Poverty in United States, the faces behind the numbers

[MothBalls]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I especially am worried about the growing number of "faces" who get hit by cirumstances beyond their control or influence, the victims that are not responsible for fate bringing them down.

How do you separate those that are truly innocent from those who created their own mess? One of my neighbors is having a tough time after getting "laid off" (is what he told everyone) and can't find another job. Come to find out, he got fired for smoking pot while driving a company vehicle, and that's probably why he can't get hired anywhere else.

Because he has a family to feed, he'll draw thousands of dollars in public assistance, get free medical care and become a burden to society. Is it fair for taxpayers to support this idiot because he created his own situation?

Originally Posted by Armistead

The other issue is poor planning, people just don't prepare for hard times. Many live in middle class, have cable, cell phones, eat out, spend spend spend, but don't save a dime. We're a nation or culture that promotes spending, not planning.

This. So true, seen it so many times. When I worked in corporate America the parking lot looked like a luxury car dealer, with Lexus, Mercedes, Porsche, etc...... then at the end of the row, my 10 year old pickup truck. Those people are hurting now, some have asked me for help, I don't have any sympathy for them. They lived beyond their means and learned a lesson too late.

What bothers me is the children of these people have to suffer because their parents ego and poor planning. Not only should they have classes to teach children about how to plan ahead, they should teach the parents as well.

Maybe we need a parenting license in America. If you're going to have kids, you have to pass some simple tests and do some homework. Like how to manage finances and teach little Johnny to stand on his own two feet, and not spend more than you make until you go broke.

Then they blame it all on the politicians. If we spent as much effort on fixing problems rather than placing blame for them, we might get somewhere.

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

This. We're a culture that lives beyond our means. If you want real poverty, go to Africa.

I wonder about that. When determining the "poverty level" in countries, what exactly is poverty? In some countries the poverty level could be considered middle class by other countries. Just having a roof over your head and food on the table is a dream for many in the third world, taken for granted in other parts of the world.