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> she could find a job to catapult her into the middle class in a matter of months. It's a choice on her end. On what basis is this assumption made? I'm genuin

by Cadsby 14y ago

> she could find a job to catapult her into the middle class in a matter of months. It's a choice on her end. On what basis is this assumption made? I'm genuinely curious because I think it reflects the attitude of many in certain segments in our society. The idea that poverty is a choice, and if they wanted to they could just choose their way out of it just like that. Keep in mind the context of the present age we're living in - unemployment, across almost all sectors, is still extremely high. Are all these people, especially the educated segments, just choosing to live off public assistance? It's pretty clear, and this was the whole point of the article, that having an education isn't an IWIN button for middle class standard of living anymore, and yet society keeps selling that idea to the younger generation. > That said, I'm not massively sympathetic toward her. It's dangerously easy to judge people who aren't doing as well as oneself.

scarmig 14y ago
That's all true and valid. I do believe there's a distinction between a person from an upper-middle class family, racially and economically privileged, who has the intellectual ability to get a Ph.D. and the typical welfare recipient. And even if a college degree doesn't guarantee anything nowadays, people with college degrees do have many more opportunities than those without. Which is reflected in, e.g., Medicaid and food stamps, which is why we get so surprised when a person with significant higher education ends up on Medicaid and food stamps.
- WalterSear 14y ago
  Different programs need different abilities. I have two family members who are currently completing 'go through the motions' higher degrees.
yummyfajitas 14y ago
The idea that poverty is a choice, and if they wanted to they could just choose their way out of it just like that. There is of course no way to prove she has alternatives. But the article does not suggest she looked. It's quite easy to judge most poor people in America, since most of them do choose to live off public assistance. Most poor people choose not to work, and if they do work, choose not to work full time. Bruninga-Matteau seems to fall into the latter camp. http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswp2009.pdf http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswp2009.pdf (In contrast, Stegall does seem rather more sympathetic, since he did attempt to find non-academic work.)

by Cadsby 14y ago

scarmig 14y ago

That's all true and valid. I do believe there's a distinction between a person from an upper-middle class family, racially and economically privileged, who has the intellectual ability to get a Ph.D. and the typical welfare recipient. And even if a college degree doesn't guarantee anything nowadays, people with college degrees do have many more opportunities than those without. Which is reflected in, e.g., Medicaid and food stamps, which is why we get so surprised when a person with significant higher education ends up on Medicaid and food stamps.

WalterSear 14y ago
Different programs need different abilities. I have two family members who are currently completing 'go through the motions' higher degrees.

yummyfajitas 14y ago

The idea that poverty is a choice, and if they wanted to they could just choose their way out of it just like that. There is of course no way to prove she has alternatives. But the article does not suggest she looked. It's quite easy to judge most poor people in America, since most of them do choose to live off public assistance. Most poor people choose not to work, and if they do work, choose not to work full time. Bruninga-Matteau seems to fall into the latter camp. http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswp2009.pdf http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpswp2009.pdf (In contrast, Stegall does seem rather more sympathetic, since he did attempt to find non-academic work.)