General Discussion

bhikkhu

(10,789 posts)

86. I've been there, and I know what the saying means

Mon Dec 8, 2014, 01:31 PM

Dec 2014

If you have money and your car gets towed you just pay the bill and get it back, you take care of it. If you don't have money, immediately its a desperate problem you know you probably can't solve - helplessness takes over. When living day to day takes everything you've got, just one more thing puts you into overload and you shut down; "poor ways". You could try to negotiate fees, but you know the company doesn't give a crap, and its not easy to walk into an office where you know they'll humiliate you and joke about it after you've gone. You could go to the city and ask about recourse, but probably get the run-around and more condescension. You could go to the court and challenge the fees, but that takes time and money, and who has those to spare?

I lost a car to an impound lot once, and then to the bank where it was auctioned off for a pittance and I was sent a large bill for the balance of the loan. Ended up in a bankruptcy after a year of great stress. I could have paid it off, I figured, if I worked like a dog and scrimped for 5 years...but there wasn't really any point. Several things I did wrong and could have done better, but its hard to make all the right moves and all the right decisions when just living day to day takes everything you've got.

In my case I was lucky - my brother lent me a car he wasn't using for a year, and in the long run the bankruptcy was "lesson learned". I haven't had any significant credit card balance or bought a car on payments since.

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Why Poor People Stay Poor [View all] xchrom Dec 2014 OP

Hundreds of dollars a day to park a car. Extortion. Scuba Dec 2014 #1

Nothing personal, just bidness Fumesucker Dec 2014 #7

Yes it is Pakid Dec 2014 #46

These slimeballs used to come into my old office Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2014 #215

I had my car stolen right out of my garage. Control-Z Dec 2014 #222

We had a car stolen from in front of our house in San Francisco AnotherDreamWeaver Dec 2014 #240

Similar story. Also Arizona. ThoughtCriminal Dec 2014 #226

Call the mayor, your state legislators and media wordpix Dec 2014 #265

K/R marmar Dec 2014 #2

As my mother would say madokie Dec 2014 #3

So it's their fault? brush Dec 2014 #15

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author Hong Kong Cavalier Dec 2014 #45

Well, the article said it was in this case dumbcat Dec 2014 #115

It's so fun living in a so-called "Christian nation" Tsiyu Dec 2014 #184

You found all that dumbcat Dec 2014 #185

Well, what are you saying then? Tsiyu Dec 2014 #190

Post number 3 dumbcat Dec 2014 #197

Woohoo! Tsiyu Dec 2014 #200

What a hypocrite you are in these posts. Psephos Dec 2014 #238

Sorry, but I am fed up with losers Tsiyu Dec 2014 #244

It is interesting dumbcat Dec 2014 #263

One could entertain the possibility that should so many find the same fault LanternWaste Dec 2014 #270

Civil discourse is not suggesting fair compensation for mistakes is to live in poverty CreekDog Dec 2014 #269

Civility in discourse is not about dumbcat Dec 2014 #275

So if someone offers an uncivil opinion in a civil way, we should all just smile and nod? nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #303

I suppose you could if you wanted to dumbcat Dec 2014 #305

Fair enough. I'm not saying civility isn't a good idea - generally it is - but there are exceptions. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #306

Such as? dumbcat Dec 2014 #308

Could you tell me what constitutes an uncivil opinion dumbcat Dec 2014 #309

well the title of the OP is about why people are poor CreekDog Dec 2014 #268

I did not, nor did I intend to dumbcat Dec 2014 #277

+1000 jtuck004 Dec 2014 #218

Don't you love when people on the internets Tsiyu Dec 2014 #251

Our problem is that we can't hear them when THEY go outside and find that they really jtuck004 Dec 2014 #258

Probably a poor decision. AlbertCat Dec 2014 #229

I was responding to the poster who quoted her mother saying . . . brush Dec 2014 #261

That's the worst part: being poor gives you a series of bad options Recursion Dec 2014 #241

I've come to discover, any post that starts with 'so', is either a strawman or wild misconstrual. AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #288

I was not responding to the OP but to the . . . brush Dec 2014 #296

It is not victim blaming at all. AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #297

Better watch it . . . brush Dec 2014 #298

I don't need to watch anything. I understood post 3 when I read it the first time. Let me know when AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #299

Actually, I'm going to leave my previous response intact, but I'm going to take a step back and try AtheistCrusader Dec 2014 #300

Kudos to you . . . brush Dec 2014 #301

........ daleanime Dec 2014 #17

Give that some thought? chervilant Dec 2014 #24

Perhaps a bit of irony From the commenter's tagline "one must work hard to remain stupid" adirondacker Dec 2014 #29

I guess I find that DUer's sentiment rather arrogant. chervilant Dec 2014 #35

+1 daleanime Dec 2014 #71

We have to have each others' backs, don't we? chervilant Dec 2014 #73

Not at all, had bookmarked it earlier to watch later.... daleanime Dec 2014 #75

Right backatcha! chervilant Dec 2014 #79

I think you misunderstood what madokie meant Long Drive Dec 2014 #90

hmm... chervilant Dec 2014 #224

okay... tenderfoot Dec 2014 #233

amazing! shireen Dec 2014 #105

I will be looking for more of this young philosopher's work. n/t chervilant Dec 2014 #225

Well said n/t DawgHouse Dec 2014 #207

I gave that some thought and think... tenderfoot Dec 2014 #34

This message was self-deleted by its author Long Drive Dec 2014 #85

"Poor people have poor options to choose from" might've been a better way to put it. nomorenomore08 Dec 2014 #304

Pretty absurd sentiment phil89 Dec 2014 #59

Isn't that what the OP says? Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #63

Or doing something to get their car towed? dumbcat Dec 2014 #117

Because no middle class person ever had a car towed for something that was her own fault... Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #137

Lots of middle class people have had their cars towed dumbcat Dec 2014 #139

Then stop grasping. Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #141

No. dumbcat Dec 2014 #183

I've been there, and I know what the saying means bhikkhu Dec 2014 #86

No you completely miss the meaning Kalidurga Dec 2014 #93

That's exactly what it means. /nt Marr Dec 2014 #114

Do you mind me asking how dumbcat Dec 2014 #120

I lost my truck to a tow lot -- Hell Hath No Fury Dec 2014 #205

It was leased in WA where I had lived, and my employer tranferred me to NJ bhikkhu Dec 2014 #217

a busybody in my neighborhood called the cops because my window was broken noiretextatique Dec 2014 #242

that fucking sucks shaayecanaan Dec 2014 #249

legal extortion noiretextatique Dec 2014 #302

One set of laws (ways) for the rich and another for the poor. Ferguson MO is a good example. The jwirr Dec 2014 #132

Ah, you inherited your mom's slave mentality. I'm sorry. n/t prayin4rain Dec 2014 #188

This message was self-deleted by its author Hissyspit Dec 2014 #195

Your mother was a Republican? Because that's core to conservative beliefs.n/t jtuck004 Dec 2014 #219

Why not just explain it? Hissyspit Dec 2014 #236

Most of us are just a few paychecks away from this kind of poverty. Chemisse Dec 2014 #245

Lots of poor-people bashing in comments alarimer Dec 2014 #4

those poor decisions justabob Dec 2014 #8

+1 xchrom Dec 2014 #9

as if rich people don't make poor decisions. the consequences are rather different unblock Dec 2014 #13

right justabob Dec 2014 #16

Hence the avoidance of poverty Android3.14 Dec 2014 #78

I can be empathetic, but also question joeglow3 Dec 2014 #18

well justabob Dec 2014 #26

I agree. I do think we need to educate people on better choices joeglow3 Dec 2014 #37

You're on to something with education being needed . . . brush Dec 2014 #76

Wish I had the resources to do it as a Non-Profit One_Life_To_Give Dec 2014 #181

Although I don't disagree with the need for education, Curmudgeoness Dec 2014 #211

i agree with you sweetapogee Dec 2014 #234

The "bad decision" punishes the poor person more than the same treestar Dec 2014 #246

There are plenty of employerss who will fire people who are down on their luck. They don't want Dont call me Shirley Dec 2014 #27

Hear, hear! Rozlee Dec 2014 #82

Sorry it was hard for you, but you did GOOD Long Drive Dec 2014 #96

Thank you. Rozlee Dec 2014 #212

You deserve this... Dont call me Shirley Dec 2014 #276

Thank you. Rozlee Dec 2014 #286

This is called the fundemental attribution error Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #31

"I have yet to see a job where any employer would do that." jeff47 Dec 2014 #58

Never worked at Home Depot, so I take your word for it joeglow3 Dec 2014 #64

In other words, it's always the poor person's fault. jeff47 Dec 2014 #67

If by "other words" you mean "shit you pulled out of your ass", then yes joeglow3 Dec 2014 #77

Except you keep only talking about situations where it was the poor person's fault jeff47 Dec 2014 #92

We are discussing a story filled with those examples. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #95

I re read the story and than re read your posts Long Drive Dec 2014 #99

You see it as hateful. Sorry about that. I see it as trying to help & not just commiserate joeglow3 Dec 2014 #107

naw BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #127

You got everything figured out, huh? joeglow3 Dec 2014 #128

You did the work for me, admittedly. BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #130

If you are being honest, then good day. However, that is an all too common defense mechanism joeglow3 Dec 2014 #134

I'm being honest BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #136

Not my intention joeglow3 Dec 2014 #142

Uh BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #145

Read above. This is ALL the fault of greedy corporations. We are faced with 2 options: joeglow3 Dec 2014 #148

Lol BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #163

Bet they should not have cell phones either treestar Dec 2014 #247

I am 37 and now make right at 100k. Got my first cell phone 2 years ago joeglow3 Dec 2014 #260

Been poor, too, and know the strategies you use to get extra money; you don't sound right wing. ancianita Dec 2014 #252

You are correct and he's not just anti-labor. smokey nj Dec 2014 #143

Wow BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #144

What was wrong with that subthread joeglow3 Dec 2014 #152

Bullshit. Just bullshit. smokey nj Dec 2014 #155

Then cite the bullshit. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #158

It's all in the subthread for everyone to see. smokey nj Dec 2014 #162

Then cite it. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #168

reading the thread now BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #165

And we have a winner!!! smokey nj Dec 2014 #177

good point BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #178

Just trying to consider the issue! BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #160

Anti-labor? Where the hell did that come from? joeglow3 Dec 2014 #151

From you're victim-blaming posts in this thread. smokey nj Dec 2014 #153

I spent 3-4 years of my adult life poor. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #164

Lol BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #167

I'm done. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #171

Concession accepted. BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #173

More cluelessness and victim blaming. smokey nj Dec 2014 #172

Nice try BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #161

I was far from the only pro-labor person who recognized the idiocy of weakening any public union joeglow3 Dec 2014 #166

Nope BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #169

Yep joeglow3 Dec 2014 #175

Says nothing BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #176

Here is a great sub thread from that post to read joeglow3 Dec 2014 #180

You're desperate to nail someone. What can you possibly get out of it. ancianita Dec 2014 #257

yeah? BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #267

I read his words differently. Didn't think they were all that contestable. Surprised at how you got ancianita Dec 2014 #273

I said hypothetically BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #274

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #290

If enough readers are inferring the same thing from your posts LanternWaste Dec 2014 #272

Oh Dear Long Drive Dec 2014 #149

If that were true, you wouldn't have dismissed the examples in the article jeff47 Dec 2014 #110

see post 107 above joeglow3 Dec 2014 #119

Where you blame the individuals yet claim to not blame the individuals. jeff47 Dec 2014 #121

No. Where you claim to use reading comprehension and yet don't use reading comprehension. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #122

You claimed the other drivers were poor because they didn't behave the way you did. jeff47 Dec 2014 #266

Great point Long Drive Dec 2014 #154

Good thing I am done in this thread. joeglow3 Dec 2014 #174

Oh Joy!!!!!! n/t Long Drive Dec 2014 #186

Yes there are asshole bosses aplenty who delight in treating their employees Jake Stern Dec 2014 #108

This is true for more companies than the average person realizes. DawgHouse Dec 2014 #208

What they forget is . . . Brigid Dec 2014 #307

Yes, it's ridiculous and was really only a way to keep poor people down. nt DawgHouse Dec 2014 #310

Firing a worker for tardiness is not uncommon in low wage, low skill jobs Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #66

They don't usually fire you for not having a car Orrex Dec 2014 #123

Maybe I have been lucky joeglow3 Dec 2014 #125

Honestly, that's the right way to look at it. Orrex Dec 2014 #126

You are either blind or lying BlindTiresias Dec 2014 #133

Would you name these companies? joeglow3 Dec 2014 #135

It always got to me that we watch the clock upaloopa Dec 2014 #157

That's so true laundry_queen Dec 2014 #237

You seem to be coming from the mindset... moriah Dec 2014 #192

I agree completely joeglow3 Dec 2014 #204

I once had a co-worker who was fired because his car broke down Art_from_Ark Dec 2014 #228

When you are poor, there are often no good options Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #33

best you can do is least bad justabob Dec 2014 #38

Here in TN, the poor pay significantly higher rates in taxes Tsiyu Dec 2014 #199

+1000 Hissyspit Dec 2014 #194

I managed to avoid the comments Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #30

In the US at least, it's all about "pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps" alarimer Dec 2014 #201

Agreed, alarimer - staggerleem Dec 2014 #61

I think losing a car is bad almost everywhere alarimer Dec 2014 #198

+1000 Hissyspit Dec 2014 #193

No shit. AngryOldDem Dec 2014 #281

It happens a lot, sadly. MineralMan Dec 2014 #5

The only answer for a prey animal is to avoid predators Fumesucker Dec 2014 #10

It shouldn't be that way, but it is. MineralMan Dec 2014 #12

Your post reminds me of some ideas that I have regarding alternative prison sentencing that logosoco Dec 2014 #19

And some people just don't listen. MineralMan Dec 2014 #118

Alternate Proposal ckildegaard Dec 2014 #140

Minnesota has an Initiative and Referendum process. JimDandy Dec 2014 #80

Actually, it doesn't. MineralMan Dec 2014 #116

Thanks for the correction. JimDandy Dec 2014 #223

K&R me b zola Dec 2014 #6

Remember those Direct TV commercials from a few years ago? Brigid Dec 2014 #11

Our automobile culture blows chunks. This is one more chunk. hunter Dec 2014 #14

Some communities are that way. There is adequate public transportation Cleita Dec 2014 #22

This^^^^^ treestar Dec 2014 #248

Because they're trapped. By design. marmar Dec 2014 #20

i wish more of us would see the 'planning' and 'design' in these policies. nt xchrom Dec 2014 #41

+1 it's no accident nt justabob Dec 2014 #124

^ that's the piece so many don't see - TBF Dec 2014 #189

Exactly! ctsnowman Dec 2014 #250

Yep. Some invest in the design. Strengthening it and sharing in the proceeds. raouldukelives Dec 2014 #278

The city of Chicago crushed my sister's car AwakeAtLast Dec 2014 #21

Too bad Public Transportation in the US RoccoR5955 Dec 2014 #23

Eventually thhe auto is declared abandoned, the lot owner gets the title, sells it, and profits aikoaiko Dec 2014 #25

What I said when I posted this on my FB list Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #28

"So here's the real reason people are poor: They don't have enough money." unrepentant progress Dec 2014 #32

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #42

If you don't have a smartphone or internet how is it that your posting here now? tenderfoot Dec 2014 #44

Many public libraries offer computers with internet access. n/t Adrahil Dec 2014 #51

And publicly funded helping libertarians relay how poor people should behave. tenderfoot Dec 2014 #54

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #60

many years ago i read the classic book "the poor pay more' dembotoz Dec 2014 #36

Don't need to, I've lived it Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #49

I read a similar book hfojvt Dec 2014 #53

When LIFE hands you a "Lemon", make "Lemonade"! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #40

'The moral of this story is simple: Live life within your own means! ' xchrom Dec 2014 #43

I love it when people find the need to tell poor people how they should behave tenderfoot Dec 2014 #100

it's become a scourge. nt xchrom Dec 2014 #101

very special dembotoz Dec 2014 #102

Bullshit false optimism Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #47

I am not working anymore for "Big Oil", the "Big Three", and the "Big Banks"! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #72

And you just ignored what I said Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #103

I am not sure what U are saying exaltly! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #113

But, but... Mom! Hissyspit Dec 2014 #202

I admire the lengths with which libertarians go to insure that poor people stay poor. tenderfoot Dec 2014 #57

It's not because we are "poor" that we should behave like "poor". Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #65

abilities like empathy? tenderfoot Dec 2014 #69

Empathy is what made me talk to you as a fellow "Human Being". Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #74

And you bought the bike with, what exactly? jeff47 Dec 2014 #62

"Borrow 20,000 dollars from your parents if you have to" arcane1 Dec 2014 #91

Stange to you, maybe! But a Fellow Human Being gave it to me! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #106

Excellent job missing the point, captain libertarian! (nt) jeff47 Dec 2014 #112

First off, life needs to hand you lemons, a glass, some sugar, and water in order to make lemonade. Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #70

"Buying a bike" is the lemonade you get when life hands down you a lemon! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #84

The bike is lemonade. Buying it is having the tool (money) to make lemonade. Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #87

Maybe so! But it's better than being a hardcore Pessimist! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #94

If the sky ahead is gray, assuming there's rain in one's future isn't "hardcore pessimism" n/t Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #146

If the sky ahead is Grey, then find the Silver Lining! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #206

Scratch. n/t Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #214

there is often a fine line handmade34 Dec 2014 #150

Granted! It will never get me elected! But guess what? I am not running for office! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #182

I was homeless in San Diego until some friends upaloopa Dec 2014 #83

You can't count on a Bank-Machine having Empathy toward you! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #89

I remember when I was drinking that I would upaloopa Dec 2014 #98

That's about as removed from reality as it gets. arcane1 Dec 2014 #88

Perhaps if I had said "Keep Buying Lottery Tickets", it would have made more sense to you. Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #147

I think I'll just let Cave Johnson speak for me. Hong Kong Cavalier Dec 2014 #129

Exactly. hunter Dec 2014 #159

That's fine if you have the great good fortune to live within cycling distance of your job. bklyncowgirl Dec 2014 #187

Exaltely...! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #216

Aren't you lucky not to live in rural Arkansas. moriah Dec 2014 #196

And pull yourself up with your OWN friggin' bootstraps, too, huh? AngryOldDem Dec 2014 #255

We need to go back to the Basics as a Nation! Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #279

Keep what you need -- like a car to get to work? AngryOldDem Dec 2014 #280

I wonder how long we'll have to suffer with that one? tenderfoot Dec 2014 #293

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #271

That's a good example. davidthegnome Dec 2014 #48

No-one wants to admit... Prophet 451 Dec 2014 #52

It feels terrible to ask for help Tsiyu Dec 2014 #210

Northern Maine is a tough economy. MADem Dec 2014 #243

There is another reason rich people don't have to worry about losing their cars Kelselsius Dec 2014 #50

The current so called "recovery"... 99Forever Dec 2014 #55

That's how it works. You have to have money to make money. JDPriestly Dec 2014 #56

A friend of mine lost his Dually dodge diesel that way. ileus Dec 2014 #68

The poor are kept poor intentionally by design. 99Forever Dec 2014 #81

Poverty is a By-Product created by a Social Structure that we happily called "Humanity". Johnny Rash Dec 2014 #284

Really? 99Forever Dec 2014 #285

Post removed Post removed Dec 2014 #289

Well.. 99Forever Dec 2014 #291

Jury results Beringia Dec 2014 #294

Preyed upon One_Life_To_Give Dec 2014 #97

Towing companies have run a racket for decades Warpy Dec 2014 #104

I know Johonny Dec 2014 #138

Yep-- this is a seriously bullshit practice. Seen it myself. Marr Dec 2014 #109

This is how the system is set up. bravenak Dec 2014 #111

The system is rigged, the choices impossible. AtomicKitten Dec 2014 #131

I'm disgusted by the heartless comments on here. Tatiana Dec 2014 #156

This is one thing AZ has right. dilby Dec 2014 #170

In response to the guy who bought a bike and "made lemonade" moonbeam23 Dec 2014 #179

I like how the subject of the poor brings out every Libertarian troll on the site. tenderfoot Dec 2014 #191

The fruit of embracing "socially liberal (or moderate) but fiscally conservative" aka Libertarians TheKentuckian Dec 2014 #262

The essay needs to be read within the context of the rest of Tirado's life. AngryOldDem Dec 2014 #256

Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2014 #264

Similar situation happened to me humbled_opinion Dec 2014 #203

and Poor People do have Poor ways humbled_opinion Dec 2014 #213

I'm pretty darn poor myself. inanna Dec 2014 #209

I had something similar happen to me Mosby Dec 2014 #220

It won't help in this situation tavernier Dec 2014 #221

why didnt you get an attorney... INdemo Dec 2014 #227

This kind of thing happens more than people realize OnionPatch Dec 2014 #230

It's a vicious circle. Gormy Cuss Dec 2014 #232

I lost a car that way. My birth certificate and passport were in it. Recursion Dec 2014 #231

wow, that is simply brutal Psephos Dec 2014 #239

85 Richest People in the world take in about $500,000 a minute. They buy the jtuck004 Dec 2014 #235

Excellent points. adirondacker Dec 2014 #283

Tirado's book, "Hand to Mouth," is GREAT. AngryOldDem Dec 2014 #253

My car was towed and damaged. It was obvious that they ran it into the car beside it in their lot, Vattel Dec 2014 #254

I like the phrase "being poor can be really expensive" War Horse Dec 2014 #259

K&R'd The Green Manalishi Dec 2014 #282

This did not happen becuase they were poor.. gerogie2 Dec 2014 #287

The New "Capitalist" System is Similar to the Old Soviet System daredtowork Dec 2014 #292

K&R Jamaal510 Dec 2014 #295