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bhikkhu

(10,789 posts)

22. Even the reasonably well off can be a mystery, when one is surrounded by poverty

Mon Dec 1, 2014, 07:24 PM

Dec 2014

I remember after Katrina when my mom and stepdad signed up to offer their separated cottage to house a refugee couple. They're retired, comfortable but certainly not wealthy, and live in California. FEMA paid the airfare for a couple to go there to live for six months. They were decent people, though certainly rough around the edges, with a bit of culture shock coming to a different region after the disaster. But mostly they had a hard time seeing just how mild and ordinary and unharried it was to live in a quiet suburb. They had no experience with life as anything but a day-to-day struggle, never having enough, surrounded by people who had been somewhat desperate their whole lives. "I just had no idea people lived like this" the woman said to me, when I was visiting and we were coming back from a nice lunch with my aunts. After a few months they had adjusted and found work, and had no interest in ever going back.

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Highlight:

Chris Rock: "If poor people knew how rich the rich people are, there would be riots in the streets" [View all] big_dog Dec 2014 OP

the extremely wealthy entertainer enlightens us as he sells his stuff to poor people lol nt msongs Dec 2014 #1

that must be one tiny spa in London if its at an airport big_dog Dec 2014 #2

Doesn't look that small to me. eggplant Dec 2014 #20

Yours is a good reason not to read historical criticisms by historians, either... LanternWaste Dec 2014 #3

So tell us, oh master of the hit and run one liner. Who should point these things out Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2014 #4

No one needs to point "these things" out. former9thward Dec 2014 #34

I think the details might be less well-known cyberswede Dec 2014 #38

No one is going to "riot" learning these things. former9thward Dec 2014 #43

I believe Rock was employing hyperbole. nt cyberswede Dec 2014 #47

Yes, of course, he is a comedian. former9thward Dec 2014 #49

well, isn't it? hopemountain Dec 2014 #67

Middle and lower income people are not stupid. former9thward Dec 2014 #69

i certainly do not believe middle and lower income people are stupid hopemountain Dec 2014 #70

Not stupid, but their focus is not the focus of political message board posters. merrily Dec 2014 #84

Bwaaahaaaha!!!! You're questioning someone else's intelligence??!! Thanks I needed that. nt Guy Whitey Corngood Dec 2014 #40

That's not correct nichomachus Dec 2014 #52

But that applies to all income levels. former9thward Dec 2014 #55

I like this graph of billions of dollars in spending...... a kennedy Dec 2014 #59

If we had a decent mass media, they would not shut up about it. It shouldn't be left mostly to merrily Dec 2014 #83

Informing us what is happening is a valuable service in my opinion. liberal_at_heart Dec 2014 #5

Has this wealthy entertainer pissed and moaned about the having to paying higher taxes? tenderfoot Dec 2014 #6

Other than a personal friend or his tax person who would know? former9thward Dec 2014 #35

Do you know that what he says lacks merit based on his wealth? tenderfoot Dec 2014 #44

You said he has never complained about paying taxes. former9thward Dec 2014 #45

How do you know how poor people think? tenderfoot Dec 2014 #46

The issue is rioting. former9thward Dec 2014 #48

Perhaps not but they should. Especially since the rich seem to make it harder to get unpoor. tenderfoot Dec 2014 #54

I sure can. BeanMusical Dec 2014 #58

Can you pass the butter please? BeanMusical Dec 2014 #56

Yeah, fuck him for remembering where he came from! smokey nj Dec 2014 #9

The phrase "look before you leap" comes to mind.. SomethingFishy Dec 2014 #13

Thank you! Chris Rock is probably quite comfortable and has lots of japple Dec 2014 #23

More to the point ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #51

Plus 1000 JustAnotherGen Dec 2014 #80

I meant to add tomyprevious comment ... 1StrongBlackMan Dec 2014 #87

Yep - I've noticed that too JustAnotherGen Dec 2014 #88

Most celebrities are not all that wealthy. Especially by 1% standards. alphafemale Dec 2014 #60

+1 n/t BeanMusical Dec 2014 #57

Attack the messenger... bl968 Dec 2014 #14

My thought exactly...Anither Hollywood Elite yeoman6987 Dec 2014 #27

"Anither(sic) Hollywood Elite" RetroLounge Dec 2014 #64

I don't care about your love for the elite yeoman6987 Dec 2014 #65

and I don't care about your fear of them, or your jealousy of them. RetroLounge Dec 2014 #99

Now, see, this is a great example of the current disconnect about the obscenely wealthy. chervilant Dec 2014 #31

It's Like Nobody Remembers That One Joke He Said About The Difference Between Being Rich and Wealthy wellst0nev0ter Dec 2014 #53

I'm white. Nevernose Dec 2014 #42

He is rich, not even close to extremely wealthy. ohnoyoudidnt Dec 2014 #72

He got that money because he is a very smart man. Warpy Dec 2014 #77

He accepts he can't change it. joshcryer Dec 2014 #79

Rock and Bill Maher, railing at the rich. merrily Dec 2014 #82

Amen. nt Ykcutnek Dec 2014 #7

Chris Rock on bullet control Rex Dec 2014 #8

I think part of the reason why poor people don't riot kentauros Dec 2014 #10

My first exposure to this level of wealth SharonAnn Dec 2014 #28

What's interesting, too, about this kentauros Dec 2014 #32

This message was self-deleted by its author a kennedy Dec 2014 #61

The riots and looting in Ferguson were more than just a racial episode--they were a symptom Louisiana1976 Dec 2014 #11

i think you are right on point there big_dog Dec 2014 #12

so, are you inferring the rioters were dumb? nt. hopemountain Dec 2014 #68

Not necessarily. Just pissed off, frustrated, and looking for a target (even if an undeserving one). nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #89

"This country is fucked. There are going to be more Fergusons." nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #90

Maybe it's time the poor were informed about the rich. True Blue Door Dec 2014 #15

The feces are rapidly approaching the impeller blades. hifiguy Dec 2014 #16

More from Chris Rock on the rich and the poor: Brigid Dec 2014 #17

a living minimum wage is a good place to start big_dog Dec 2014 #18

He means "wealthy". In one routine, Chris Rock explains the difference between rich and wealthy. tclambert Dec 2014 #19

I remember that, though the one I saw, he used Oprah instead of Shaq. kentauros Dec 2014 #33

I hate to tell you Chris, but to the really rich, you are not even up to the middle class yet. LiberalArkie Dec 2014 #21

Even the reasonably well off can be a mystery, when one is surrounded by poverty bhikkhu Dec 2014 #22

A nice airport lounge for those forking over $$ for Upper Class (or to FFs eligible) Roland99 Dec 2014 #24

Disagree, he is using his experience, both prior to being rich and now, to draw a picture NoJusticeNoPeace Dec 2014 #26

Hating the rich is not the answer. Like he said before (and posted upthread) Roland99 Dec 2014 #36

Expecting them to pay their fair share does not equal "hating" them. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #93

Article is confusing celebrity with wealth madville Dec 2014 #25

+1 nilram Dec 2014 #66

Is "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" still on TV?... n/t PoliticAverse Dec 2014 #29

I remember hearing talk in the 60's Gman Dec 2014 #30

Communism was used a bogeyman for justifications for all sorts of things JonLP24 Dec 2014 #71

He's rich, not wealthy. Nevernose Dec 2014 #37

We subscribe to the WSJ� CoffeeCat Dec 2014 #39

I don't understand. Omnith Dec 2014 #41

stole it fair and square reddread Dec 2014 #50

AMEN Long Drive Dec 2014 #62

+2 nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #94

How old are you? SomethingFishy Dec 2014 #63

There is nothing wrong with being rich. ohnoyoudidnt Dec 2014 #73

Very well said. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #95

I bet there are a lot of points that sail right over your head Skittles Dec 2014 #76

The rich believe ronnie624 Dec 2014 #74

I believe the middle class would riot too Skittles Dec 2014 #75

Thank you, Chris Rock. JDPriestly Dec 2014 #78

I disagree. As a whole, Americans don't seem to be riot-prone. merrily Dec 2014 #81

Solutions? Electoral strategies in the current environment seem somewhat Karmadillo Dec 2014 #85

Standard RW retort: Well, so what, they worked hard, they deserve it, they are smart, yada yada steve2470 Dec 2014 #86

Okay, hold on..... brooklynite Dec 2014 #91

They are learning of it. lonestarnot Dec 2014 #92

At least Chris Rock is talking about it, nilesobek Dec 2014 #96

Well, I believe that TexasMommaWithAHat Dec 2014 #97

no there wouldn't... lame54 Dec 2014 #98

Is that how you got yours? Or was it by dedication, hard work, and some luck? n/t jtuck004 Dec 2014 #100

It's not OUR streets that need to be rioted in Demeter Dec 2014 #101