What about the non-working poor?

[Naturyl]

In Democratic circles, we hear a lot of talk about the middle class, and quite a bit of talk about the working poor. But what about the non-working poor? There are millions of Americans, disabled and otherwise, who are permanently unemployed and living in poverty. Over four million Americans are on Supplemental Security Income, which pays just $623 per month. Food stamps, energy assistance programs, and Medicaid budgets are being cut nationwide, but media-conscious Democrats are only allowed to talk about how these realities affect the working poor.

American society has a built-in bias against the unemployed. Unfortunately, the idea that only working people deserve a decent standard of living is not just a Republican talking point, it's a widely-accepted idea in our culture which cuts across party lines. Why are the non-working poor punished for the circumstances of their lives, and why won't anyone talk about this issue? Doesn't every law-abiding American deserve a decent standard of living? Isn't it time we put the progress back in "progressive?"

[riqster]

1. That's a great point!

Thanks for bringing it up.:thumbsup:

[DutchLiberal]

2. They don't talk about it because their corporate sponsors can't make money out of the poor.

[Lilith Velkor]

13. Sure they can.

Drug companies use poor mentally ill people as human guinea pigs all the time. If the meds work, they get a steady customer.

And don't even get me started on the faith-based program which constitutes the bulk of "addiction treatment."

Is compensation for subsistence too much to ask?

[DutchLiberal]

15. You're right, but still... You know what my point was, right?

:)

[Lilith Velkor]

16. I reckon.

Something about blood and turnips comes to mind. :)

[papau]

3. Perhaps because those are "State" issues, with Federal grants always being used to cut state taxes

there is little that can be done at the Federal level.

[Naturyl]

4. Kick this if you care.

America isn't just for people who work. It's for every American.

[NMMNG]

5. Punished for the "crime" of having a disability

It's sickening. Particularly when the Bible thumpers are the ones who scream the loudest for funding to social-service programs to be cut. I'm sure Jesus said something about "whatsoever you do unto the least of them"....

[riqster]

8. They are Christian in name only

...they spend most of their time worshipping Paul.

[NMMNG]

10. CINOs

I'm familiar with those types. :-(

[riqster]

11. Worshippers In Name Only

WINOs

[NMMNG]

12. LOL

:rofl:

[dajoki]

6. Its about time...

someone addressed this. I am disabled, my wife works and we can't get by. Then we get insulted by a 2.3% raise. I worked 30+ years of physical labor and when something happens you are forgotten. And for all you healthy people out there, don't think it can't happen to you. For your sake I pray it doesn't.
K&R

[Hydra]

7. Unfortunately there is a HUGE problem with how we deal with poverty

It's the myth of "America, the land of opportunity."

In other words, if you're poor, it's your fault. In my case, it's true. I refuse to let my disabled parent face having to be a ward of the state, so my income, which would be just enough to squeak by, is now way below what both of us need even with the pitiful supplements of the state(SSDI insists that they are not disabled).

As George Carlin said, "That's why they call it the American Dream- because you have to be asleep to believe it!"

[Breeze54]

9. Because the " non-working poor" don't vote.

:sarcasm:

The poor need their own lobbyists; just like Big Pharma and Oil and Pig Farms!!

[Lilith Velkor]

14. Hook us up or we'll show up @ your office unbathed!

:rofl:

[DangerDave921]

17. Bias?

I don't think it's so much a bias as an ingrained respect for work and the value that work brings. That's a long tradition in American culture. Bias implies an unreasonable judgment on something. For a HEALTHY individual, there's no reason not to get out there and work to support yourself. I had a friend in college who sat around all summer doing nothing because he thought it was beneath him to work fast-food. Excuse me? If you're an adult, you go out and work. So I admit that if I see a healthy adult who's not out there working, I do hold it against him/her.

For somone with a true disability that prevents them from working, I believe it is the moral duty of a government to properly care for those folks. But yes, I would like to see strict criteria for what disability is.

[Naturyl]

18. Yep, I knew that was coming.

Rather than address this an an incomplete manner, I'd refer you to my essay on the subject:

http://naturyl.humanists.net/work.html

[Manifestor_of_Light]

19. Excellent essay.

This society thinks that if you don't work, if able-bodied, you must be a failure.

What if the society, thru its job interviewers, tells me that my skills, my talents, my education (12 years of college, 3 degrees), are not wanted by them, for some arbitrary and silly reason, like my age? Are they correct? No. Just because lots of people believe it doesn't make it true. The job market is a complete joke. A sad one at that.

A person without a job is not inherently worth less than one with a job.

My self-worth comes from within, not from this sick society's messages that tell you you are nothing unless you continually CONSUME.

To get a clue check out Noam Chomsky, "Manufacturing Consent", and a Beeb documentary called "The Century of the Self".

[Manifestor_of_Light]

21. No reason not to work?

What if you apply to hundreds of places and they don't want you because you are TOO bright, TOO educated, TOO experienced and have TOO many skills and you're not young and cheap?

I can't hold a gun to the interviewer's head and say, "Give me a job or else I'll blow your head off!". That's called duress.


Screw the idea that if you don't work and are healthy and able bodied, there is something wrong with you. It's the economy. They've destroyed the middle class. They don't want bright, educated people. They are threatened by bright, educated people. We live in a mediocracy. It's who you know, not what you know.

I don't know what planet you're on; not the one I'm on.

[bread_and_roses]

22. there are so many fallacies here that it would take all day to address them all

but just for starters, our Corporate Masters require a disposable labor pool. As in every other area of American life, those that are most harmed by this "market" mechanism are minorities. As for your limitation of assistance to those who are disabled under a "strict" criteria, I'd like to know if you are content to see the children of low-wage workers (you do know that our minimum wage will leave families in poverty, yes? As in too poor to pay both rent and food?) and workers shut out by the lack of jobs just starve and die?

Poverty is a social construct: here in the US we choose to keep many poor so a few can be obscenely rich.

[lumberjack_jeff]

20. Society helps the non-working poor inadequately.

Society helps the working poor not at all.

I can only speak for myself, but that is why I advocate primarily for the working poor.

[ileus]

23. Disabled I understand, it's the otherwise I'd worry about.

Let’s assign a arbitrary number range of 2300-5500 bucks a month for any “non-worker” I already know of dozens of people living off the system because they refuse to learn a new trade/career. Here in my county we have what I call a “disability” Dr. visit her enough times and you’ll get your free ride. She has what seems like half the counties population drawing a check. Most do side/odd jobs during the summer and hunt and fish the rest of the time. Imagine 45-50% of the current population deciding to walk off the job and live the easy life. That’s what will happen when you make being a bum prosperous. I’m all for the true mentally and physically disabled being able to live a good quality of life. I just don’t want to award able bodied and minded people to sit at home while I work to pay for their beer and gas.

Maybe it's time for the non-working rich to do their part, they should help Carter build homes or other community services.