Do poor people deserve to be poor?

[cgannon64]

It seems to me that a lot of people think that poor people got what they deserve. Do poor people deserve to be poor? Is it a punishment? What did they do wrong? Are they bad people? Does material wealth determine how we should perceive someone's character?

Has anyone made this argument since 1890?

 

[Sidhe]

I'm at IC myself

figures

Has anyone made this argument since 1890?

And yes they have Mise did a while back

 

[punkbass2000]

Actually, I think I can. Anyone who is 18+ is old enough to know that they are not the sum of world knowledge. Knowing you know nothing may be a step too far for some, but at least knowing you don't know *this* particular subject very well is not unreasonable IMO.

But then the question is whether or not it is reasonable to expect people to be reasonable.

 

[Odin2006]

I dont think you can judge someones in a westernized environment as being poor constitutes=deserves it. There are about a million reasons why someone finds themselves poor, mental illness, alcoholism,drug abuse,bad luck, bad choices,no chance at education(having to support a familly) There is an endless list: I for example dropped out of education at age 18 for reasons I wont go into and am finally back in education at age 33, I can honestly say that my being poor in the intervening period had nothing to do with me being lazy,workshy or whatever, it was just bad luck, **** happens type stuff. So in conclusion I disagree that being poor is indicative of laziness or whatever. It's a person by person case.

Don't judge someone 'till you walked a mile in their shoes.

There's only one way of life and that's your own

***insert trite allegory here***

According to right-wing crap logic you deserve to be poor because you were too lazy to work and go to college at the same time.

 

[Xanikk999]

Not meaning to sound arrogant but you have alot to learn if you think it is a choice between those 2 absolutes. Go read up on mixed economies for a start.

Yeah i know there are more then those two absolutes, i should of been more clear. I do know what a mixed economy is because im taking an introductory business class right now.

Your right there are more then that. But still they have to lean towards one way or the other. Some might be in the middle leaning towards the capatalist side like in europe. Or some might be leaning towards the communist side like china even though they do have lots of private businesses now most of the business there is still under strict government regulations if not run by the government itself.

But anyway i meant you had to lean towards one side or the other.

 

[Communisto]

bull**** lazy and stupid. The working class does just that, work! and does it very hard mostly to just pull in a bit of dough.

Moderator Action: Edited, language.

 

[logical_psycho]

According to right-wing crap logic you deserve to be poor because you were too lazy to work and go to college at the same time.

Yeah and that makes no sense, because people in college should work on studying, not on earning money. I hate it so much that my veins start to bulge whenever I have to work with a group of students and then some don't do their work before the deadline simply because they were too busy with their "other job". They drive fancy cars and drag my grade down by doing so as well.


Now maybe if it's complete self-study you can do it part time, but when collaboration with fellow students is required I'd rather see you choose between college or work.


The time they lose by working **** jobs during their college period could have invested better by working for much higher wages after graduation.


Especially in the USA you can be poor and working very hard, I watched this documentary about this woman who had to work 16 hours a day, living in Flint Michigan, working 3 jobs a day. Just to feed her family, that is not normal. Especially when you see lazy coke headed slutty whorebags like Paris Hilton on MTV doing nothing but COMPLAINING about how she got caviar on top of her toast instead of next to it on the same platter.... and making MORE money doing that.

 

[cegman]

I only voted for the options I did under the opinion that those were missing the word "some" because there is the working class that are "poor" and there are others that are just unlucky but there are some poor people that deserve but of course there are more that don't deserve it.

 

[Rhymes]

Material wealth is almost never a good indication of a person's character. It's only a good indication of the importance you put on money in your life.

 

[anarres]

But then the question is whether or not it is reasonable to expect people to be reasonable.

Hoisted by my own petard!

Touche.

 

[CurtSibling]

Some people are poor because of stupidty, etc.

But there are far too many circumstances to make such a generalisation.

Some people are very well-educated, but cannot find a niche career or opportunity.
Hence, they live in a poverty bracket, though not due to any lack of brains/effort.

So many different situations.

.

 

[bhsup]

Some people are very well-educated, but cannot find a niche career or opportunity.

If I'm reading that right, then it is their own fault in THAT circumstance. If they're well educated and are refusing to work in anything but the field they're educated in, it's solely on their shoulders. They could go out and cut/lay sod, become ditch diggers, whatever.

 

[anarres]

If I'm reading that right, then it is their own fault in THAT circumstance. If they're well educated and are refusing to work in anything but the field they're educated in, it's solely on their shoulders. They could go out and cut/lay sod, become ditch diggers, whatever.

How many people doing unskilled manual labour are not poor?

 

[bhsup]

How many people doing unskilled manual labour are not poor?

Depends. Get a job that has a good union behind it and some don't do bad at all.

 

[punkbass2000]

So many different situations.
.

And that's precisely it. You cannot ever know everyone's situation in its entirety. Sterotyping does no good.

 

[GirlyGamerIC]

That's a blatant lie. You can't have a "good time" at IC.

Anyway, if you weren't as clever as you are you wouldn't be able to hold a job and get a degree at the same time. Most people weren't born as clever as you, and that's hardly their fault.

The jobs I am working are not mentally challenging. I stack shelves in a supermarket in one of my jobs and I occasionally temp as a waitress. The labourous jobs in this country are plentiful, for many of which you do not have to be intelligent. Not being clever is not an excuse for being poor in developed countries and begging on the streets in some places is actually quite rewarding. I am sure the tramps sitting in knightsbridge and south kensington are not doing too badly.

With regards to having a good time at IC, I don't have much time to socialise but there is plenty to do in London.

 

[Rambuchan]

Difference is GirlyGamer, you are doing those jobs for a few months at least and 3 years tops. Many must face doing those for their entire life and that's not such an appealing nor easy scenario to bear.

 

[GirlyGamerIC]

The reason i chose the jobs I do is because they are not mentally challenging. My brain gets used enough at uni. I also dont believe that you need to be educated to have an interesting job. Most porn stars aren't educated lol.

 

[Sidhe]

I'm surprised a non male who thinks pornstar is an interesting job

 

[ComradeDavo]

Yeah i know there are more then those two absolutes, i should of been more clear. I do know what a mixed economy is because im taking an introductory business class right now.

Your right there are more then that. But still they have to lean towards one way or the other. Some might be in the middle leaning towards the capatalist side like in europe. Or some might be leaning towards the communist side like china even though they do have lots of private businesses now most of the business there is still under strict government regulations if not run by the government itself.

But anyway i meant you had to lean towards one side or the other.

It's not a choice between Communism and Capitalism though. The UK is an example of a welfare state based on a market economy.