General Discussion

bhikkhu

(10,789 posts)

46. And they work pretty darn hard for what they have

Fri Sep 26, 2014, 09:27 PM

Sep 2014

Anyone who's worked at poverty-level wages doesn't have to apologize for what they have - they probably worked harder for it than anyone in the middle class or upper class. I know when I was raising a family and just above the poverty line it was a struggle to keep up a decent house for the family, and have some decent things so they didn't feel embarrassed about having so little. It was a lot of work, and a lot of stress, and it was unfair, but the last straw would have been if someone looked at how hard we tried and thought we didn't deserve what we had. Fortunately, we live in a decent community of the semi-impoverished, and most people are in the same boat.

If you see someone who inherited money, do you expect them to feel ashamed that they have a nice car, a house and an iphone? Too many people are backwards about the whole thing...

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America's poor actually live pretty durn well [View all] Live and Learn Sep 2014 OP

They also don't account for the fact some people fall out of the middle class and into poverty. Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2014 #1

The article also addresses that issue. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #3

Not to mention, how do a few little trinkets make up for a complete lack of financial security? nomorenomore08 Sep 2014 #8

That's one of the dumbest RW memes floating around out there. NuclearDem Sep 2014 #2

Exactly why this article is so helpful. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #4

Reminds me of this Daily Show segment Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2014 #5

Heritage has been pushing it for at least 2 decades JHB Sep 2014 #42

Perhaps we have better quality garbage for them to sift Cleita Sep 2014 #6

Return of the X-Box Welfare Prince daredtowork Sep 2014 #7

Excellent points. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #31

You should put your post in a letter, make several copies of it and mail them to the Congress TheDebbieDee Sep 2014 #78

I can take you to native reservations in which outdoor plumbing is widely in use Algernon Moncrieff Sep 2014 #9

Can you believe that someone *alerted* on this OP, claiming it was supporting the tblue37 Sep 2014 #10

Oh Brother. The person who alerted IS a fellow/sister DUer or I'd tell them to #^$%&* THINK! BlueJazz Sep 2014 #22

Thank you, tblue37. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #47

But *before* the article excerpt you did post your own comment tblue37 Sep 2014 #64

I'm out of work. They can kiss my ass. shenmue Sep 2014 #11

Yep. They love being poor and aren't going to give it up no matter how much the rich envy them. Tierra_y_Libertad Sep 2014 #12

So poor people are supposed to live miserable lives in abject poverty? Rex Sep 2014 #13

Sackcloth and dung ashes Scootaloo Sep 2014 #15

A penny for some gruel, please sir. lovemydog Sep 2014 #17

That one really ticks me off. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #49

My microwave cost me $15.00 Glitterati Sep 2014 #14

+1... SomethingFishy Sep 2014 #20

Toys for Tots charity gives out X-Boxes and Playstations. muntrv Sep 2014 #16

I've seen decent microwaves sitting at the tail end of an estate sale for $10. JEB Sep 2014 #18

On the other hand.. logosoco Sep 2014 #19

Absolutely true. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #34

And it still isn't enough for them. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #50

Who would have thought that one could be well off for less than $15,000 TheKentuckian Sep 2014 #21

What they don't get Dont call me Shirley Sep 2014 #23

+1 million Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #35

Thank you. nt raccoon Sep 2014 #63

They're criticizing consumers for being part of a capitalist consumer economy. baldguy Sep 2014 #24

Why did they leave off the 24 days of food (then it runs out) and crappy medical care. Still. ? jtuck004 Sep 2014 #25

I tell you one thing, and I KNOW this from personal experience with the rich >> BlueJazz Sep 2014 #26

So true. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #51

The 1% will not be happy until TBF Sep 2014 #27

The biggest flaw out of the gate Warpy Sep 2014 #28

I've an AC in my apartment but haven't run it because I want to keep my electric bills down. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #39

Yeah, I thought that resale value rather high BuelahWitch Sep 2014 #44

I thought the same thing about the microwave. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #52

"Forty percent have a wide-screen plasma or LCD TV." KamaAina Sep 2014 #29

My mom had an old console Zenith in a beatuiful walnut cabinet. One of the first color TV's you Erose999 Sep 2014 #88

"Ninety-two percent of poor households have a microwave." KamaAina Sep 2014 #30

I am betting a lot more people have microwave that stoves these days Live and Learn Sep 2014 #53

And don't have to come with the unit KamaAina Sep 2014 #60

And I bet almost all of them have SheilaT Sep 2014 #32

"Nearly three-quarters have a car or truck" KamaAina Sep 2014 #33

I successfully lived without a car in Portland, but I couldn't do it in Minneapolis Lydia Leftcoast Sep 2014 #38

Can't do it in San Jose, either KamaAina Sep 2014 #41

I'm lucky. I live in a city (Peoria, IL) where public transit takes me where I want to go. I have a Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #40

public transport ain't cheap either justabob Sep 2014 #66

A microwave oven is by no means a luxury IMO. lpbk2713 Sep 2014 #36

And they have indoor plumbing, hot and cold running water, electric lights, two pairs of shoes... Iggo Sep 2014 #37

This is what the Heritage Foundation doesn't bother to tell you meow2u3 Sep 2014 #43

All of your points are correct. Live and Learn Sep 2014 #55

92% have microwave - they can be purchased for about $50 & are considered essential Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #45

And they work pretty darn hard for what they have bhikkhu Sep 2014 #46

Of course not, people who inherit their money deserve it Live and Learn Sep 2014 #56

Because of course they aspire to a society quaker bill Sep 2014 #48

+1 I can't for the life of me understand people's desire to Live and Learn Sep 2014 #58

It is a whole world view quaker bill Sep 2014 #67

I bet some of these ingrates... awoke_in_2003 Sep 2014 #54

The Heritage Foundation are just mouth pieces for the Koch roaches. Initech Sep 2014 #57

Yes, "stuff" is cheap... devils chaplain Sep 2014 #59

No kidding. I doubt that if I sold all my stuff (or junk) Live and Learn Sep 2014 #61

of course, the 2% live EXTREMELY well, + can AFFORD to share. how many houses, clothes, cars pansypoo53219 Sep 2014 #62

I have most of those things IVoteDFL Sep 2014 #65

I spent a week in Honduras a few weeks ago travelling around in the interior. badtoworse Sep 2014 #68

So you would prefer we wait until we are as poor as the Honduras to complain? nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #70

I've spent time in a number of developing countries badtoworse Sep 2014 #72

Americans are dying everyday from poverty. DLevine Sep 2014 #73

See Post 79 badtoworse Sep 2014 #80

1 in 5 children in the US suffer from hunger. Starry Messenger Sep 2014 #75

I've never said we don't have poverty here. Hunger and homelessness are problems in the US. badtoworse Sep 2014 #79

Name what country this picture is from: Starry Messenger Sep 2014 #82

Wow, you visited Honduras for your power contracting gig brentspeak Sep 2014 #83

Ah, so people aren't poor unless they're corrupt government third world country poor. haele Sep 2014 #84

"Yeah American poor, even if your lives are hard, at least it isn't this bad!" AZ Progressive Sep 2014 #69

I think even those might look pretty good to some of our homeless. nt Live and Learn Sep 2014 #71

Compared to? Recursion Sep 2014 #74

Most of the items cited are easily obtainable used and cheap. Vinca Sep 2014 #76

The right hate the poor Gothmog Sep 2014 #77

Whistling in the dark. Orsino Sep 2014 #81

Heritage Foundation ProfessorGAC Sep 2014 #85

Wow, my son's in-laws were among the 31% who had two cars... Contrary1 Sep 2014 #86

I don't OWN a microwave, washer and dryer, fridge, stove, heat and a/c, or a dishwasher. Those all Erose999 Sep 2014 #87