Welfare. It runs rampant in today's modern United States society. People choose to be lazy and because of the democrat's ideals, we as citizens are stuck paying for their laziness. Ideally, the great idea of capitalism works. And in this country, it definitely does. You have to: 1. Get educated 2. Work hard 3. Earn money to be successful in this country. Good ol' Bill O'Reilly tells us today that these are the fundamental ideas of succeeding in the US, no matter race/religion/what you look like, etc. Yet so many people are on welfare. Born poor? Perhaps. In this case, the children need to be cared for. However: what about all these lazy bums? I'm not trying to say that welfare should be eliminated - just completely reformed. The democrat's ideas on "income redistribution" (the opposite of capitalism, I think) basically means "give more money to the government so the government can give it to the poor people." Sounds more like a communist society to me. Capitalists, however, create jobs; not bums. See the difference?
The 3 things you have to do to not be poor are: 1- finish high school 2- get a job 3- don't have children out of wedlock It's not rocket science.
Perhaps Lorien, but I must note these three do not neccesarily have anything to do with getting rich. Yes?
They are a way to self suffiency. no one is going to hand you "rich" you have to figure out a way to that; if that's your goal. But those 3 lay a good foundation.
I would add: 4. Don't sell drugs 5. Don't use drugs 6. Don't steal 7. Stay out of trouble with the law
heres one more: to not be poor, elect conservatives...because dems love the lazy (hence the minimum wage raise, healthcare for all, freebies everywhere)
Good points, ST12! This is one of the things that irks me about those that cry about the death penalty for murderers, rapists and pedophiles. I've spent my entire life, doing the *right* thing. I've had a few traffic tickets, but that's it. I know it's wrong to steal, so I do not steal. I know that if I murder someone, there is a possibility I will receive the death penalty. I know if I sell drugs and get caught, I will spend time in jail. Therefore, I do not do these things. I *could* choose to conduct my life in a manner that includes those things, and perhaps, get some momentary gain out of life. But they are wrong, they have consequences, therefore, I do not do them. Those that do choose to do these things, should endure the consequences.
Actually, I'd say high school is becoming very unimportant and won't effect how much money you make in life. If you plan on going to college, then yes you need high school, otherwise no. I was never turned down for a job because of a high school diploma, nor ever asked to show proof of a diploma. I'm doing really well for myself so maybe my opinion is biased. 3- don't have children out of wedlock I'm pretty sure this scenario would be devastating and send me straight into poverty/welfare.
Just a note; life can smack you in the ass, no matter how natively endowed you are, or what you've done with such gifts. Such that your family is in a world of shit, before you know it. Catastrophic injury or illness; disastrous business failure; untimely death of a spouse; etc. I used to walk by homeless people and say "there but for the grace of God go I." Such sentiments hold today. I am not so sure the difference between myself and those folks is all that great. I believe that if one has a categorical problem with welfare, then one should hold that across the board - and that includes corporate welfare. For instance, there would be no such thing as corporate bankruptcy.
For one all people are different, I have had many run ins with the law when I was younger but I probably make more now then most people Secondly Chulium you are like 17 years old and probably arn't even in 10% tax bracket, so you nothing nothing to complain about, you still live with parents don't you? Thirdly people who who often look down there nose at the poor tend have started with many advantages, I find that irritating. I find that people who are often saying things like "the poor are lazy", come from middle to upper income backgrounds, they often don't appreciate that there parents arn't drug addicts or convicts. Often these same people who have no appreciation for living in a stable environment in the developing years, even go on to have mommy and daddy give them little helping hands even past their 18th birthday. Often the people who say things like "bootstraps" etc have started the race way ahead of the people they are looking down on. I personally don't like welfare or handouts etc, outside of like maybe a month or so of emergency assistance, I don't think there really should be welfare.
The only problem with the work and get an education theory is that you have to pay crazy sums of money to get into a University. Education should always be free for all and the State should also help maintain students in School. I firmly believe that education is the most important aspect of an economy.
These are great and valid points. Using drugs (more cigarettes) starts to build up after a while and it just steals your money.
I don't think that this is true. I started with many advantages in my life and I have never looked down on poor people, neither anyone else in my family. My daughter is 11 years old and I am also teaching her that you respect people for who they are and not how much they have and she knows that she must help people who are not as lucky as her. I started taking her with me to homeless shelters to give out Christmas presents from the time she was 3 years old. If you are looking for a common quality among those who look down at poor people independent of their race, religion or wealth, it is stupidity. If they were smart enough to understand how the society works then they would not look down at poor people and they could understand that this is a problem for all of us.
Exactly, and add a driver license. 50% of all employers asks for a driver license and/or a specific university degree, yet not all can afford one, therefore they stay unemployed rest of their life, since all jobs that doesn't require these have already been taken.
A few moths ago I saw on the news a reporter asking an unemployed man that had taken a total of fife professional courses, in which a person receives a salary to attend, why he couldn’t find a job. He simply replied “ I earn more from welfare, no one will pay me what I currently earn staying at homeâ€.
Have any of you actually calculated what the new minimum wage will do to the poor? Ok, let me do it for you: $7.25/hour x 40 hours per week: $290/week $290/week x 52(no vacation at all): $15,080/year (before taxes) That is still below the poverty level...furthermore, most businesses that are large (like Walmart) already pay more than this..interesting huh?