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Is anyone poor in the USA?


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Is anyone poor in the USA? #1 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:21 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

I thought this deserved a separate thread.

Is anyone poor in the USA?

Listening to Jamie, one would say not:

Quote:
There is a small number of people who, due to their own choices, wind up on the street -- or even prefer to live on the street. But even those people get fed and cared for in the hospital. By world standards, nobody's poor in the US. Attempts by politicians to convince people to the contrary are usually lies, as we've recently seen with a story Mrs. Clinton told (although she was merely passing on the story and wasn't deliberately lying).
Molly
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #2 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:07 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

How can somebody be 'poor' in the US where you have every opportunity to earn a living? You can either get a job or work as a free lancer. If you are disabled or handicapped there are organizations that will provide for support you. The Americans are a proud nation and one reason for their national pride is the fact that their system allows for entrepreneurs to thrive while it takes care of those who are not able to provide for themselves. As Jamie said, in the US you are either rich or poor by choice.

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Is anyone poor in the USA? #3 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:16 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Quote:
If you are disabled or handicapped there are organizations that will provide for support you.


And if your ill? Unable to work?

Quote:
As Jamie said, in the US you are either rich or poor by choice.


Quote:
!! I'm shocked that you should both think that way? Have you lived in the USA, Torsten?


40 million Americans without health cover.

How so?
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #4 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:22 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Molly wrote:
!! I'm shocked that you should both think that way? Have you lived in the USA, Torsten?

Have you? ;)

At least Jamie lives there, and he knows what he's talking about, because he can see the stuff around him at first hand. Correct me if I'm wrong, but AFAIK you live in India which is far away from the USA.

Also, I'd like to hear out Amy and Tom takes on this issue, since they are permanent residents of the USA. Do you agree with Jamie :)
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #5 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:52 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Quote:
Do you agree with Jamie.


Do you?
Molly
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #6 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:00 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Hello,

I do not agree. There are poor people all around. Some are such due to laziness, others just don't get the chance.

Regards
SkiIucK
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #7 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:12 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Quote:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but AFAIK you live in India which is far away from the USA


Molly!

May I know where you live? Is it India?
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #8 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:18 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Hi Dimitar,

What kind of 'chance' do you need to become rich and who 'gives' you that chance? Other words, do you really think that your life depends on just one single 'chance'? The USA is the country number one when it comes to the amount of freedom an individual has. Freedom always means taking responsibility. In socialist countries many people think that the government, the party or the authorities are responsible for everything. If a person in a socialist country doesn't reach the standard of living they want to, it's easy for them to blame it on the government because it is reaching a decent standard of living is indeed much harder in a 'socialist' country than it is in a 'capitalist' country. So Americans have a tendency to see the advantages of a free society. Their entire system is based on the principle of personal initiative. The average American is much more willing to assume responsibility for their personal situation than a person from a socialist country. As a result, the average American is much more capable of taking decisions that influence their personal and financial situation. Many people in communist or socialist countries think that any government must be corrupt and that the a person can only become rich by ripping off others. That's the because under socialism is much harder for the individual to take responsibility and make decisions.

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Is anyone poor in the USA? #9 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:22 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

SkiIucK wrote:
Hello,

I do not agree. There are poor people all around. Some are such due to laziness, others just don't get the chance.

Regards


It seems that in the US of A, everyone gets the chance.
Molly
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #10 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:25 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Quote:
May I know where you live? Is it India?


Spain.
Molly
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Is anyone poor in the USA? #11 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 10:28 am   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Quote:
The USA is the country number one when it comes to the amount of freedom an individual has.


Really? Where did you get those figures from?

Quote:
As a result, the average American is much more capable of taking decisions that influence their personal and financial situation.


Like immigrants creating mafias, right?

According to Robert E. Rector, 'For most Americans, the word "poverty" means destitution, an inability to provide a family with nutritious food, adequate clothing, and reasonable shelter.'

Does it mean that for you Torsten, Jamie et. al.?
Molly
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Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

Is anyone poor in the USA? #12 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 17:57 pm   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Hello,

Thank you for the thorough response.

Torsten wrote:
What kind of 'chance' do you need to become rich and who 'gives' you that chance?


In my opinion, regardless of one's efforts, abilities, aspirations, in the end it all comes down to chance. Be it a random find of a new oil source, winning the lottery, or just meeting the right person at the right moment - it is all chance. The latter, however, only occurs after a given amount of efforts has been put.

Torsten wrote:
Other words, do you really think that your life depends on just one single 'chance'?


No. I think that input equals output, only after the 'fluke' presents itself.

People who always ascribe their failure to someone else are too superficial for me.

Best regards
SkiIucK
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Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 850

Is anyone poor in the USA? #13 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 18:56 pm   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Hi Dimitar,

How many people do you think have become rich by winning the lottery? Also, how many of those people who win a million dollars in the lottery get broke after a year or so? I don't think that is possible to find a new oil source by chance.

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Is anyone poor in the USA? #14 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 19:15 pm   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

Hello Torsten,

I think you got me wrong. People who get 'rich' in such a manner often, as you said, lose their 'fortune' due to their finanicial illiteracy. I mention 'chance' as the final step to becoming successful.

Best regards
SkiIucK
I'm here quite often ;-)


Joined: 09 Oct 2006
Posts: 850

Is anyone poor in the USA? #15 (permalink) Thu Apr 10, 2008 21:38 pm   Is anyone poor in the USA?
 

The poverty quiz:

http://www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa/povquiz.shtml

"a majority of Americans believe it takes at least $35,000 annually to provide adequately for a family of four."

Are you in that majority?
Molly
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Joined: 12 Feb 2008
Posts: 4017

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