General Discussion

joeglow3

(6,228 posts)

164. I spent 3-4 years of my adult life poor.

Mon Dec 8, 2014, 05:38 PM

Dec 2014

Obviously, there are degrees of poor and I was not on the bottom. I was also fortunate enough to not have any kids, as that makes things a hundred times more difficult.

That said, when I was poor, I worked a day job for $7.50 an hour and spent 40-60 hours a week delivering pizzas on evenings and weekends. I lived in a shitty apartment, ate cheap food and fought to stay awake. When I was taking college classes, I was still working 35-40 hours a week.

I am not victim blaming. However, you are extremely naive if you think there is nothing that someone in that situation can do to try and make the climb back up a little more attainable (although it may be unpleasant and painful). Doesn't mean the system is working properly. Doesn't mean we shouldn't work to improve/fix the system. It just means there are things we can do until that time comes (if ever).

It is clear you mind is made up about me and I can accept that. I too need to accept the way things are and not worry about the opinion of a few people. Thanks for the discussion and I wish for the best for you.

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Highlight:

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