While the OP is very much off-kilter about his perceptions of poverty, I can’t say I don’t understand where he’s coming from. Until recently I shared similar concepts. To the OP, all I can say is that it is a highly complex series of problems, some of it rests on the people themselves, some of it rests on the government, and some of it rests on the circumstances into which they were born. You cannot cast blanket statement over all of them. It may be difficult, but compassion is key; I’m still struggling to develop some myself, but working to improve ourselves is part of Catholic living.
I came from a lower middle income family and worked hard to go to college and become successful which was the mantra in the Catholic high school I attended. I have no problem with contributing to the poor however I must agree with tietrack. I see the new definition of poor in America is a home mortgage they complain about because they bought off on liberal low interest loans, two cars in the driveway, and food stamps and lunch programs because they know how to scam the new American way. I see customers with tatttoos, body mods, iphones, high end cloths and live off medicaid, food stamps, ssi, unemployment, federal housing and have no intention of working or paying into the tax system that burdens hard working people that have morals and dignity. The people who complain the most take the most out of the system and have an unwed birth rate of over 70%! Most don’t even know their father! How can this system recover by just throwing money at them and making wage earners feel guilty through “charities”. A system that will make more of the “poor” in America government dependents is unfortunately probably going to get re-elected and then my increased taxes will then pay for more abortions and anti-catholic programs. Show me the real poor and I’ll contribute but until then my increased tax dollars in this new socialized “America” will be enough.
That said, I agree with a lot of this post. I’ve driven through trailer parks and seen cars on par with what are in the nicest neighborhoods. I’ve seen complex (and expensive) tattoos and body modifications. Iphones (which required $100+ monthly data plans) and several other superfluous items that are really just wastes of money. If they were making all the money themselves and wasting it then that’s their choice, but there are living off the government, which means they are wasting money that’s meant to support the family and provide necessities. Those are the types of people I have a problem with.
One example, I know a woman who has had three children by three different illegal immigrants. She is in her thirties or forties, lives with her parents, does not work, and still goes out dating and partying rather than giving her children the appropriate amount of attention. Often times, she leaves them with her parents, who are supporting her on their already meager means (they are retired, and her mother his back problems) She refuses to get a job because then she won’t be on medicaid anymore.
Those are the types of people we should cut off governmental support to. She is perfectly capable of handling a job, maybe not a highly skilled one, but a job non-the-less. People who are disabled, or have some other legitimate impediment stopping them should still receive support, but those who are refusing simply because it’s a burden to them should have to fend for themselves, or at least make some stride towards supporting themselves.
