Being Poor is NOT a virtue!

Why would anyone ever think that being poor is a virtue? Being poor is stupid.

 

More to the point, being poor is a CHOICE.

 

It's human nature to have less compassion on those who put themselves in the poor house by stupid decisions. It's also common sense.

 

Probably, to be exact, it is the result of a lifetime of bad choices.

Those that continually make bad choices that cause them to be poor, probably never made a decision to be poor. At least I hope they did not.

 

It's not a course offered in High School, at least not the one I attended. Kids should go through a 1 semester course in their senior year that covers credit cards, credit scores, savings, budgeting, etc. It seems the moment a kid turns 18, he's got about 3 offers for credit cards in the mail. It would be nice if kids were educated on this topic.

 

How daft.

 

Really? Care to qualify that idiotic statement? Tell the millions of starving, drought-ridden Africans that their poverty and impending deaths are the result of poor decision-making. And people still wonder why right-wing American 'christians' are so stupid...
Better yet, explain to me how bringing up my daughter, alone, in poverty was the result of CHOICE, because her mother CHOSE to become insane. I'm all ears...

 

I laid out an airtight case in the OP. It's all true.

 

"True," of course, being entirely subjective, noting that it is only your opinion.

 

OK Here is your "qualifier!" Being poor in the United States of America is a choice. And I wonder if members of the Kenyan track & field team and other African nations made choices?

 

Kind of simplistic says I. I think poverty is much more complex than you make it out to be.

I am poor, so let me measure myself by your criteria.

Drug and Alcohol abuse.

I do not use illegal drugs. I do use Ibuprofen for pain, not that it helps a lot. I am disabled FYI. I drink very little, like a 1 to 3times a month, and like a beer or two as a time. Alcohol cost a lot anyway.

Abuse of credit

My credit is perfect. I cut up and throw out all the credit card offers I get. If I do not have the money on hand, I do not buy.

Improper Priorities

Priorities are easy. Pay rent, utilities, buy food, buy Ibuprofen. Its not like it is rocket science. If I have any money left, I have a little fun.

LMAO!!!! 40k a year is poor??? OMG!!! I live off 10k a year... and when I was younger (1995) I made 12k a year and supported a three person family. You plainly have no actual concept as to what it is to be poor!!! 40k a year... LMAO!!!! You have got it rough!

Because you make 40k a year and you are not poor!

 

First of all, I want to say I'm sorry to hear bout your situation. Life rarely works out the way we want it to, and most of us get thrown curveballs from time to time. But the good thing is that we have more power over how we handle those curveballs than we realize. And that's the crux of the point that poverty is a choice. Because it's something we can choose not to do once we realize all the power that we truly have to change it. Which is pretty awesome. It's just a matter of discovering that power.

That said, this is the way things work here in the first world. But you're absolutely right that there are still people in parts of the world today who live in real poverty and have no opportunity for upward mobility at all. Everyday is literally a struggle to stay alive. Those are the people that do need help. Because they don't have the opportunities that we have here.

I would encourage you to speak with some Christians in person before writing them off, though. Most of the ones I know in real life are the opposite of how you have painted them here. I've attended multiple churches that have organized missions to poverty stricken countries to help those truly in need; giving them food, clean water, etc. Making the world a better place is important to them, and they live that through their actions.

 

Ever witnessed real poverty with your own eyes, and not the American kind?

 

I wouldn't complain about the poor when we have a recession. Right now our younger citizens have a much higher hill to climb because of the job market. To many of them it looks depressing. If they want to get ahead, they have to find a way to pay for it and if they are paying their bills, there is nothing left. A lot of jobs that are available pay less then $10 an hour for someone that does not have a college degree and the jobs for those with one are in much shorter supply.

 

I think there is a solution here. You state that, "If I have any money left, I have a little fun". I certainly understand your desire and respect your right to have a little fun. I would suggest that a way out or poverty is to put aside the desire for "a little fun" until you have saved enough to change your life. That could be a few months or several years.

I'll try to not bore you with too much detail, but I grew up on a farm in KY in the 50s and 60s. We had plenty of food but virtually NO cash. My maternal grandparents raised me, due to the irresponsibility of an alcoholic mother. I managed to graduate from High School by working on local farms during the summer to make enough money to purchase school clothes and books. My Granny and Pappy agreed to provide food and shelter. Extra curricular activities were out of the question; I quickly learned to not ask, subjecting myself to disappointment. That was just the way it was. After the Navy, I entered the work force and went to college at night after putting in 10 hour days on the job. Again, fun wasn't an option. Long story short, I've earned 6 figures plus since the early 90s and enjoy a comfortable life in a small house with an ocean view, although I didn't marry and start raising a family until I was in my 30s and had means to support them. I continue to work because I enjoy it, not because I have to.

I could have followed in my mother's footsteps and succumbed to alcohol, run away from home and become a druggie (remember the 60s?) or stayed on the farm with plenty of food and little more. The choices I made changed the direction of my life, in my opinion for the better. I contend that most (not all, there are exceptions to most everything) people could overcome poverty if they chose to do so.

I wish you well and hope you make intelligent decisions based upon sound premises, leading to a richer and more fulfilling life.

 

Being poor is not a virtue, for most poor, it is a punishment for selfish decision making.

 

Wow, how insulting. I see so much ignorance in what you said. Poverty is a complex issue that perhaps simple minds just cannot comprehend all its facets. Know what will actually change my life? A cure to my illness and the ability to live a life without chronic pain... then I would work 12 hour days for the rest of my life and have a (*)(*)(*)(*) eating grin while doing so.

 

I have, many times, in many countries.

But here we are talking about American poor, And if one is poor in America, the actual real, and still, land of opportunity,. It is their own fault.

In most countries, poor would be a misnomer. Oppressed would be a better term. Oppressed because so many countries there is NO opportunity. Not the case in the USA.

 

I truly feel sorry for you, but probably not for the reason you expect. Your bitterness is your worst enemy. We all have to play the hands we are dealt. Get over it and get well. Ever hear of Stephen Hawking? He doesn't have perfect health; ever hear him complaining or making excuses?

 

I always wonder about people who complain of chronic pain. Is it really that they endure some unbelievable pain, or do they expect a pain-free existence?

I endure pain every day. For instance today I did my job with blisters on both feet, sore muscles and a pretty severe headache. This isn't unusual for me. I even chopped off the end of my finger (including part of the bone) and was right back to a very physical job the next day.

Pain is part of life. Expecting not to experience pain is unrealistic. You just have to learn to cope with the pain and keep moving. Take a look at Manteo Mitchell. He broke his leg halfway through his leg of the Men's 4x400 in the Olympics. Not only did he keep running, but he didn't even slack off his time by more than a couple of seconds. You don't think he experienced pain?

I just find it hard to believe that the people complaining of "chronic pain" actually constantly experience more pain that that of a broken leg while running or chopping off a finger while performing manual labor.

 

Some of them, yeah. Some of them, it's like that, but it never, ever stops. Or maybe you have your good days where it's like chopping off your finger over and over again all day long, and then your bad days where it's like breaking your leg over and over again all day long.

 

Interesting. It is hard to believe they remain conscious. I've experienced enough pain that I actually passed out. That was pretty rough. I've worked through pain where I my vision blurred around the edges and the black spots started forming. That was difficult, but I did press through.

I guess the real problem is that no person can really tell what another is experiencing. There is no absolute point of reference. Maybe if everyone was tortured to the point that they passed out, we could use that as a reference point, but even then the results of asking people how much pain they are under would be reliable.

I just wish there was a reliable pain scale. Something like:

10 - uncontrollable loss of consciousness
9 - would lose consciousness without extreme focus fighting it
8 - the black spots and loss of vision are kicking in and you see the sparkles, but can remain conscious
7 - you are feeling light-headed and vision is starting to blur
6 - you are unable to focus on anything but the pain
5 - you can focus on simple tasks, but the pain is constantly trying to interrupt
4 - you can ignore the pain for short times
3 - the pay is strong but can be ignored

and so on. Anything less than a 7 wouldn't be justification for avoiding doing what needs to be done - including working.

 

Usually some rich guy in a suit's selfish decision-making.

 

There's only one appropriate response for this crass idiocy. Bollocks.

 

There's one that doctors use. I'm not sure how reliable it is, I've never been on it. I know a lot of people that have, though.

I've never personally gone past an 8 on the scale you suggested. I worked through it, but it wasn't easy, and I'm pretty healthy.

The thing is when you talk about chronic pain you're talking about pain that you have to deal with on an ongoing basis. It's not going away, maybe ever. No breaks. That's a completely different animal than pain that's only temporary.