sometimes we say they should work harder and quit doing drugs and eat healthier and quit smoking, etc, etc, etc. but is that really their problem with being poor? wasting money. i ask this as related to health care.
I don't think they have more vices, because vices cost money, so when you have less money, you spent less on vices.
The problem is the poor have less money, so they cannot eat as good a diet as others, they cannot afford three meals a day, adequate protein, or organic food. They look fat because they eat a lot of pasta and cereal to fill hungry stomachs.
Smoking does nothing positive for anyone except the tobacco industry, providing money, jobs. The cost in health issues should negate we just ban this fillty habit. It pollutes the air that others breathe.
Drugs help people cope with their emotions, injustices they face in this life. The Wall Street trader has enough money to support his coke, Starbucks habits, the poor person just smokes to feel more peaceful and alert.
The vices of the poor are more noticeable than others, but do they really have more? I don't think so.
Firstly, IMHO......
Being from eastern KY......
It is literally an established mindset. Yes, some people are brought into the world in less fortunate situations (finances, health, etc.) but often people will pass on any opportunities to better themselves usually for the following reasons:
1. It is "all they know", they have watched Mom and Dad be content with living week-to-week as far as they can remember and have no encouragement for improvement.
2. Usually don't place any value in education, which leads to minimal/non-existent job opportunities.
3. I have had friends that never considered going to college because they are completely content with receiving a government check for sitting at home and this has ALWAYS been their plan (how they are eligible, I will never know, goes to show how abused our government hand-outs are".
Some people DO break the cycle. My dad went back to college at 33 years old because he knew with my health issues (congenital heart disease) he had to complete school to have a job with good benefits and a salary to provide for me growing up. Several Master's degrees later he is a school teacher nearing a very comfortable retirement, all because he BROKE THE CYCLE. He and I talk about this all of the time, it is what motivated me to go to college and put my education before anything else.
Sorry, one more thing to add.
What pi$$es me off the most is that I work 50 hour weeks and provide for my family (groceries, gas, shelter) while some people abuse our government system SO bad and haven't worked a day in years all because they have beat the system, all while buying new ATVs, Harleys, boats, and going on vacations. Food stamp fraud is EXTREMELY bad in my home town (Hazard, KY). Example for those not familiar, "Bill" has $100 in food stamps but wants cash for drugs so he sells his food stamps to "Gary" for $50 cash. Yes, he takes a $50 loss but to Bill this is not a loss at all and now Gary goes to Wal-Mart to load up on Mountain Dew and Fruit RollUps and all of the other items I cannot believe are food stamp eligible. I have nothing against people that need government assistance, only those that abuse it!
Rant done.
[Edited on 6/22/2017 by anthonyspare]
