Wealth Inequality in America

[Pristine20]

-CraZed- said:

anonymunchy said:

Mr Puggsly said:

Tom3k said:

LOL typical GOP thinking. Because people are poor by choice, right? Or people don't work because they live lucrative lives while on state benefits, right?

In most cases, being poor is absolutely a choice. Not acquring the skills needed to get a decent paying job is a choice. Espeically when the government hands out money for people to go to school.

There are people that don't work because government benefits give them essentially everything they need to survive. That's a reality, members of my family have been doing it for generations.

Is this something you honestly believe? Where are you getting your information from?

Is personal experience good enough for you? I grew up in poverty. Both my parents chose a life of drugs and maintained poor lifestyle choices that ultimately stunted their economic viablity. Instead of opting for self improvement they opted to stay uneducated, unmarried(therefore uncommitted), to draw government benefits which they used to support their habits and ultimately landed us on the streets and eventually they seperated. This left my brothers and I in the care of a single mother whom had NO prospects and we languished on AFDC, medi-CAL, and food stamps until we were eventually old enough to get away.

Good thing I CHOSE to better myself, get me an education and work hard to avoid ever being in that position again. Sure bad things happen but making good choices is the very best way to avoid being rendered destitute in the face of those crisis.

What you have done is commendable no doubt but the vast majority are going to be stuck in whatever bracket their parents are in. Kids always consider their parents profession first before thinking outside the box. Hell I do the same thing my mother does. You're the exception not the norm.  Most people emulate their surroundings. If one's parents place no value on education and are not educated themselves, there is a very slim chance that one would value education. It nice that you knew what good choices to make but for many, the "good choice" is that the guy next door is selling drugs and is now driving a benz which means they can get a benz too if they sell some drugs.

For some other people, what they thought were "good choices" ended up backfiring e.g Madoff investors.