3 ms·

I grew up dirt-maximum-food-stamps-and-rent-control poor, in New York City, and I was LUCKY that labor laws allowed me to work full time since I was 15 years ol

I grew up dirt-maximum-food-stamps-and-rent-control poor, in New York City, and I was LUCKY that labor laws allowed me to work full time since I was 15 years old. This helped me to avoid homelessness and complete high school.

MisterBastahrd 3y ago
I grew up dirt poor and worked 3 jobs to put myself through college, and I still wouldn't wish that shit on anybody.
AnarchismIsCool 3y ago
Because rich people thought you were worthless. If the 0.1% and congress wasn't comprised of psychopaths you would have had your needs paid for so you could have focused on your education.
Retric 3y ago
Working a full time jobs is hardly the only possibility that would have enabled you to avoid homelessness and complete high school. Systems are complex things, if you look at individual pieces in isolation you end up with suboptimal outcomes.
- busterarm 3y ago
  > Working a full time jobs is hardly the only possibility that would have enabled you to avoid homelessness and complete high school. Sure you know more about my own lived experience than I do...
  - Retric 3y ago
    The specifics of your personal situation is irrelevant when talking about government policy. Paying highschool students is one example of a possible solution that eliminates requiring underage employment for graduation.
    - busterarm 3y ago
      And didn't exist at the time that I was in high school. You say that wasn't my only option but that doesn't reflect my reality at the time. Especially with a crazy parent saying when you're 14 "work and contribute money to the rent or get the fuck out". So I worked. Still got kicked out with no meaningful money and nowhere to go at 18, by the way. Then I worked three jobs and lived off of the free coffee at work and couldn't afford to buy my own food for a few years. And, at least back then when you had to apply in person, when you're young and white and male and walk into the office trying to apply for EBT in NY literally no one wants to help you and some will actively prevent you trying to get the benefits you're entitled to by trying to give you the runaround.
      - Retric 3y ago
        > You say that wasn't my only option but that doesn't reflect my reality at the time No, I didn’t say that but it turns out: > Especially with a crazy parent saying when you're 14 "work and contribute money to the rent or get the fuck out". Talking with social services would have been an option to avoid homelessness for yourself. Some people in similar situations are trying to help their families which is a complex topic.
        busterarm 3y ago
        > Talking with social services would have been an option to avoid homelessness for yourself. Lol, not that easy and especially then when you couldn't do any of that shit online, as previously stated. You have no idea how many institutional barriers there were to most people getting benefits before basically 2008. People would literally lie to you to try and derail you through the system. NY wasn't exactly tripping over itself to give out money back then unless you were a model poor person (single mother, etc). Applying for these services in person meant you relied on the sympathy and personal investment in your situation of the case workers in the city offices. Growing up my mom always made sure whenever we had to appear at city offices or go to free clinics that we looked extra poor, extra grubby and extra dirty. That was the reality but you really did have to look the part and leave your dignity at home. Bleeding-heart people know absolutely fucking nothing about the reality of poverty and will also tell other people what their idea of it is like assuming they also have no real experience with it.
CyberDildonics 3y ago
Good or bad I don't think your scenario is what this article is about. "Federal law forbids all minors from working in jobs deemed hazardous, including those in manufacturing, roofing, meatpacking and demolition." "although there is an effort underway led by Republican lawmakers, to undo those restrictions,"

MisterBastahrd 3y ago

I grew up dirt poor and worked 3 jobs to put myself through college, and I still wouldn't wish that shit on anybody.

AnarchismIsCool 3y ago

Because rich people thought you were worthless. If the 0.1% and congress wasn't comprised of psychopaths you would have had your needs paid for so you could have focused on your education.

Retric 3y ago

Working a full time jobs is hardly the only possibility that would have enabled you to avoid homelessness and complete high school. Systems are complex things, if you look at individual pieces in isolation you end up with suboptimal outcomes.

busterarm 3y ago
> Working a full time jobs is hardly the only possibility that would have enabled you to avoid homelessness and complete high school. Sure you know more about my own lived experience than I do...
- Retric 3y ago
  The specifics of your personal situation is irrelevant when talking about government policy. Paying highschool students is one example of a possible solution that eliminates requiring underage employment for graduation.
  - busterarm 3y ago
    And didn't exist at the time that I was in high school. You say that wasn't my only option but that doesn't reflect my reality at the time. Especially with a crazy parent saying when you're 14 "work and contribute money to the rent or get the fuck out". So I worked. Still got kicked out with no meaningful money and nowhere to go at 18, by the way. Then I worked three jobs and lived off of the free coffee at work and couldn't afford to buy my own food for a few years. And, at least back then when you had to apply in person, when you're young and white and male and walk into the office trying to apply for EBT in NY literally no one wants to help you and some will actively prevent you trying to get the benefits you're entitled to by trying to give you the runaround.
    - Retric 3y ago
      > You say that wasn't my only option but that doesn't reflect my reality at the time No, I didn’t say that but it turns out: > Especially with a crazy parent saying when you're 14 "work and contribute money to the rent or get the fuck out". Talking with social services would have been an option to avoid homelessness for yourself. Some people in similar situations are trying to help their families which is a complex topic.
      - busterarm 3y ago
        > Talking with social services would have been an option to avoid homelessness for yourself. Lol, not that easy and especially then when you couldn't do any of that shit online, as previously stated. You have no idea how many institutional barriers there were to most people getting benefits before basically 2008. People would literally lie to you to try and derail you through the system. NY wasn't exactly tripping over itself to give out money back then unless you were a model poor person (single mother, etc). Applying for these services in person meant you relied on the sympathy and personal investment in your situation of the case workers in the city offices. Growing up my mom always made sure whenever we had to appear at city offices or go to free clinics that we looked extra poor, extra grubby and extra dirty. That was the reality but you really did have to look the part and leave your dignity at home. Bleeding-heart people know absolutely fucking nothing about the reality of poverty and will also tell other people what their idea of it is like assuming they also have no real experience with it.

CyberDildonics 3y ago

Good or bad I don't think your scenario is what this article is about. "Federal law forbids all minors from working in jobs deemed hazardous, including those in manufacturing, roofing, meatpacking and demolition." "although there is an effort underway led by Republican lawmakers, to undo those restrictions,"