Political Ramblings

[lizard of oz]

 

[duckinnut]

For sometime it's been to comfortable to be poor in this country.

and not so for the rest of us. But dignity and pride have a certain value to us.

 

[Capvin]

To all of you who think it is so comfortable being poor, why don't you try it for about ten years and afterwards tell us all how much you enjoyed it. And if you are already poor why don't you let us all know how comfortable and easy you have it.

 

[thaiturkey]

I've noticed that it's usually those who are financially comfortable who hail poverty as a blessing for others and those who are healthy, wealthy or insured who decry a system that supports those who are not. They are also usually the people who shout for their assumed rights, even to the disadvantage of other people.

It all adds up to, 'I'm all right, Jack, and I don't care what happens to you.'

 

[Capvin]

That statement is not true overall and is way too much of a generalization.

 

[thaiturkey]

That statement is not true overall and is way too much of a generalization.

I claim the same right as other posters to make generalisations!

 

[newfoundland]

We have just this weekend had a telefon to raise money for 'Children in Need' in this country. It is hard to stomach that in this twenty first century, we have children who sleep on the floor, covered with coats as they have insufficient blankets, and go to school hungry. I have worked in schools in the poorer parts of London and know first hand the grinding poverty that to our eternal shame still exists in one of the world's biggest capital cities. I have met mums of my own age looking ten years older, worn down by the relentless worry of keeping their heads above water. I have worked with little children, wizened by failure to thrive, due to inadequate food in early infancy. I have met many, unemployed for years, moving like shadows, all the life seemingly sucked out of them by the hopelessness of their situation. Unemployment and poverty are twin evils an d it behoves each and every one of us to alleviate the suffering however and where ever we can. We can start by not condemning those who find themselves in this situation. Have some of you not heard the saying,
'There but by the grace of God, go I'?

 

[bakerjw]

I can say that my family lived in the poverty level for many years. We survived without welfare, public aid, food stamps, etc... At one time we did live in an apartment complex that was government subsidized, but the rent still wasn't out of line with other places in town. Things are a lot different for us now though through our own hard work, but we do know what it was like to be poor and we did so without working the system. Since those days, I've crossed paths with a lot of people in "poverty", the ones that know how to work the system. And believe me, the system can be worked if you want to live that way. I've seen lot of people capable of improving their lot in life, but refusing to do so. I've known people on public aid that get a sore throat and run off to the ER because it might be strep.

The problem is that we have children that have grown up with parents in the entitlement systems and they believe that they should expect those entitlements themselves. We have lost the "invest in yourself" mentality that stresses hard work to get ahead in life. There are poor people and are always going to be poor people, but much like leading a horse to water you can't force someone to improve themselves if they don't want to.

 

[Capvin]

The problem is that we have children that have grown up with parents in the entitlement systems and they believe that they should expect those entitlements themselves. We have lost the "invest in yourself" mentality that stresses hard work to get ahead in life. There are poor people and are always going to be poor people, but much like leading a horse to water you can't force someone to improve themselves if they don't want to.

Do you look back on your days of poverty as "the good ole days." . There are two sayings that are applicable here. The first was quoted above and it is, "There but for the Grace of God go I." The second is, "There are none so blind as those who will not see." As for me, I have never been poor but I have seen what it means to be poor and I want none of it and if some who are poor are trying to "work" the system, I am fine with that. I, in fact, would encourage them to do so.

Poor today means that a family of 3 has an income of less then $19,000 and a family of 4 has an income of less then $23,000.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Do you look back on your days of poverty as "the good ole days." . There are two sayings that are applicable here. The first was quoted above and it is, "There but for the Grace of God go I." The second is, "There are none so blind as those who will not see." As for me, I have never been poor but I have seen what it means to be poor and I want none of it and if some who are poor are trying to "work" the system, I am fine with that. I, in fact, would encourage them to do so.

Poor today means that a family of 3 has an income of less then $19,000 and a family of 4 has an income of less then $23,000.



MEE here:
My Grandfather grew up in the depression and I often heard him refer to someone/folks when talking about days of 'yore' He would most of the time follow up with yeah and too the "GOOD 'OL DAYS" weren't so GOOD either. He was a serious, stern man too(reared up hard) and meant every word of what he said too.He proved it too me on more than one occasion to LOL