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It's not helping the poor per se that makes many people uncomfortable: no sane person will share the "poor must die of hunger" attitude. It's that we help only

It's not helping the poor per se that makes many people uncomfortable: no sane person will share the "poor must die of hunger" attitude. It's that we help only the poor. Look, I pay taxes. Poor people don't. Fine. I get it. But they do get free medical insurance, I don't. They get free college, I don't. All I get back are reminders about "straight white men privilege". That's not fair. Nobody likes paying taxes. But if it's "guys, let's all cough up what we can and build a greater society for all of us", I'm for it. If it's "let's build a greater society for the poor" - that's a much more bitter pill to swallow.

Ar-Curunir 8y ago
Rich people don't need help getting into college: they just bribe their way in.
alwillis 8y ago
It's that we help only the poor. Look, I pay taxes. Poor people don’t. Poor people pay just as much as everyone else in sales tax, excise tax, tolls, meal tax, etc. And because they are poor, they pay disproportionately more of their income in taxes than the wealthy. I live in the Boston area—even though there are 70 colleges and universities here, none of them are free for poor people.
- malvosenior 8y ago
  > And because they are poor, they pay disproportionately more of their income in taxes than the wealthy. That's incorrect. The tax rate is lower for lower income thus they pay less proportionally. > I live in the Boston area—even though there are 70 colleges and universities here, none of them are free for poor people. Every ivy league school has income adjustment and will offer free ride based on need: https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/how-aid-works/harvard-financial-aid-initiative https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/how-aid-works/harv...
  - alwillis 8y ago
    That's incorrect. The tax rate is lower for lower income thus they pay less proportionally. If you look at what I listed—sales tax, excise tax, meal taxes—those are the same whether you’re rich or poor, except they have a disproportionate impact on the poor. Poor people do get most of what they pay in income tax back once they file but that’s not the case for these other taxes.
- ensignavenger 8y ago
  I'm pretty sure some, if not most, of those colleges have scholarships that are "need based". And even if they don't, there is the Pell Grant.
  - alwillis 8y ago
    Except that students of poor families aren’t in good school systems and often don’t get adequate preparation for college, especially for majoring in STEM.
    - AlexTWithBeard 8y ago
      Having a STEM degree is not the only alternative to poverty. A guy repairing my dryer has charged $350 for one hour. I'm sure some of it went towards spare parts and such, but even $50 bucks an hour is a pretty decent income.
      - alwillis 8y ago
        Having a STEM degree is not the only alternative to poverty. I didn’t suggest that having a STEM degree was the only way out of poverty. My point: if poor students wanted to get STEM degrees, they often don’t have the high school preparation to do so and their families can’t afford the tutors, test prep courses and academic coaches affluent families have access to.
    - ensignavenger 8y ago
      Thats a different problem, and it is a blanket statement that isn't true everywhere.

Ar-Curunir 8y ago

Rich people don't need help getting into college: they just bribe their way in.

alwillis 8y ago

It's that we help only the poor. Look, I pay taxes. Poor people don’t. Poor people pay just as much as everyone else in sales tax, excise tax, tolls, meal tax, etc. And because they are poor, they pay disproportionately more of their income in taxes than the wealthy. I live in the Boston area—even though there are 70 colleges and universities here, none of them are free for poor people.

malvosenior 8y ago
> And because they are poor, they pay disproportionately more of their income in taxes than the wealthy. That's incorrect. The tax rate is lower for lower income thus they pay less proportionally. > I live in the Boston area—even though there are 70 colleges and universities here, none of them are free for poor people. Every ivy league school has income adjustment and will offer free ride based on need: https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/how-aid-works/harvard-financial-aid-initiative https://college.harvard.edu/financial-aid/how-aid-works/harv...
- alwillis 8y ago
  That's incorrect. The tax rate is lower for lower income thus they pay less proportionally. If you look at what I listed—sales tax, excise tax, meal taxes—those are the same whether you’re rich or poor, except they have a disproportionate impact on the poor. Poor people do get most of what they pay in income tax back once they file but that’s not the case for these other taxes.
ensignavenger 8y ago
I'm pretty sure some, if not most, of those colleges have scholarships that are "need based". And even if they don't, there is the Pell Grant.
- alwillis 8y ago
  Except that students of poor families aren’t in good school systems and often don’t get adequate preparation for college, especially for majoring in STEM.
  - AlexTWithBeard 8y ago
    Having a STEM degree is not the only alternative to poverty. A guy repairing my dryer has charged $350 for one hour. I'm sure some of it went towards spare parts and such, but even $50 bucks an hour is a pretty decent income.
    - alwillis 8y ago
      Having a STEM degree is not the only alternative to poverty. I didn’t suggest that having a STEM degree was the only way out of poverty. My point: if poor students wanted to get STEM degrees, they often don’t have the high school preparation to do so and their families can’t afford the tutors, test prep courses and academic coaches affluent families have access to.
  - ensignavenger 8y ago
    Thats a different problem, and it is a blanket statement that isn't true everywhere.