Sorry you're poor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for posting this, OP! I've been struggling with how to explain the difference between a democrat and a republican to my five year old, and now I can simply read your post and explain that republicans are ignorant, selfish people who only care about themselves. Thanks again!

Republican here. Not all Republicans are as self-absorbed as this OP is. In fact, I would bet this poster would consider himself/herself an Independent - not a Republican at all.
There are some of us Republicans - many, in fact, - who care deeply for those who are struggling to make ends meet. There are those of us who volunteer for Meals on Wheels, or at a local soup kitchen, or at a local school providing tutoring services (for free). There are those of us who donate money and goods to non-profits in order to help others who are not as fortunate. Many of us Republicans don’t have the HHI that others do, but find the money and the time to help others.
Don’t let this poster serve as representative of Republicans - or any party - for that matter. S/he is in a league all his/her own. And, none of us want to join him/her.

Not to mention Republicans donate more to charity than Democrats who are waiting for the government to take care of things. I'm registered as Green so it's not like I'm siding with one party or another.

I started off life as a child of an upper middle class family and ended my childhood as the child of an upper lower class family. Maybe lowest of the middle class. Dad gave up his stressful, success driven, cut throat, executive position to become a civil servant. There wasn't money for community college let alone a 4 year school and I'm learning disabled and not a great student, so there weren't any scholarships or grants.
Still I managed to do well and even had $300k in assets. One severely disabled child is all it takes to lose all you have. Selling my DC house and moving to an area of the country with limited opportunities but wonderful services for said disabled child. Paid cash for the house so all I have to cover are the taxes and upkeep costs for our housing.

I'd rather be poor than happy than rich and miserable. Granted money does make things a little easier and it's nice to be able to afford a plumber.

The "charities" that Republicans donate to are largely their own churches.

Now, I'm not sure whether or not that's true, and not ALL republicans go to church every Sunday. I'm a republican and I haven't been to church in a few years, but in that time I've donated thousands of dollars to more than one charities (mostly ones dealing with needy children and families in the USA, but not all).

But if it IS true that most of the money that republicans donate is to their own churches, what's wrong with that? What do you think the churches do with the money? When I did go to church, I remember our pastor telling us about sending money to Haiti to help out the earthquake victims. He also used to get lots of phone calls from needy people within our community and he'd use some of the money to help these people out. He used whatever money people "donated" to the church to help out various charities. Don't you know that, pp? What do the "democrat churches" do with their donations?

[Anonymous]

I'm an atheist liberal and I give time, money and donations to churches that are using their resources to help people. Giving to churches that do good with the money is so much better than asking poor people to jump through a million red tape hoops that are needed to get assistance. I'm not down with donating for proselytizing. The churches I give to let whatever shine through what they do, not what they say.

-one of the poors, at least by DCUM standards

[Anonymous]

The fact is, society doesn't need 95% of the world's population to have MBAs, law degrees, etc. What we need in addition to lawyers, financial advisors, etc. is for people to take jobs as teachers, firefighters, nonprofit workers, clerical/support staff, daycare providers, sanitation workers, agriculture workers, etc. Heck, I am extremely grateful for the night cleaners who are hired to empty trash cans and vacuum my office at night.

Your high paying job does not exist in a vacuum and it takes all sorts of positions to keep society running.

Does that mean a secretary should eat at the same fancy restaurants and take the same expensive vacations as the partner at her law firm? Of course not. But the secretary also shouldn't have to live 50 miles from her job and live paycheck to paycheck while praying her kids never have a medical emergency. How in the world can you lack such compassion for the workers who teach our children, make sure our Christmas packages get delivered, etc.

OP -- you are far from the only person on this planet contributing anything worthwhile and I'd be willing to bet a lot of people who make less than you are benefitting society more than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm an atheist liberal and I give time, money and donations to churches that are using their resources to help people. Giving to churches that do good with the money is so much better than asking poor people to jump through a million red tape hoops that are needed to get assistance. I'm not down with donating for proselytizing. The churches I give to let whatever shine through what they do, not what they say.

-one of the poors, at least by DCUM standards

Good for you. Some churches do some of the best philanthropic work. I agree with the idea that churches are able to get the goods and services to the people who need them - unlike so many government programs.
I am not at all for the huge, megachurch groups (often televised) that want nothing more than donations.
I do give regularly to my church - in my time, my money, and other donations - because I know where the money is going and the help it is providing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact is, society doesn't need 95% of the world's population to have MBAs, law degrees, etc. What we need in addition to lawyers, financial advisors, etc. is for people to take jobs as teachers, firefighters, nonprofit workers, clerical/support staff, daycare providers, sanitation workers, agriculture workers, etc. Heck, I am extremely grateful for the night cleaners who are hired to empty trash cans and vacuum my office at night.

Your high paying job does not exist in a vacuum and it takes all sorts of positions to keep society running.

Does that mean a secretary should eat at the same fancy restaurants and take the same expensive vacations as the partner at her law firm? Of course not. But the secretary also shouldn't have to live 50 miles from her job and live paycheck to paycheck while praying her kids never have a medical emergency. How in the world can you lack such compassion for the workers who teach our children, make sure our Christmas packages get delivered, etc.

OP -- you are far from the only person on this planet contributing anything worthwhile and I'd be willing to bet a lot of people who make less than you are benefitting society more than you.

Well put!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a common misconception in America that just because someone is poor, then that is their fault.

Everyone is under the belief that in this country of ours, EVERYONE who wants to make it CAN.

And those that do not make it, only do not make it due to fault of their own.

That in America, EVERYONE has a shot at the brass ring.

This is the American Myth. It is pure mythology folks.

Why? For the obvious reason. Do the math.

Because theoretically speaking, there are not enough decent jobs in this country for EVERY single person in this country.

It just isn't possible for each and every single American in our country to hold a decent job here. It could never happen. And anyone who says it could is dreaming.

Well, yes, but that is not in contradiction to saying those who work hardest and are smartest are bound to end up better off than those who do not, barring some major bad luck (like being hit by a car crossing the street and turning into a vegetable).

When I was a cild, my family immigrated here with nothing but two suitcases each and less money than it would take to pay a month of rent on a crappy apartment. Knowledge of English at the time varied from very basic to nonexistent. Guess what? Every single one of my family members is currently middle class or upper middle class - the adults worked hard and made the way, the children studied hard (in practical fields) and then worked hard. I also have a number of immigrant friends with similar stories. As far as I and people around me are concerned, the American dream works fine.

Just curious, pp. How much did the government help you and your family? What kind of benefits did you receive? SNAP? Subsidized housing? Anything?

Well, the Government let us in, which was huge. We relied in large part on private charity for people of our background and some family that was here already, but we also did receive food stamps for about 6 months and health care.

I want to make clear that I have zero problem with social net programs like snap, medicare, housing assistance etc. Not just because they helped my family but on general principles - I don't believe people should be hungry or homeless or ill because they cannot or are unable to work. I just wanted to post to say that the attitude that if you start out poor, you will end up poor is not really correct.

You have one anecdote. The bolded view actually has studies. Poverty is generational. You had family help. What was your life like where you were from? Was your family educated? Stable?

[Anonymous]

If you start out poor, you will end up poor is USUALLY, more often than not, correct.

[Anonymous]

Dh & I came from very poor families, and we are doing pretty well. All of my siblings and dh's siblings are also doing a hell of a lot better than our parents. None of us are poor. All of us own our own homes, cars, have money invested and or saved in case of emergency, take at least one vacation a year etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dh & I came from very poor families, and we are doing pretty well. All of my siblings and dh's siblings are also doing a hell of a lot better than our parents. None of us are poor. All of us own our own homes, cars, have money invested and or saved in case of emergency, take at least one vacation a year etc.

That's fabulous, you've beaten the odds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a common misconception in America that just because someone is poor, then that is their fault.

Everyone is under the belief that in this country of ours, EVERYONE who wants to make it CAN.

And those that do not make it, only do not make it due to fault of their own.

That in America, EVERYONE has a shot at the brass ring.

This is the American Myth. It is pure mythology folks.

Why? For the obvious reason. Do the math.

Because theoretically speaking, there are not enough decent jobs in this country for EVERY single person in this country.

It just isn't possible for each and every single American in our country to hold a decent job here. It could never happen. And anyone who says it could is dreaming.

Well, yes, but that is not in contradiction to saying those who work hardest and are smartest are bound to end up better off than those who do not, barring some major bad luck (like being hit by a car crossing the street and turning into a vegetable).

When I was a cild, my family immigrated here with nothing but two suitcases each and less money than it would take to pay a month of rent on a crappy apartment. Knowledge of English at the time varied from very basic to nonexistent. Guess what? Every single one of my family members is currently middle class or upper middle class - the adults worked hard and made the way, the children studied hard (in practical fields) and then worked hard. I also have a number of immigrant friends with similar stories. As far as I and people around me are concerned, the American dream works fine.

Just curious, pp. How much did the government help you and your family? What kind of benefits did you receive? SNAP? Subsidized housing? Anything?

Well, the Government let us in, which was huge. We relied in large part on private charity for people of our background and some family that was here already, but we also did receive food stamps for about 6 months and health care.

I want to make clear that I have zero problem with social net programs like snap, medicare, housing assistance etc. Not just because they helped my family but on general principles - I don't believe people should be hungry or homeless or ill because they cannot or are unable to work. I just wanted to post to say that the attitude that if you start out poor, you will end up poor is not really correct.

You have one anecdote. The bolded view actually has studies. Poverty is generational. You had family help. What was your life like where you were from? Was your family educated? Stable?

Family help? They let us crash with them for a few weeks. Many people have family help if that's all that is. They hardly paid for us. Also, I have more than one anecdote since I know a lot of immigrants with the same stories. My family was educated but I would think the fact that we had no English and did not know how society worked would even out that advantage. I also have friends whose families were not educated when they came over. They just worked hard - all those families are self-supporting now. Even everyone born in generational poverty does not stay that way - majority do, not all. I believe in personal responsibility. There is always some excuse why you can't do as well, but that's just what that is - an excuse. The point is, there is no 'bad rich guy cabal' keeping the poor down despite their best efforts - you can overcome your circumstances or you can not. You are not doomed to stay poor forever. You will though, if all you do is throw yourself a pity party about how you did not get the same opportunities in life as a millionaire's child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here again, I am not talking about people who live in abject poverty eat. I am talking about people who had the opportunities to make certain decisions with their lives be at get an MBA or an engineering degree but decided that working for the department of agriculture or And obscure nonprofit was what they wanted to do. That is all well and good but you must realize that with that life comes certain sacrifices. Just stop blaming people like me who chose to go the other route. Yes money was a motivating factor with everything I did up until I actually started working.

The problem with people like you is you don't realize how your own greed affects others. I work for a law firm that is about to fall apart. Over the last several years, staff have been forced to go without pay raises, we've had large increases in their health insurance costs, and have had other benefits reduced. We've had to go through multiple rounds of lay-offs, with the result that my workload has increased and I make LESS money. The attitude of the firm is that we should feel lucky to have jobs at all. We stay because we are desperate, not because the jobs are good. It should not be this way. I've heard attorneys say "if you wanted to make any money, you should have gone to Harvard like me." Well, not everyone wants to be a lawyer. Not everyone wants an MBA. That shouldn't be the ONLY option to make a decent salary that can support someone in a large urban area. It shouldn't have to be a choice between a millionaire and having nothing.

At the same time I read about how the partners at my firm have made more money than ever the last few years. But staff cuts can no longer finance the partner compensation increases. Now that they are faced with a decrease in their already overblown compensation, they are all going to just jump ship to go to some other place stupid enough to give them large pay guarantees. The staff will be unemployed.

The company I work for should pay me enough that I don't have to just scrape by. In no way do I think I should make as much as the attorneys, but the difference between what the people at the top make and the rest of the company gets larger and larger. The greed is mind blowing.

Wow, the PP proves the OP's point. She or he did not learn any marketable skills and those that do are supposed to reward the slacker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dh & I came from very poor families, and we are doing pretty well. All of my siblings and dh's siblings are also doing a hell of a lot better than our parents. None of us are poor. All of us own our own homes, cars, have money invested and or saved in case of emergency, take at least one vacation a year etc.

That's fabulous, you've beaten the odds.

I am in a similar situation. Do you want to be condescending to me too, PP?

[Anonymous]

I live in what I have been told is a Democratic bastion in Arlington. I am the neighborhood person who always gets asked to solicit help for major charities such as Lupus, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes and similar well known charities. The most I have gotten from the 27 people I have been required to solicit funds from is $10 from a woman who carpools with me. I think she was embarrassed not to give something. This has been at least 6 requests a year for 7 years. $10. I feel bad that no one will give me and always just write a check for $200 to the charities. I can afford and so can my neighbors. But they won't give a dime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in what I have been told is a Democratic bastion in Arlington. I am the neighborhood person who always gets asked to solicit help for major charities such as Lupus, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes and similar well known charities. The most I have gotten from the 27 people I have been required to solicit funds from is $10 from a woman who carpools with me. I think she was embarrassed not to give something. This has been at least 6 requests a year for 7 years. $10. I feel bad that no one will give me and always just write a check for $200 to the charities. I can afford and so can my neighbors. But they won't give a dime.

How on earth is that an indicator of their overall charitable giving? Because your neighbors don't want or need you as a middleman, you assume they mustn't be making charitable donations anywhere else? Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in what I have been told is a Democratic bastion in Arlington. I am the neighborhood person who always gets asked to solicit help for major charities such as Lupus, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes and similar well known charities. The most I have gotten from the 27 people I have been required to solicit funds from is $10 from a woman who carpools with me. I think she was embarrassed not to give something. This has been at least 6 requests a year for 7 years. $10. I feel bad that no one will give me and always just write a check for $200 to the charities. I can afford and so can my neighbors. But they won't give a dime.

Another anecdote - I live in a very Republican section in Fairfax. Most of my neighbors are Republican as is evident from the campaign signs. I am the neighborhood person who collects for March of Dimes. Last year, I collected from 8 households and collected more than $80.00. Not huge, but most families gave $10 or $15 each. My DH had a similar take when he collected last year for the AHA. And, I don’t live in the “wealthy” section of Fairfax.