Why did it take a devistating hurricane to help the poor?

[arcticfire]

The simple reality of society is that there will always be poor. In america especially people are only truly poor because they allow themselves to be. You can make a case for the disabled , but for a fully functional adult there is always someplace to find work or the means to have a better life you jsut have to go out and get it.

It's harsh , but many poeple are poor simply because they lack the motivation to be anything besides poor. How many stories in this country are there of pennyless shirt on their back immigrents who own their own business within a year or two even if it's just a newspaper stand ? Most natural born americans have far more opportunity then many immigrents , they are by and large educated and aware of the possibilities. Also be carefull what you define as poor , goverment assisted living is not nessisarlly "poor" , some people who are very smart can make a better living off the governement then a large portion of the population that are not.

In any case , the old addage of "You can lead a horse to water , but you can't make him drink" is very appropriate in many of the "poor" case. As an example we have many native alaskans up here that get more per month in checks then I would make at anything besides a high paying job. They also have supoer low cost and in some cases free housing availible to them. What do a large portion spend their money on? Making a better life ? down payments on a house ? No , they basicly treat it like a paycheck , don't bother getting a job and many just piss it away on booz. I use native alaskans not to be racist , it's just they recive a ton of money and finacial aid up here just for being native.

Poor is a state of mind. People whom do not have the state of mind to live poor in this country are not poor. Largly you could take anyone on this board , take away everything they own , throw them out on the street and they would bounce back within a year or two. Cause generally anyone with access to a computer literate enough to use a message board is not going to be impovershed. I'm sure there are a couple exceptions but by and large I bet I would be right.

The people who sieze the opportunity this disaster could provide them will be the people who did not need the disaster to take advatange of opportunity , the rest will remain poor.

[streetsoldier]

I can only speak from the vantage point of BEING disabled; a catastrophe such as Katrina (or worse) would easily finish me off.

And, that is no exaggeration.

[Mattie]

streetsoldier - the disabled are not the people being discussed. Whatever the reason for the disability - these people should be given the utmost respect and taken care of.

Those people that are willing and able to work, but choose not to, are the people discussed here.

God bless you and those that are disabled among this aftermath.

[tndefender]

The simple reality of society is that there will always be poor. In america especially people are only truly poor because they allow themselves to be. You can make a case for the disabled , but for a fully functional adult there is always someplace to find work or the means to have a better life you jsut have to go out and get it.

It's harsh , but many poeple are poor simply because they lack the motivation to be anything besides poor. How many stories in this country are there of pennyless shirt on their back immigrents who own their own business within a year or two even if it's just a newspaper stand ? Most natural born americans have far more opportunity then many immigrents , they are by and large educated and aware of the possibilities. Also be carefull what you define as poor , goverment assisted living is not nessisarlly "poor" , some people who are very smart can make a better living off the governement then a large portion of the population that are not.

In any case , the old addage of "You can lead a horse to water , but you can't make him drink" is very appropriate in many of the "poor" case. As an example we have many native alaskans up here that get more per month in checks then I would make at anything besides a high paying job. They also have supoer low cost and in some cases free housing availible to them. What do a large portion spend their money on? Making a better life ? down payments on a house ? No , they basicly treat it like a paycheck , don't bother getting a job and many just piss it away on booz. I use native alaskans not to be racist , it's just they recive a ton of money and finacial aid up here just for being native.

Poor is a state of mind. People whom do not have the state of mind to live poor in this country are not poor. Largly you could take anyone on this board , take away everything they own , throw them out on the street and they would bounce back within a year or two. Cause generally anyone with access to a computer literate enough to use a message board is not going to be impovershed. I'm sure there are a couple exceptions but by and large I bet I would be right.

The people who sieze the opportunity this disaster could provide them will be the people who did not need the disaster to take advatange of opportunity , the rest will remain poor.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

[arcticfire]

The simple reality of society is that there will always be poor. In america especially people are only truly poor because they allow themselves to be. You can make a case for the disabled , but for a fully functional adult there is always someplace to find work or the means to have a better life you jsut have to go out and get it.

It's harsh , but many poeple are poor simply because they lack the motivation to be anything besides poor. How many stories in this country are there of pennyless shirt on their back immigrents who own their own business within a year or two even if it's just a newspaper stand ? Most natural born americans have far more opportunity then many immigrents , they are by and large educated and aware of the possibilities. Also be carefull what you define as poor , goverment assisted living is not nessisarlly "poor" , some people who are very smart can make a better living off the governement then a large portion of the population that are not.

In any case , the old addage of "You can lead a horse to water , but you can't make him drink" is very appropriate in many of the "poor" case. As an example we have many native alaskans up here that get more per month in checks then I would make at anything besides a high paying job. They also have supoer low cost and in some cases free housing availible to them. What do a large portion spend their money on? Making a better life ? down payments on a house ? No , they basicly treat it like a paycheck , don't bother getting a job and many just piss it away on booz. I use native alaskans not to be racist , it's just they recive a ton of money and finacial aid up here just for being native.

Poor is a state of mind. People whom do not have the state of mind to live poor in this country are not poor. Largly you could take anyone on this board , take away everything they own , throw them out on the street and they would bounce back within a year or two. Cause generally anyone with access to a computer literate enough to use a message board is not going to be impovershed. I'm sure there are a couple exceptions but by and large I bet I would be right.

The people who sieze the opportunity this disaster could provide them will be the people who did not need the disaster to take advatange of opportunity , the rest will remain poor.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

So you have given everything you own to the poor right ? If not don't quote scripture at me because you are obviously not practicing it fully.

[smashmode]

Do you think people will take advantage of the oppertunities to improve their lives? ?

Some might, Most I don't think will.

[Pebbles]

whoops double post

[Pebbles]

I can only speak from the vantage point of BEING disabled; a catastrophe such as Katrina (or worse) would easily finish me off.

And, that is no exaggeration.

I truely believe those that are disabled and can't do any kind of work should recieve great assistance. My post was mostly geared to people who CAN work. But I will also quantify that. I've seen 2 different types of 'disabled' people.

PLEASE keep in mind I am not saying this applies to you, I am just using this for the following conversation examples. The kind that are truely disabled and truely need help and those that get qualified as disabled but are not (like one that can dive into a pool and swim around horseplaying...oh yeah but they collect a check cause they supposedly can't work ) These type pee me off to no end cause they can indeed work, but use 'disabled' as and excuse. Why do I bring this up? Because it hurts those that are truely disabled so they can't get more help. I have no forgiveness for them.

And I have no forgiveness for people who can work and ABUSE the programs available for the poor. Unfortunely the are some really messed up requirements/red tape for assistance programs. They are meant to help get you on your feet. But because so many abuse them (ie...use them for long term living) many who only need help for a year or under get shafted.

I am seeing some things happening because of the hurricane that are not often offered to people who 'fall on their rumps' and I see a great oppertunity to improve life. But agree that there will be many that probably will not. Unfortunately there are many in our society who don't take the oppertunity to use it to improve their lives. Just praying that those that do want to, will be able to know that more assistance then the norm might help them out, and thus get out of the vicious rut of poverty.

Example. Single mom wants assistance getting a decent paying job. Try finding job training? Oh but child care assistance isn't provided until you get a job... HELLO?!!! how in the world is that mother suppose to be educated for a job or look for a job/job interview if she can't afford to pay a babysitter? And once child care assistance is provided it can take a month or 2 for the government to pay the care provider... What care provider wants to wait that long for a check? Oh Ho and the real kicker...you can't get money from public aid till you enroll in a program to teach you to job interview... child care during that. NOPE and you can't bring your child? See what's wrong with that catch 22?

I see that they are trying to provide job training for these people in the hurricane and financial help (thankfully more then 200 bucks for 1 month for a family) which could help pay childcare for during a job interview... see the difference?