Today's average American conservative on poverty... maybe a whole lot of Americans really though

[ck4829]

"Oh, I'm poor? Excuse me, but I will have you know I have this swirling vortex of rage, contempt, pity, and disgust towards poor people and it can't decide what it is, but it's all of those feelings combined. So then it would be kind of stupid to have that same vortex I have for me, right? *nervous chuckle* ... right?"

[Wounded Bear]

1. "The typical American doesn't admit he is poor, he claims to be a temporarily distressed millionaire"

Not sure who said that or when, but I remember the comment.

[justaprogressive]

3. I believe this is the source...

"John Steinbeck once said that socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." ― Ronald Wright, A Short History of Progress

[Wounded Bear]

4. Must be the one I was thinking of...

[wcmagumba]

2. As a retired senior living only on SS retirement income I will proudly admit, "I'm poor as stinking dirt"...Thank-you...

[KentuckyWoman]

5. I am not poor but I am also not rich.

My outlook on poverty is can't afford all the basic necessities in any given moment.

I have a roof even though it's nothing fancy. I have mostly inexpensive basics in the pantry and the freezer, but having more food than I can eat today is not poor. I am a minimalist on clothing but I have 3 jammies and 4 shoes and I feel pretty rich in that regard - since I certainly can't wear all those shoes at one time.

I've got some savings that took me 60+ years to cobble together for old age. A tight budget to be sure... but there's some money out there in a credit union helping some young person get started in life and earning a little bit of interest. I feel rich in that regard too.

Thanks to Medicare I can afford a doctor when I need it, but one expensive illness and the frugality of a lifetime all goes away. I will hope one of the nieces takes me and all 4 pairs of my shoes in.