Why do poor people make stupid, illogical decisions to buy status symbols? — Page 2

If any child is dumb enough to be born to an underprivileged family, they have only themselves to blame.

The poor can make stupid decisions; that choice is not reserved only for the rich, nor should usually be legislated. Ironically, it is the right who scream for a lack of regulation in everything who are the first to call for regulation of profligate choices.... as long as they are those made by the poor. The right can get crazy about a $300 pair of sneakers but won't bat an eye over a subprime mortgage; curiously, the second can destroy the economy for all, where the first, if anything, helps it (well forgetting for a second how many poor people are exploited or even enslaved in the production of a $300 pair of sneakers).

But air conditioning is not a luxury. Living without it, esp. in an age of global warming, can and has led to death, and routinely leads to major discomfort and sleeplessness which only Dickensian plutocrats would begrudge the poor.

Updated On: 11/1/13 at 09:56 AM

The worst phrase in the English language is 'prosperity gospel.'

correct he is not an immigrant. but he came from a broken home with no father and hard work has become what was unthinkable only a decade ago. POTUS

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OMG seriously JUSTA?

i guess you missed this very next line, though i think you deliberately left that out just to play games

"" if you work hard, if you study hard, if you apply yourself you have opportunities here that no where else in the world can provide. Our President, love him or not is a great example of that. ""

Me thinks you did see it, youre just want to fight, but i dont.

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Updated On: 11/1/13 at 11:01 AM

"Prosperity Christianity"! HA!

I'm not religious, but I am familiar with Christ's work. He said people should give everything they have to the poor. EVERYTHING. So this debate about limits and lines in the sand and "common sense" are profoundly unchristian. No surprise one of the biggest loudmouth trolls on this site who crows about being "a believer" is profoundly unchristian.

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Thats interesting Art.

I guess we can scratch the use of "come from a broken home" as a reason for someones lot in life.

And i can guarantee you NAMO that my family donates more to charities both in and out of this country than you did. Time, money and clothing

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Updated On: 11/1/13 at 11:23 AM

it clearly states that if you work hard and study hard you get results, i dont see why you cant or choose not to understand that

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Jesus Christ, with Whose work I am familiar, said to give everything you have to the poor. He did not say anything about the magic way for the poor to get there needs met is to "study hard". He said to GIVE them what they need. IF you want to follow Him.

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My objection to the word "charity" had absolutely nothing to do with concerns about 'political correctness'.

My point was that in the context of--and in combination with--the other words in your post, you suggest that you pity the poor, even as you judge them harshly for the lack of gumption that leads them--inevitably--to poverty and dependence upon the "charity" which you and your family dole out in such great, big, generous handfuls.

I applaud generosity and charity. I would not, however, confuse them with empathy--which requires the effort of honestly trying to understand the experience of another person so thoroughly that you can authentically "feel" their emotional reality.

I suspect that once a thoughtful and intelligent person makes that effort, they would recognize the futility of simplistic, judgmental solutions like "work harder".

But--as I said earlier--empathy sucks. You have to work hard at it and THEN all you get is the realization that the problems are more complex than you thought and require real effort and systemic change to even begin to address. Pity, charity and sanctimonious sound bites about bootstraps are much more satisfying.

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Why are we right back to where we were a few months ago?

Block the damn fool.

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