2 ms·

I would say the majority of people that are poor didn't end up that way, they were born or thrust into it. The amount of people who become poor purely through t

by gph 11y ago

I would say the majority of people that are poor didn't end up that way, they were born or thrust into it. The amount of people who become poor purely through their own actions is not reflective of the overall population. Most people, myself included, will make both good and bad decisions throughout their lives. Those with money/education/stability can weather the bad and thrive under the good. I've had difficult periods in my life that probably would have left me in a terrible position if I didn't have a middle class support system. Maybe at some point after we give poor people a bunch of money those who become poor again we can say are clearly making poor decisions. I believe most poor people are generally good people. We shouldn't leave a majority of people in the position they are in simply because some of them will waste it on bad decisions (drugs, etc.). This doesn't have to be a permanent thing, but the best charity at this point is probably to give people money.

sologoub 11y ago
Equating bad decisions (from our or even general societal points of view) with someone being a "bad person" isn't really the right way to look at the concern. The fact that bad decisions (again from a given point of view) are made has to do with the duration of the view. From my experience, people that spend their last money on drugs are looking for a relief, even if it lasts from a few minutes to a couple of hours of that high. This is the time that they don't have to face their situation. From that point of view, the decision is sound to them. Addiction is a very powerful thing, but it need not be chemical, it could very well be emotional. The motivation is an extremely important item to consider. Proponents of the food stamps and other specific-use assistance programs point to the fact that they deter bad use. However, one can still buy fast-food with it and end-up more unhealthy and worse of. Personally, I am of a very strong belief that as a society, we need to work to address root causes that together combine to contribute to the poverty rates. Some relatively straightforward ones - real universal healthcare (and mental health) and universal education to at least bachelors level. If we really want to eliminate the notion of poverty, we need to figure out universal income question, but the economic consequences of this still need to be worked out. Universal healthcare and education are economic no-brainers when not completely bastardized by corporate interests... (in my own view at least.)

by gph 11y ago

sologoub 11y ago

Equating bad decisions (from our or even general societal points of view) with someone being a "bad person" isn't really the right way to look at the concern. The fact that bad decisions (again from a given point of view) are made has to do with the duration of the view. From my experience, people that spend their last money on drugs are looking for a relief, even if it lasts from a few minutes to a couple of hours of that high. This is the time that they don't have to face their situation. From that point of view, the decision is sound to them. Addiction is a very powerful thing, but it need not be chemical, it could very well be emotional. The motivation is an extremely important item to consider. Proponents of the food stamps and other specific-use assistance programs point to the fact that they deter bad use. However, one can still buy fast-food with it and end-up more unhealthy and worse of. Personally, I am of a very strong belief that as a society, we need to work to address root causes that together combine to contribute to the poverty rates. Some relatively straightforward ones - real universal healthcare (and mental health) and universal education to at least bachelors level. If we really want to eliminate the notion of poverty, we need to figure out universal income question, but the economic consequences of this still need to be worked out. Universal healthcare and education are economic no-brainers when not completely bastardized by corporate interests... (in my own view at least.)