6 ms·

It's also expensive, inconvenient, time-consuming, and risky to be poor. None of the suggestions you make are "easy" for poor people. Consider how much time,

It's also expensive, inconvenient, time-consuming, and risky to be poor. None of the suggestions you make are "easy" for poor people. Consider how much time, energy, and expertise it takes even to research disability insurance and buy the appropriate product.

Consultant32452 9y ago
There are basically two options for disability insurance, 50% or 75% of what you currently make. I'm sure there's other options, but those are the default choices. The minutia of what's covered basically the same across the industry and if you just choose the first provider you talk to it's not really different than getting it from your employer where you had no choice of providers or coverage. The big barrier is realizing you have personal agency and can do basic things like shop.
- rectang 9y ago
  > The big barrier is realizing you have personal agency and can do basic things like shop. This argument reminds me of web designers who blame users for the mistakes they make when presented with a horrible user interface -- that there is no system so terrible that the user can't be a moral failure, 100% responsible for their own misfortune.
  - Consultant32452 9y ago
    The difference between you and me is that you believe poor people are stupid and I don't. Otherwise you wouldn't have felt the need to qualify how difficult it would be for "poor people" to figure out how to buy disability insurance, a product that's largely off the shelf.
    - rectang 9y ago
      No, the difference is that I factor in structural factors that keep people poor, while you pretend they don't exist.
      - Consultant32452 9y ago
        What structural factors, specifically, stop poor people from attaining the level of "expertise" necessary to buy disability insurance?
        mLuby 9y ago
        Fundamentally it's lack of time due to having to work 2+ gigs likely while juggling child care or elder care. People with money can pay people to do things for them, freeing up time. Even if they do it themselves, they likely have a more comfortable life so it's easier to devote an evening or a weekend to figuring out complicated medical/legal/financial scenarios.
        Consultant32452 9y ago
        Do you similarly feel that it's impossible for poor people to buy car insurance? Disability insurance is LESS complicated than that. Do you want the 50% of your current salary or 75% of your current salary option? That's it. Maybe you can pay a few extra bucks for a rider that increases your disability coverage each year as you get a raise. This is not complicated stuff and any insurance agent is going to be happy to walk you through it if you have questions.
        mLuby 9y ago
        Nobody's saying it's impossible or even difficult. But if I'm rushing from my shift at McDonald's to pick up my kid and drop them off at home with some dinner before heading to the late shift at Home Depot, I'm not going to be able to talk to an insurance agent who might very well be happy to walk me through it, let alone spend time actively thinking about what coverage I need.
        Consultant32452 9y ago
        You dodged my first question. Apply the same thing to car insurance. Are poor people generally incapable of attaining the "expertise" to be able to purchase car insurance?

Consultant32452 9y ago

There are basically two options for disability insurance, 50% or 75% of what you currently make. I'm sure there's other options, but those are the default choices. The minutia of what's covered basically the same across the industry and if you just choose the first provider you talk to it's not really different than getting it from your employer where you had no choice of providers or coverage. The big barrier is realizing you have personal agency and can do basic things like shop.

rectang 9y ago
> The big barrier is realizing you have personal agency and can do basic things like shop. This argument reminds me of web designers who blame users for the mistakes they make when presented with a horrible user interface -- that there is no system so terrible that the user can't be a moral failure, 100% responsible for their own misfortune.
- Consultant32452 9y ago
  The difference between you and me is that you believe poor people are stupid and I don't. Otherwise you wouldn't have felt the need to qualify how difficult it would be for "poor people" to figure out how to buy disability insurance, a product that's largely off the shelf.
  - rectang 9y ago
    No, the difference is that I factor in structural factors that keep people poor, while you pretend they don't exist.
    - Consultant32452 9y ago
      What structural factors, specifically, stop poor people from attaining the level of "expertise" necessary to buy disability insurance?
      - mLuby 9y ago
        Fundamentally it's lack of time due to having to work 2+ gigs likely while juggling child care or elder care. People with money can pay people to do things for them, freeing up time. Even if they do it themselves, they likely have a more comfortable life so it's easier to devote an evening or a weekend to figuring out complicated medical/legal/financial scenarios.
        Consultant32452 9y ago
        Do you similarly feel that it's impossible for poor people to buy car insurance? Disability insurance is LESS complicated than that. Do you want the 50% of your current salary or 75% of your current salary option? That's it. Maybe you can pay a few extra bucks for a rider that increases your disability coverage each year as you get a raise. This is not complicated stuff and any insurance agent is going to be happy to walk you through it if you have questions.
        mLuby 9y ago
        Nobody's saying it's impossible or even difficult. But if I'm rushing from my shift at McDonald's to pick up my kid and drop them off at home with some dinner before heading to the late shift at Home Depot, I'm not going to be able to talk to an insurance agent who might very well be happy to walk me through it, let alone spend time actively thinking about what coverage I need.
        Consultant32452 9y ago
        You dodged my first question. Apply the same thing to car insurance. Are poor people generally incapable of attaining the "expertise" to be able to purchase car insurance?