Unfixable

[TexasFreedom]

I saw an article, and a thought hit me. Some things simply cannot be fixed. Some aren't that important, you drop a cheap plate or coffee cup. No big deal, they break, you throw them away and buy a replacement.

There are two things with people that I consider 'unfixable'. Stupid, and poverty. The first, the expression "stupid is as stupid does" is so true. We all know somebody (or lots of somebodies) who are simply stupid: they make one bad decision after another and never learn. We have to treat those people accordingly. Not that we can't be friends with them, but we understand that they will make bad decisions their entire lives.

The second category is poverty. There are many people who will simply never leave poverty no matter what. The article I found addressed this: https://www.thedailybeast.com/he-wo...he-lotteryand-became-a-bank-robber?ref=scroll

The short story: a guy won the lotto, $19 million in '98. About $14 million after taxes or $700k per year for 20 years. 6 years later he became a drug addict. In '07 he filed bankruptcy. And recently he became a bank robber. But a fair percentage of all people simply cannot keep anything, it's like they do everything they can to own nothing. So there is no 'helping' many people who live in poverty, it is like giving pearls to pigs.

But when it comes to people, to living fellow creations and humans, I really hate the thought that you simply have to 'throw away' some of them. But I'm not talking about that. I'm saying that people who live in poverty or who are stupid (making a statement, not an insult) cannot get past those self-created limitations. I'm saying that the 'war on poverty' is like having a war against gravity.

I am saying that we should simply expect most people in poverty or who act stupidly to remain in those situations their entire lives, and throwing money and effort and time with the hope that they get out of poverty or stupidity is a money and effort and time wasted.

Note that I didn't say "every" person, but "most". I'm not opposed to leaving opportunities open, I'm opposed to large-scale efforts to 'end poverty' and such. If a person wants out of poverty, he has to do the work himself.

 

[DrPrepper1]

Note that I didn't say "every" person, but "most". I'm not opposed to leaving opportunities open, I'm opposed to large-scale efforts to 'end poverty' and such. If a person wants out of poverty, he has to do the work himself.[/QUOTE]

The problem with many people in poverty is their inability to look to the future and plan. Every thing in their life is about right here and right now. Just an example, I was in the break room at my job the other day, and there was a woman there about my age ( quickly approaching middle age). She said that she was going to have to decrease the amount percentage of money that was going to her 401 K. She declared that 6% was too much, and that she needed her money now. I don't think 6% is too much, in fact, at our age, I think you need a little more than 6%. So I asked her what would she do if she retired and needed more money. I pointed out that she is young enough she can work more now if she needs to, but she might not be able to when she is older. She said she didn't care, she needed her money now. I told her that Social Security wouldn't be there when we retired. She said she knew and that they have been telling us that for years. I just kind of stood there silently, staring, and blinking at her. She has a poverty state of mind. As long as she has those views, she will always be in poverty.

 

[tmttactical]

Many people create and live in their own custom comfort zones. Their subconscious mind will do everything possible to keep them in that comfort zone, even if it means sabotaging opportunities to advance or improve. Only the individual can change / improve the comfort zone. No government hand out or decree will change their comfort zone.

 

[Brent S]

There have been times in my life that I didn’t make much money. I’ve had both ups and downs. Even during the downs though, I budgeted and did the best I could with what I had at that time. I never did without and managed to handle all the emergencies that came up. By the way, emergencies are a part of life and need to be budgeted for... I completely agree that you can’t end poverty for many people. They just don’t think beyond today.

 

[Maverick]

What we consider poverty many countries would consider our poverty rich. So by which standards are we using to what is considered poverty? Poverty is a numbers game from the governments around the world, it's a way for mandated local/federal taxes and Countries obligated fees to such as the UN.

 

[TexasFreedom]

Mav,
Good question. There is an official definition of poverty, a few in fact. One I found for 2010 was a family of 4 making $22k/year. It varies by region and many other factors, but that's a reasonable number on average. Yes, it's far more than 'rich' people earn in other countries, but let's stick with the US for this discussion.

I think DrP gave a great example with short-term thinking. You can't help people with that mindset.

Let me phrase it a different way. For many people in poverty, anything they earn/receive over the very basics is wasted with little short-term benefit and zero long-term benefits. An example, many schools have 'free' meals for the students, and some even have 3 meals/day for the kids. But what do the parents do with the savings from basically not feeding their children? The kids have smart phones, "air Jordan" nikes, big rims on their cars, drug habits, etc. Heck, if the parents had to spend $ to feed their kids, buying less drugs would actually help them!

 

[Maverick]

Mav,
Good question. There is an official definition of poverty, a few in fact. One I found for 2010 was a family of 4 making $22k/year. It varies by region and many other factors, but that's a reasonable number on average. Yes, it's far more than 'rich' people earn in other countries, but let's stick with the US for this discussion.

I think DrP gave a great example with short-term thinking. You can't help people with that mindset.

Let me phrase it a different way. For many people in poverty, anything they earn/receive over the very basics is wasted with little short-term benefit and zero long-term benefits. An example, many schools have 'free' meals for the students, and some even have 3 meals/day for the kids. But what do the parents do with the savings from basically not feeding their children? The kids have smart phones, "air Jordan" nikes, big rims on their cars, drug habits, etc. Heck, if the parents had to spend $ to feed their kids, buying less drugs would actually help them!

I agree with you, My post above wasn't in disagreement with the OP. I was merely stating an opinion that poverty is strictly a numbers game in justifying taxing the middle class and rich. The government is rewarding folks to remain in poverty including having more kids, a family of 4 making 25,000 a year (2018) is considered poverty and open to extra state and federal benefits, in Washington state they would get free medical (adults and children) and food stamps, this is the kind of stuff I have a problem with!

 

[TexasFreedom]

Mav, I didn't take it as a disagreement. It was a good question and good point.

And you made another great point, gov't "rewards" poverty. Gov't should do the opposite: punish poverty. That will encourage people to get out of poverty.

 

[lonewolf]

in Britain you are probably better off if you are on welfare, trying to pay a mortgage on a minimum wage is only going to end in failure, wife's grandkids,21 and 19, haven't got a hope in hell of ever owning their own houses, you need one heck of a deposit before you can even think of applying for a mortgage, sometimes as much as 30% of the purchase price.

 

[Maverick]

The UN is condemning the US for outlawing poverty. Where the hell does the UN come up with this ****, one of the UN complaint was that we make it illegal to urinate in public.

The UN needs to way of the dodo, it’s more than outlived it’s usefulness!!!!