOT talking about a 1980's model)..

Hmm.. ok.. you live in a Ghetto... rather Apply that money to bettering your situation.. YOU BUY A FREAKING CAR! yeah you look SO HAWT rolling up to your subsidized public housing in your new Benz...

this is how people get comfortable.......

That's pretty untypical IMO. $1000 tires in a $400 a month neighbourhood - I suspect the guy who drives it wears a white suit and snorts a plate of cocaine from his hot-tub.

Edited June 12, 2007 by erekose

[deemabrouk 0]

ok.. heres a example of a pet peeve - poverty/ comfortable... When you drive by a housing project.. Shoot.. even if you LIVE in a housing project.. and you see a Mercedes Benz in their drive way (and I'm NOT talking about a 1980's model)..

Hmm.. ok.. you live in a Ghetto... rather Apply that money to bettering your situation.. YOU BUY A FREAKING CAR! yeah you look SO HAWT rolling up to your subsidized public housing in your new Benz...

this is how people get comfortable.......

That's pretty untypical IMO. $1000 tires in a $400 a month neighbourhood - I suspect the guy who drives it wears a white suit and snorts a plate of cocaine from his hot-tub.

Honestly I see this alot in Boston.. the real Bling Blingers.. yeah.. mostly likely they have a pharmaceutical job

But there are others.. that i just just wanna feel good inthe car... but not applying their stuff in the right manner

[Jenn! 918]

ok.. heres a example of a pet peeve - poverty/ comfortable... When you drive by a housing project.. Shoot.. even if you LIVE in a housing project.. and you see a Mercedes Benz in their drive way (and I'm NOT talking about a 1980's model)..

Hmm.. ok.. you live in a Ghetto... rather Apply that money to bettering your situation.. YOU BUY A FREAKING CAR! yeah you look SO HAWT rolling up to your subsidized public housing in your new Benz...

this is how people get comfortable.......

That's pretty untypical IMO. $1000 tires in a $400 a month neighbourhood - I suspect the guy who drives it wears a white suit and snorts a plate of cocaine from his hot-tub.

Honestly I see this alot in Boston.. the real Bling Blingers.. yeah.. mostly likely they have a pharmaceutical job

But there are others.. that i just just wanna feel good inthe car... but not applying their stuff in the right manner

I worked at a school in Dorchester and I noticed this phenomenon as well. About half the kids at the school were on either free or reduced lunches, yet most of them seemed to have the latest Nikes or iPods. I think it's mostly a pride thing. You may be poor, but you'll do anything to try to hide it. Circular logic, I know, but it seems to be pervasive.

[doodlebug 3]

ok.. heres a example of a pet peeve - poverty/ comfortable... When you drive by a housing project.. Shoot.. even if you LIVE in a housing project.. and you see a Mercedes Benz in their drive way (and I'm NOT talking about a 1980's model)..

Hmm.. ok.. you live in a Ghetto... rather Apply that money to bettering your situation.. YOU BUY A FREAKING CAR! yeah you look SO HAWT rolling up to your subsidized public housing in your new Benz...

this is how people get comfortable.......

Are you sure they "bought" that car?