I agree with a lot of the points raised in this article mainly the one by Marie Nicholas about how the children that get chosen for Head Start are the children of parents who just sit at home. I don’t think that it is fair that her child wasn’t chosen just, because she is trying to live an honest life working a job to provide for her family. This is basically the same thing that I am going through now. I am a military veteran so the G. I. Bill, a scholarship and financial aid, pays portions of my tuition. Even after all of that I still have ended up paying more then $3,000, because according to FASFA I make too much money. Its making me think I would come out better quitting my job so I can actually have money left over. The other point that I agree with is about paying high rent for an apartment. When I lived by myself I got a good deal on an apartment, but after my lease was up the rent increased by $120. I rather save my money to have a down payment for a house if I had to pay that much in rent. I am blessed that I was able to move back home to be able to save this money, but not everyone has this opportunity and for that reason I think that things must change in order for people in poverty to have a fighting chance.
When I first read the title of the article I was confused because I couldn’t understand how you would have to be rich in order to be poor. But upon reading the article I was able to see the point of this statement. I had never really given it much thought before but I have to agree with the statement. Products from the local convenient stores\gas station do cost way more than if you were to go to a supermarket or somewhere that would help you save more money. Also in regards to the laundry mats they do cost more money than if you had your own washer and dryer. Before when I used to live in an apartment I did all my laundry at a laundry mat nearby I would spend so many quarters to wash all my loads of clothes plus dry. However, when it came to drying my clothes I would always have to add additional time because so some reason 30 minutes of drying just wasn’t enough to dry a load of clothes. I began to think I’m sure they do something to these machines in order to make you spend more money. So when I got tired of wasting my money on thieving laundry mats I started just doing my laundry at my parent’s house. The next thing I found interesting were the statements about payday loan places. These businesses are obviously directed for the poor class because obviously someone who is wealthy would not be going there. But these places don’t really help a person so much as they make their financial situation worse. What makes them think that if a certain individual didn’t have enough money from their first paycheck to make ends meets that by their next paycheck they will be able to get caught up plus pay the interest on the loan they took out. Next they will have to take out loans to pay loans and it will be a never ending cycle. Overall I thought this article was really interesting and gives you different points to help look at the poor from a different perspective.
Our government does not help the poor very much at all. We give aid to those who need it less than others. The article gave an example of a parent who made to much money to put her child in Head Start. This parent pointed out that they had to pay for childcare, while the parents of the children in Head Start were sitting at home. We should be providing childcare to the working parents rather than parents who for all intents and purposes just seem lazy. I have been told by people who have been issued food stamps about the people who abuse the system. The non-abusers will receive the aid while trying to better their life. Once they are in a good place they end the receipt of the aid. The abusers will just have another baby when the aid is cut off. It is pitiful that the United States, a country known for opportunities, should have so many poor people. We were founded by some very intelligent people, who probably could have come up with a solution for our poor. Today, we are led by people who are filled with greed and are corrupt. If we could create a government without the corruption, then the plight of the poor could be fixed within a reasonable amount of time.
I would say that it is very unfair when it comes to our economic practices in the United States. In the United States we put people in categories. Most of the time we put them into these categories in regards to economic statues and ethnicity. In the United States the poor population suffers the most compared to the elite class and the middle class. For example, in some poor populations the food at the supermarket might be higher in price compared to other locations. Also people who work in these locations get paid a smaller wage. Thus by that will greatly effect the prices for the good and services for themselves. It does not seem to make much sense if people live in poverty that they should pay higher prices. One would think that the prices variation would be switched with the poor and elite populations. Where the elite would pay the higher prices since they have the money and the poor would pay the cheaper prices.
i was a little comfused about how the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, because I thought rich people threw away money on things, just because they could. But after reading, I see more clearly how the poor DO actually get "more poor". for instance, the food situation: I can see how the store would have to charge more for foods more cheap in urban areas because the poor people running the corner store have to make a bigger profit to get by, and its just a chain reaction. i think there are a lot of wholes in our economy obviously, but hopefully these wil be less and less serious as the years go by.
I have experienced this first hand. I have been in San Antonio recently and went to the convenience store close to my hotel and bought milk for my son for $1.15. I later was in a poverty stricken part of town and that very same bottle of milk, same brand and ounces was $2.25. This article is right on track. Sometimes reporting has agendas but in this case I think this information is as close to being accurate as can be.
In my opinion, the author of this story has done a disservice to those who are really in need of help. The story appears to be more about the inconvenience of being poor than anything else: complaints about not wanting to ride the bus to go to the grocery store, the laundrymat, bill collectors, organic food being too expensive, high-rate credit cards, not being able to open a checking account because of a lost ID, and on and on. Being poor today often means living in a government-assisted air-conditioned apartment; and having color TV and cable, a cell phone, microwave, CD player, food stamps, and free health care. I don’t really believe this story proves much about the notion that it costs more to be poor. It mainly shows that the people in the story need to use some ingenuity and smarts, and, at times, survival may just be a big hassle. Those who are truly poor and cannot afford food or shelter should be our focus—not those who are mad because they have to put the chicken wings back.
I had already noticed this cycle as a young child growing up with a single parent in an urban environment. Some people who are poor are not all lazy at times they work long hours and get paid minimum wage making it difficult to support a family with a small income. So parents take out advances in money from payday companies which then leads to a cycle of not having money and getting in debt. Instead of helping the poor it's like America digs a hole. Since most low income families done have cars and have to ride buses its more convenient for the stores to charge more for the grocery because they know people are not going to waste 30 minutes going to Walmart when their is a corner store down the block they can walk too. Then their are the families who the government does not give food stamps too because the family makes too much money to meet the requirements to get government assistance. It is still difficult because from the citizens perspective they are bearly making it. In america is the only place we have fat people who are poor because it is so expensive to eat healthy. As we increase poverty in America we increase the obesity rate also.
I understand what some of these people are going through. I came from a family of 8. We had to do our laundry in a laundrymat,econmize and sacrifice alot. My mom was a single mother of 7 children and worked for a bank for many years. Although she made good money she still didn't make enough to support all of us on her own.THere are people out there who need assistance then there are those who abuse the system. Some people dont need the assistance but still manage to get it. This is a crime and affects people that are in real need.It does seem that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Well, First of all I feel myself that the government is unfair and don’t provide much aid to the poor. Especially the way things are now with all these budget cuts. For example, there are many people who abuse the food stamp program by knowing how to work around the system. Owning homes and cars, but these material things they own are under their parents names or spouses names. They come up with not knowing where their spouses are yet they are living with them and receiving assistance. Also, a lot of these people who are on food stamps are taxed by these small convenience stores which they shouldn’t be taxed on food stamps. So, if they are uneducated about this they are taken advantage of and they are taxed for something that the people are paying taxes on already. This is illegal and should be reported as abusing the food stamp system and fraud.
As a kid that’s had everything I wanted plus some I never really gave a lot of thought to how much the poor actually struggle on top of their struggle. I mean besides the little taste I’ve had of being broke for a few weeks in college doesn’t even compare to having and family and not being able to feed them because you don’t have it. But I do feel like the government needs to pay closer attention to those that do need help and those that don’t, because I’ve see both the abuser and the abused. But none of the abused complains because they don’t have the time or energy. But as for those who have a voice they need to continue to let people know until we make a change because its messed up nobody should have to live that way in this materialistic country we live in.
This situation is somewhat conflicting for me. My father lost his job with Santa Fe Railroad when I was 7. And up until then I had no idea what it was like to stuggle. We had a nice house cars, vacationed, had the All-American dream going on. However in his pursuit to find a job that paid close to what he was used to life got a little harder. We didnt go hungry but we did without for a while. I remember going to the store and my mom pulling out the food stamps. I remember having to walk to the bus stop instead of getting driven to school. When my dad got another job and he got on his feet we got back to normal. And the financial assistance (foodstamps) that we recieved were gladly sent back. I understand people needing some help and utilizing the system especially if they have always been contributing members of society. But to manipulate the system and decide to make a living off of welfare because its easier is infuriating. And I feel its those people who really affect the people who are truly trying and just need some assistance.The story touched on only a few people and unfortunately many times everyone is catergorized as one particular group, the ones who need it and the ones who use it. I get angry when I know someone who can get around the system and get free rent and then have a mercedes parked in front. I definately think that is why there is a lack of sympathy regarding the poor.
Government aid is obviously a controversial subject. I agree that it isn't fair that the women in this article couldn't put her kid in the head start program because she apparently makes to much, but yet she is struggling much more than probably a lot of the parents who have their kids in the program. We unfortunately do have way to many people abusing the system at the moment, I have known people on federal aid who were not trying to make money themselves, but they were receiving enough assistance to own nice cars, phones, etc. I think people on federal aid should have to prove that they are working, or at least trying to work, and that they should also have to pass drug tests to even be eligible, because it frustrates the hell out of me to see people sitting at home on drugs and receiving Government money, especially when there are hard working families just striving to get by. I also agree with another person’s comment about this article sounding more about the people lazily complaining, Like the guy who had to put back soda and chicken. Those are not considered necessities. He could drink water cheaper and grab food items to last longer instead of just one meal. I know that's not a preferred way of life and that it would suck if we couldn't have the junk we want and the convenience of not having to walk or waste time on public transportation to get it, but there are people who have it way worse and understand how to get more for less. I also think it's ridiculous that the prices are higher in poorer places, for real? These people are possibly struggling enough, how are they expected to be able to pay higher prices than the other neighborhoods with more money? I don't think the richer neighborhoods should be charged more either though. We need a better stricter system for government aid so that people who honestly need and deserve it can get back on their feet and where the abusers are weeded out and shut off from it.
This article was a view of the working poor which I have never seen. I have seen first hand how these things do work against those who strive for a better life. I related best with the last girl in the story as she spoke about just making a little bit over the need for assistance. I get tired of seeing how that not working seems to be the way to getting the assistance that many people need. Long ago when these social programs came into existance I dont believe that was the intention. The system needs to be overhauled. Recently I have heard some rumblings that the Governor is suggesting that we start to drug test those who receive public assistance. Although I believe that this does violate some peoples rights, I 100% agree with the idea. I believe that if someone has enough money to purchase drugs then they should not receive the assistance that many other well intended people need. I also feel that if you are healthy enough to work you should be. I understand the fear in losing benefits when you work but that is why the system needs to be overhauled. Maybe a person goes out and gets a job and instead of receiving assistance for rent which they will no longer need because they have a job maybe transition their benefits to childcare so they can keep their job. Teach people how to rise above their surroundings and succeed offer classes to those to teach them how to save money. Offer them a hand up rather than a hand out.I am not saying that I have it all figured out, but what I am saying is that we got to start somewhere and I believe that here in the United States we have some of the best minds in the world that we could just maybe figure this whole thing out.
While reading this article, one can only realize the trials and tribulations those that are poor go through just to make ends meet. Reading this article brought back old memories for me growing up as well as being on the other side of the "counter". By saying that, I worked for the government, working food stamp and medicaid cases. I have seen those who are really struggling to make ends meet for their families and I have seen those who are misusing the system in every aspect. My heart goes out to those who are working, but still are unable to receive assistance. Yet, you have those who don't work receiving the max in assistance, if their assistance starts to get lowered all they have to do is have another child. Ridiculous, but that is how our government works!! Then you have those who are in need to make sure their children have a roof over their heads, food on their table, and the proper education/childcare. They are the ones the focus needs to be on, how can they be helped to rise above the poverty line. I took a class about how things were in the area surrounding our campus (the Polly area), it opened my eyes to things that I never paid attention to before hand. Like how there are no grocery stores in the neighborhood except for the one where bugs are all over the fruit and meat. They have several convenience stores, but everything is twice as much as it would be in the grocery store, and they don't sell healthy products like fruit. I believe this article hit everything on the nail, but some are unable to benefit from this article because they have yet to experience those needs, wanting to be above the poverty level so your children don't have to go without their necessities. They can have proper education like those that are middle class, so they can have an equal opportunity to be successful in life.
Wow, I almost feel like an ass for feeling like I don't have any money. I am a middle class citizen and I really did take for granted that I had reliable transportation to go to stores where they sold things cheaper than other stores and I had my own little personal laundromat 5 feet from my bedroom that is free for me to use pretty liberally. I would despise having to walk miles every day just to take care of what I consider basic needs. It would be an even bigger burden if I had kids, having to get them to school and the like. If we had more jobs, I really do feel like our poverty line would be dropped down to homeless, but because we have a finite number of jobs, some people below the poverty line are forced to resort to selling drugs or their body to make ends meet. It is quite sad, I admit.
I feel like as long as you are not "rich" then you are poor. There is plenty of people that needs aid but can not get it. Finacial aid is help back for students, whose parents, make to much money. This to me is not fair at all because going to college is not cheap. I feel like if I did not receive any aid or grants then I probably would not of been in school. With my grandmother, she can not get the care she needs due to her making to much because she is a retired teacher, but if they would see what all my grandmother has to pay for by herself then they would know that she would need help. I feel like our government is not for the people. They are just in it for themselves because most of the politicians are "rich". If they only knew, if was not for us they probably would not be making what they are making now.Yes there will always be people that are worse off then you, but at the end of the day, poor or middle class, we all are in the whole when it comes to the lack of jobs, paying about students loans, etc. I know of plenty of people who beat the system and that right here stereotypes the middle class because they are using the government. If we would us the money like we are suppose to then we probably would not be in the whole we are in today.
I agree wholeheartedly with the saying " you have to be rich to be poor". It goes along with the more money you have the problems you have. In this case the less money you have the more problems you have as well. It is unfair that the poor can barely adjust and get by while the rich are being wasteful.
The title of the article is misleading at first because you don’t think of being rich to be poor but when you read the article you realize that you do have to be rich to be poor. The basic commodities that most people take for granted, the poor has to pay extra for and most of the time these commodities are old and spoiled. The ones who work try to make it to work by any means necessary. They work extra hours for less pay because they have to support themselves and their family. Some of the ones who work are poor but they're not "poor enough" to receive help. With the way the economy is you have to be rich to be poor.
That is tru, i remember back home in chicago my family is still struggling. None of my parents know any word in english but somehow they still survive in one of the biggest cities in the nation without any english. One day i met this one guy that was also Polish and he told me to make 20 dollars in this country you have to spend 100 first, i found out that in the hard way offcourse. This is the only country in this world were rich are going to be ok, always sending their kids to private schools where immigrants in this country or other low life inner city kids are made to go to public school system. This is very complicated when you look at it from bigger scale, only rich people going to stay rich and i bet you that nobody from low class ever got rich in this country trying to make a living from a legal perspective. It is all the government how they run things now a days, they dont want poor people to get educated but rather still keep same foLKs up on the top.
I can see why Ricky D stated in his blog, that the author of this “story has done a disservice to those who are really in need of help”. After reading the story it seemed that a lot of people were complaining about things that they can control themselves. Not being able to open a checking account, because you lost your id, or having to pay a fee to Ace, so they can send your bill payment is not a sign of being poor. On the other hand, some of the people who are really poor can sometimes be taken advantage of, and end up paying more for things and services, like groceries. So it can seem like when you are living in poverty, it is hard to get ahead, because you are more than likely underpaid and over charged.
I feel for the truly poor people who strive to try and have a better life, but can't seem to get over that hurdle. I do believe their lives are harder and more challenging and require more output than that of the middle class or wealthier. There are some who deserve to be poor, because when given the opportunity to make the right decision, they choose the wrong one. Like people who choose to do drugs knowing the consequences if they get caught, or could use that money somewhere else. The poor people who work and are unable to afford transportation so they can shop in a more affordable place, these people get the raw end of the deal.
It is a hard life being poor. I feel for these people because most of them are probably making minimum wage of $7.25 and hour if that. Some of them probably just make unemployment, which is basically little to nothing. On top of all that they pay more for food and necessities than rich and middle class people do which is sad. The poor have to live day to day, so they can’t save, and most of them will be working until they die if they can just to support themselves or their kids. It seems to me that if you are poor, it is nearly impossible to make your way up in society. It is kind of like a modern version of feudalism, which took place during the middle ages, which one cannot aspire to be something they are not born into. For example, a smith would never be able to become a knight, and nowadays even though a poor person can technically move himself to the upper or middle class, he most likely never will. It is too hard making so little money and paying so much extra for necessities, and what’s sad is there aren’t many quality effective programs to help these people.
6) When I first saw this article I was kind of confused on how you have to be rich to be poor. It doesn’t seem to make sense if you just hear this or see this but when reading the article it actually made a lot of sense. I would have never thought to think things this way. When it said how richer people go to certain grocery stores in order to save money, when you’re below the poverty line you don’t have that luxury so you buy necessities wherever you can get them and at whatever price. It’s actually very sad. It seems like the poor can never catch a break or get real help that they need to come out of their situation. Although I think the government does help our less fortunate I think there could be better ways to help these people. It is kind of hard to help even more than the government does though without actually giving stuff away but I still feel like there has to be a better way. With a country that throws away food and buys unneeded items all of the time it seems ridiculous that any child or family is hungry at night. This article really makes me appreciate being a “broke college student”. As a broke college student I still have food, clothes, and a room. Makes someone like me feel very blessed for everything I have.
“You have to rich, to be poor,” is such a true statement. The poorer you are, the more things will cost, like getting a loan or buying a new car. These people have higher interest rates, and therefore have “to be rich, to be poor.” Also, the lower classes sometimes do not have a car therefore; they have to go to the closest place to buy milk or other food items. The gas station near their homes is going to cost more than Costco, but who has the time to ride the bus for hours. These people pay an extra dollar each time they buy milk, and if they have a toddler or children they could go through several gallons a week. 37 million people live below poverty level, and these 37 million people are mostly paying more than for items than people above that level. Also, "When you are poor, you substitute time for money," says Randy Albelda. People below the poverty line have to work more hours, because they are paid less, and then they have to pay more for goods. Also, these people sometimes do not have a bank account, therefore they are charged to cash their checks.
this article was very sad and made me realize how true the saying "you have to be rich to be poor" is. not being able to afford a car and having to walk places is terrible but even worse is having to buy over priced food and food that is already going bad when you cant afford things as it is. millions of people in the u.s live below the poverty line which means millions of people go through having to walk to places and over spend on groceries.
After reading this article it rings true that you must be rich to be poor. As ironic as that sounds. The middle class pays for convience everyday when they go to a discount super-market. For those who can't afford to travel the distance they must use the resources that are closest which normally means over-priced items at the local corner store. Over priced housing in a low income area because they do not have the means to venture out into another community.
Okay so this article is missing information because when they say poor people "don't have a car to get to a supermarket, much less to Costco or Trader Joe's, where the middle class goes to save money. You don't have three hours to take the bus. So you buy groceries at the corner store, where a gallon of milk costs an extra dollar." He did not mention the gas it takes the middle class to get to a store. The traffic or anything. DeNeen L. Brown does have good points about how the poor has to pay more but what does he want us to do about it. Honestly I'm not giving my hard earned money to them. It's not because I'm selfish it's because I work my butt off for it and I don't want it to go to people who abuse a broken system. If they want a car or better transportation to save a couple bucks go work your butt off for it because I don't feel bad for you because I work hard and I seem to manage just fine and I don't complain.
Personally I have witnessed that the cost of food at your corner store is much more expensive than your local supermarket. And for these people maybe the local supermarket is probably just too far them to travel. Also some of these lower income people work two jobs at the same time and still can barely manage to pay their rent, house payment or even their car payment (survival of the fittest). As hard as life is too these lower income people there doesn’t seem to be much help form them at all.
This article really does make you think. Being poor really does cause you to spend more money on simple everyday necessities. "Like food: You don't have a car to get to a supermarket, much less to Costco or Trader Joe's, where the middle class goes to save money. You don't have three hours to take the bus. So you buy groceries at the corner store, where a gallon of milk costs an extra dollar" this part from the article helped all of this make sense to me. The government is a very complicated situatiion when it comes to helping out all of the economic classes like said in one of the other comments "I understand people needing some help and utilizing the system especially if they have always been contributing members of society. But to manipulate the system and decide to make a living off of welfare because its easier is infuriating." This makes me very angry to know that people actually do this, I have friends and family that actually get welfare and really need it and actually need more than what they get, the people that take advantage and misuse the help of the government need to realize just what affect they have on the people who actually need it.
I like this article because the truth it speaks. It makes so much sense to me because you have to put yourself in that situation to understand it. I have friends in all economical classes and it is interesting to hear their point of views when it pertains to this particular subject. As a military veteran, and having to work hard for everything, I can relate to trying to obtain things that causes me to use more money. For example, going to college I do receive benefits, but I still have to pay because the amount of the tuition. Another example would be people without transportation. They are not able to afford a vehicle, but just like the article stated, they still have to find means of transportation in order to purchase their basic living needs. The basic need for a gallon of milk which on average is around $3 ends up costing a poor person over $20 after traveling expenses. It is sad, but I guess in this instance there is a no win situation for the economically challenged. Maybe there will be some type of change that better provide for the needs of the less fortunate people in the world.
I agree with a lot of the points raised in this article mainly the one by Marie Nicholas about how the children that get chosen for Head Start are the children of parents who just sit at home. I don’t think that it is fair that her child wasn’t chosen just, because she is trying to live an honest life working a job to provide for her family. This is basically the same thing that I am going through now. I am a military veteran so the G. I. Bill, a scholarship and financial aid, pays portions of my tuition. Even after all of that I still have ended up paying more then $3,000, because according to FASFA I make too much money. Its making me think I would come out better quitting my job so I can actually have money left over. The other point that I agree with is about paying high rent for an apartment. When I lived by myself I got a good deal on an apartment, but after my lease was up the rent increased by $120. I rather save my money to have a down payment for a house if I had to pay that much in rent. I am blessed that I was able to move back home to be able to save this money, but not everyone has this opportunity and for that reason I think that things must change in order for people in poverty to have a fighting chance.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read the title of the article I was confused because I couldn’t understand how you would have to be rich in order to be poor. But upon reading the article I was able to see the point of this statement. I had never really given it much thought before but I have to agree with the statement. Products from the local convenient stores\gas station do cost way more than if you were to go to a supermarket or somewhere that would help you save more money. Also in regards to the laundry mats they do cost more money than if you had your own washer and dryer. Before when I used to live in an apartment I did all my laundry at a laundry mat nearby I would spend so many quarters to wash all my loads of clothes plus dry. However, when it came to drying my clothes I would always have to add additional time because so some reason 30 minutes of drying just wasn’t enough to dry a load of clothes. I began to think I’m sure they do something to these machines in order to make you spend more money. So when I got tired of wasting my money on thieving laundry mats I started just doing my laundry at my parent’s house. The next thing I found interesting were the statements about payday loan places. These businesses are obviously directed for the poor class because obviously someone who is wealthy would not be going there. But these places don’t really help a person so much as they make their financial situation worse. What makes them think that if a certain individual didn’t have enough money from their first paycheck to make ends meets that by their next paycheck they will be able to get caught up plus pay the interest on the loan they took out. Next they will have to take out loans to pay loans and it will be a never ending cycle. Overall I thought this article was really interesting and gives you different points to help look at the poor from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteOur government does not help the poor very much at all. We give aid to those who need it less than others. The article gave an example of a parent who made to much money to put her child in Head Start. This parent pointed out that they had to pay for childcare, while the parents of the children in Head Start were sitting at home. We should be providing childcare to the working parents rather than parents who for all intents and purposes just seem lazy.
ReplyDeleteI have been told by people who have been issued food stamps about the people who abuse the system. The non-abusers will receive the aid while trying to better their life. Once they are in a good place they end the receipt of the aid. The abusers will just have another baby when the aid is cut off.
It is pitiful that the United States, a country known for opportunities, should have so many poor people. We were founded by some very intelligent people, who probably could have come up with a solution for our poor. Today, we are led by people who are filled with greed and are corrupt. If we could create a government without the corruption, then the plight of the poor could be fixed within a reasonable amount of time.
I would say that it is very unfair when it comes to our economic practices in the United States. In the United States we put people in categories. Most of the time we put them into these categories in regards to economic statues and ethnicity. In the United States the poor population suffers the most compared to the elite class and the middle class. For example, in some poor populations the food at the supermarket might be higher in price compared to other locations. Also people who work in these locations get paid a smaller wage. Thus by that will greatly effect the prices for the good and services for themselves. It does not seem to make much sense if people live in poverty that they should pay higher prices. One would think that the prices variation would be switched with the poor and elite populations. Where the elite would pay the higher prices since they have the money and the poor would pay the cheaper prices.
ReplyDeletei was a little comfused about how the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, because I thought rich people threw away money on things, just because they could. But after reading, I see more clearly how the poor DO actually get "more poor". for instance, the food situation: I can see how the store would have to charge more for foods more cheap in urban areas because the poor people running the corner store have to make a bigger profit to get by, and its just a chain reaction. i think there are a lot of wholes in our economy obviously, but hopefully these wil be less and less serious as the years go by.
ReplyDeleteI have experienced this first hand. I have been in San Antonio recently and went to the convenience store close to my hotel and bought milk for my son for $1.15. I later was in a poverty stricken part of town and that very same bottle of milk, same brand and ounces was $2.25. This article is right on track. Sometimes reporting has agendas but in this case I think this information is as close to being accurate as can be.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the author of this story has done a disservice to those who are really in need of help. The story appears to be more about the inconvenience of being poor than anything else: complaints about not wanting to ride the bus to go to the grocery store, the laundrymat, bill collectors, organic food being too expensive, high-rate credit cards, not being able to open a checking account because of a lost ID, and on and on. Being poor today often means living in a government-assisted air-conditioned apartment; and having color TV and cable, a cell phone, microwave, CD player, food stamps, and free health care. I don’t really believe this story proves much about the notion that it costs more to be poor. It mainly shows that the people in the story need to use some ingenuity and smarts, and, at times, survival may just be a big hassle. Those who are truly poor and cannot afford food or shelter should be our focus—not those who are mad because they have to put the chicken wings back.
ReplyDeleteI had already noticed this cycle as a young child growing up with a single parent in an urban environment. Some people who are poor are not all lazy at times they work long hours and get paid minimum wage making it difficult to support a family with a small income. So parents take out advances in money from payday companies which then leads to a cycle of not having money and getting in debt. Instead of helping the poor it's like America digs a hole. Since most low income families done have cars and have to ride buses its more convenient for the stores to charge more for the grocery because they know people are not going to waste 30 minutes going to Walmart when their is a corner store down the block they can walk too. Then their are the families who the government does not give food stamps too because the family makes too much money to meet the requirements to get government assistance. It is still difficult because from the citizens perspective they are bearly making it. In america is the only place we have fat people who are poor because it is so expensive to eat healthy. As we increase poverty in America we increase the obesity rate also.
ReplyDeleteI understand what some of these people are going through. I came from a family of 8. We had to do our laundry in a laundrymat,econmize and sacrifice alot. My mom was a single mother of 7 children and worked for a bank for many years. Although she made good money she still didn't make enough to support all of us on her own.THere are people out there who need assistance then there are those who abuse the system. Some people dont need the assistance but still manage to get it. This is a crime and affects people that are in real need.It does seem that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
ReplyDeleteWell, First of all I feel myself that the government is unfair and don’t provide much aid to the poor. Especially the way things are now with all these budget cuts. For example, there are many people who abuse the food stamp program by knowing how to work around the system. Owning homes and cars, but these material things they own are under their parents names or spouses names. They come up with not knowing where their spouses are yet they are living with them and receiving assistance. Also, a lot of these people who are on food stamps are taxed by these small convenience stores which they shouldn’t be taxed on food stamps. So, if they are uneducated about this they are taken advantage of and they are taxed for something that the people are paying taxes on already. This is illegal and should be reported as abusing the food stamp system and fraud.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid that’s had everything I wanted plus some I never really gave a lot of thought to how much the poor actually struggle on top of their struggle. I mean besides the little taste I’ve had of being broke for a few weeks in college doesn’t even compare to having and family and not being able to feed them because you don’t have it. But I do feel like the government needs to pay closer attention to those that do need help and those that don’t, because I’ve see both the abuser and the abused. But none of the abused complains because they don’t have the time or energy. But as for those who have a voice they need to continue to let people know until we make a change because its messed up nobody should have to live that way in this materialistic country we live in.
ReplyDeleteThis situation is somewhat conflicting for me. My father lost his job with Santa Fe Railroad when I was 7. And up until then I had no idea what it was like to stuggle. We had a nice house cars, vacationed, had the All-American dream going on. However in his pursuit to find a job that paid close to what he was used to life got a little harder. We didnt go hungry but we did without for a while. I remember going to the store and my mom pulling out the food stamps. I remember having to walk to the bus stop instead of getting driven to school. When my dad got another job and he got on his feet we got back to normal. And the financial assistance (foodstamps) that we recieved were gladly sent back. I understand people needing some help and utilizing the system especially if they have always been contributing members of society. But to manipulate the system and decide to make a living off of welfare because its easier is infuriating. And I feel its those people who really affect the people who are truly trying and just need some assistance.The story touched on only a few people and unfortunately many times everyone is catergorized as one particular group, the ones who need it and the ones who use it. I get angry when I know someone who can get around the system and get free rent and then have a mercedes parked in front. I definately think that is why there is a lack of sympathy regarding the poor.
ReplyDeleteGovernment aid is obviously a controversial subject. I agree that it isn't fair that the women in this article couldn't put her kid in the head start program because she apparently makes to much, but yet she is struggling much more than probably a lot of the parents who have their kids in the program. We unfortunately do have way to many people abusing the system at the moment, I have known people on federal aid who were not trying to make money themselves, but they were receiving enough assistance to own nice cars, phones, etc. I think people on federal aid should have to prove that they are working, or at least trying to work, and that they should also have to pass drug tests to even be eligible, because it frustrates the hell out of me to see people sitting at home on drugs and receiving Government money, especially when there are hard working families just striving to get by. I also agree with another person’s comment about this article sounding more about the people lazily complaining, Like the guy who had to put back soda and chicken. Those are not considered necessities. He could drink water cheaper and grab food items to last longer instead of just one meal. I know that's not a preferred way of life and that it would suck if we couldn't have the junk we want and the convenience of not having to walk or waste time on public transportation to get it, but there are people who have it way worse and understand how to get more for less. I also think it's ridiculous that the prices are higher in poorer places, for real? These people are possibly struggling enough, how are they expected to be able to pay higher prices than the other neighborhoods with more money? I don't think the richer neighborhoods should be charged more either though. We need a better stricter system for government aid so that people who honestly need and deserve it can get back on their feet and where the abusers are weeded out and shut off from it.
ReplyDeleteThis article was a view of the working poor which I have never seen. I have seen first hand how these things do work against those who strive for a better life. I related best with the last girl in the story as she spoke about just making a little bit over the need for assistance. I get tired of seeing how that not working seems to be the way to getting the assistance that many people need. Long ago when these social programs came into existance I dont believe that was the intention. The system needs to be overhauled. Recently I have heard some rumblings that the Governor is suggesting that we start to drug test those who receive public assistance. Although I believe that this does violate some peoples rights, I 100% agree with the idea. I believe that if someone has enough money to purchase drugs then they should not receive the assistance that many other well intended people need. I also feel that if you are healthy enough to work you should be. I understand the fear in losing benefits when you work but that is why the system needs to be overhauled. Maybe a person goes out and gets a job and instead of receiving assistance for rent which they will no longer need because they have a job maybe transition their benefits to childcare so they can keep their job. Teach people how to rise above their surroundings and succeed offer classes to those to teach them how to save money. Offer them a hand up rather than a hand out.I am not saying that I have it all figured out, but what I am saying is that we got to start somewhere and I believe that here in the United States we have some of the best minds in the world that we could just maybe figure this whole thing out.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading this article, one can only realize the trials and tribulations those that are poor go through just to make ends meet. Reading this article brought back old memories for me growing up as well as being on the other side of the "counter". By saying that, I worked for the government, working food stamp and medicaid cases. I have seen those who are really struggling to make ends meet for their families and I have seen those who are misusing the system in every aspect. My heart goes out to those who are working, but still are unable to receive assistance. Yet, you have those who don't work receiving the max in assistance, if their assistance starts to get lowered all they have to do is have another child. Ridiculous, but that is how our government works!! Then you have those who are in need to make sure their children have a roof over their heads, food on their table, and the proper education/childcare. They are the ones the focus needs to be on, how can they be helped to rise above the poverty line. I took a class about how things were in the area surrounding our campus (the Polly area), it opened my eyes to things that I never paid attention to before hand. Like how there are no grocery stores in the neighborhood except for the one where bugs are all over the fruit and meat. They have several convenience stores, but everything is twice as much as it would be in the grocery store, and they don't sell healthy products like fruit. I believe this article hit everything on the nail, but some are unable to benefit from this article because they have yet to experience those needs, wanting to be above the poverty level so your children don't have to go without their necessities. They can have proper education like those that are middle class, so they can have an equal opportunity to be successful in life.
ReplyDeleteWow, I almost feel like an ass for feeling like I don't have any money. I am a middle class citizen and I really did take for granted that I had reliable transportation to go to stores where they sold things cheaper than other stores and I had my own little personal laundromat 5 feet from my bedroom that is free for me to use pretty liberally. I would despise having to walk miles every day just to take care of what I consider basic needs. It would be an even bigger burden if I had kids, having to get them to school and the like. If we had more jobs, I really do feel like our poverty line would be dropped down to homeless, but because we have a finite number of jobs, some people below the poverty line are forced to resort to selling drugs or their body to make ends meet. It is quite sad, I admit.
ReplyDeleteI feel like as long as you are not "rich" then you are poor. There is plenty of people that needs aid but can not get it. Finacial aid is help back for students, whose parents, make to much money. This to me is not fair at all because going to college is not cheap. I feel like if I did not receive any aid or grants then I probably would not of been in school. With my grandmother, she can not get the care she needs due to her making to much because she is a retired teacher, but if they would see what all my grandmother has to pay for by herself then they would know that she would need help. I feel like our government is not for the people. They are just in it for themselves because most of the politicians are "rich". If they only knew, if was not for us they probably would not be making what they are making now.Yes there will always be people that are worse off then you, but at the end of the day, poor or middle class, we all are in the whole when it comes to the lack of jobs, paying about students loans, etc. I know of plenty of people who beat the system and that right here stereotypes the middle class because they are using the government. If we would us the money like we are suppose to then we probably would not be in the whole we are in today.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly with the saying " you have to be rich to be poor". It goes along with the more money you have the problems you have. In this case the less money you have the more problems you have as well. It is unfair that the poor can barely adjust and get by while the rich are being wasteful.
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ReplyDeleteThe title of the article is misleading at first because you don’t think of being rich to be poor but when you read the article you realize that you do have to be rich to be poor. The basic commodities that most people take for granted, the poor has to pay extra for and most of the time these commodities are old and spoiled. The ones who work try to make it to work by any means necessary. They work extra hours for less pay because they have to support themselves and their family. Some of the ones who work are poor but they're not "poor enough" to receive help. With the way the economy is you have to be rich to be poor.
ReplyDeleteThat is tru, i remember back home in chicago my family is still struggling. None of my parents know any word in english but somehow they still survive in one of the biggest cities in the nation without any english. One day i met this one guy that was also Polish and he told me to make 20 dollars in this country you have to spend 100 first, i found out that in the hard way offcourse. This is the only country in this world were rich are going to be ok, always sending their kids to private schools where immigrants in this country or other low life inner city kids are made to go to public school system. This is very complicated when you look at it from bigger scale, only rich people going to stay rich and i bet you that nobody from low class ever got rich in this country trying to make a living from a legal perspective. It is all the government how they run things now a days, they dont want poor people to get educated but rather still keep same foLKs up on the top.
ReplyDeleteI can see why Ricky D stated in his blog, that the author of this “story has done a disservice to those who are really in need of help”. After reading the story it seemed that a lot of people were complaining about things that they can control themselves. Not being able to open a checking account, because you lost your id, or having to pay a fee to Ace, so they can send your bill payment is not a sign of being poor. On the other hand, some of the people who are really poor can sometimes be taken advantage of, and end up paying more for things and services, like groceries. So it can seem like when you are living in poverty, it is hard to get ahead, because you are more than likely underpaid and over charged.
ReplyDeleteI feel for the truly poor people who strive to try and have a better life, but can't seem to get over that hurdle. I do believe their lives are harder and more challenging and require more output than that of the middle class or wealthier. There are some who deserve to be poor, because when given the opportunity to make the right decision, they choose the wrong one. Like people who choose to do drugs knowing the consequences if they get caught, or could use that money somewhere else. The poor people who work and are unable to afford transportation so they can shop in a more affordable place, these people get the raw end of the deal.
ReplyDeleteIt is a hard life being poor. I feel for these people because most of them are probably making minimum wage of $7.25 and hour if that. Some of them probably just make unemployment, which is basically little to nothing. On top of all that they pay more for food and necessities than rich and middle class people do which is sad. The poor have to live day to day, so they can’t save, and most of them will be working until they die if they can just to support themselves or their kids. It seems to me that if you are poor, it is nearly impossible to make your way up in society. It is kind of like a modern version of feudalism, which took place during the middle ages, which one cannot aspire to be something they are not born into. For example, a smith would never be able to become a knight, and nowadays even though a poor person can technically move himself to the upper or middle class, he most likely never will. It is too hard making so little money and paying so much extra for necessities, and what’s sad is there aren’t many quality effective programs to help these people.
ReplyDelete6) When I first saw this article I was kind of confused on how you have to be rich to be poor. It doesn’t seem to make sense if you just hear this or see this but when reading the article it actually made a lot of sense. I would have never thought to think things this way. When it said how richer people go to certain grocery stores in order to save money, when you’re below the poverty line you don’t have that luxury so you buy necessities wherever you can get them and at whatever price. It’s actually very sad. It seems like the poor can never catch a break or get real help that they need to come out of their situation. Although I think the government does help our less fortunate I think there could be better ways to help these people. It is kind of hard to help even more than the government does though without actually giving stuff away but I still feel like there has to be a better way. With a country that throws away food and buys unneeded items all of the time it seems ridiculous that any child or family is hungry at night. This article really makes me appreciate being a “broke college student”. As a broke college student I still have food, clothes, and a room. Makes someone like me feel very blessed for everything I have.
ReplyDelete“You have to rich, to be poor,” is such a true statement. The poorer you are, the more things will cost, like getting a loan or buying a new car. These people have higher interest rates, and therefore have “to be rich, to be poor.” Also, the lower classes sometimes do not have a car therefore; they have to go to the closest place to buy milk or other food items. The gas station near their homes is going to cost more than Costco, but who has the time to ride the bus for hours. These people pay an extra dollar each time they buy milk, and if they have a toddler or children they could go through several gallons a week. 37 million people live below poverty level, and these 37 million people are mostly paying more than for items than people above that level. Also, "When you are poor, you substitute time for money," says Randy Albelda. People below the poverty line have to work more hours, because they are paid less, and then they have to pay more for goods. Also, these people sometimes do not have a bank account, therefore they are charged to cash their checks.
ReplyDeletethis article was very sad and made me realize how true the saying "you have to be rich to be poor" is. not being able to afford a car and having to walk places is terrible but even worse is having to buy over priced food and food that is already going bad when you cant afford things as it is. millions of people in the u.s live below the poverty line which means millions of people go through having to walk to places and over spend on groceries.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this article it rings true that you must be rich to be poor. As ironic as that sounds. The middle class pays for convience everyday when they go to a discount super-market. For those who can't afford to travel the distance they must use the resources that are closest which normally means over-priced items at the local corner store. Over priced housing in a low income area because they do not have the means to venture out into another community.
ReplyDeleteOkay so this article is missing information because when they say poor people "don't have a car to get to a supermarket, much less to Costco or Trader Joe's, where the middle class goes to save money. You don't have three hours to take the bus. So you buy groceries at the corner store, where a gallon of milk costs an extra dollar." He did not mention the gas it takes the middle class to get to a store. The traffic or anything. DeNeen L. Brown does have good points about how the poor has to pay more but what does he want us to do about it. Honestly I'm not giving my hard earned money to them. It's not because I'm selfish it's because I work my butt off for it and I don't want it to go to people who abuse a broken system. If they want a car or better transportation to save a couple bucks go work your butt off for it because I don't feel bad for you because I work hard and I seem to manage just fine and I don't complain.
ReplyDeletePersonally I have witnessed that the cost of food at your corner store is much more expensive than your local supermarket. And for these people maybe the local supermarket is probably just too far them to travel. Also some of these lower income people work two jobs at the same time and still can barely manage to pay their rent, house payment or even their car payment (survival of the fittest). As hard as life is too these lower income people there doesn’t seem to be much help form them at all.
ReplyDeleteThis article really does make you think. Being poor really does cause you to spend more money on simple everyday necessities. "Like food: You don't have a car to get to a supermarket, much less to Costco or Trader Joe's, where the middle class goes to save money. You don't have three hours to take the bus. So you buy groceries at the corner store, where a gallon of milk costs an extra dollar" this part from the article helped all of this make sense to me. The government is a very complicated situatiion when it comes to helping out all of the economic classes like said in one of the other comments "I understand people needing some help and utilizing the system especially if they have always been contributing members of society. But to manipulate the system and decide to make a living off of welfare because its easier is infuriating." This makes me very angry to know that people actually do this, I have friends and family that actually get welfare and really need it and actually need more than what they get, the people that take advantage and misuse the help of the government need to realize just what affect they have on the people who actually need it.
ReplyDeleteI like this article because the truth it speaks. It makes so much sense to me because you have to put yourself in that situation to understand it. I have friends in all economical classes and it is interesting to hear their point of views when it pertains to this particular subject. As a military veteran, and having to work hard for everything, I can relate to trying to obtain things that causes me to use more money. For example, going to college I do receive benefits, but I still have to pay because the amount of the tuition. Another example would be people without transportation. They are not able to afford a vehicle, but just like the article stated, they still have to find means of transportation in order to purchase their basic living needs. The basic need for a gallon of milk which on average is around $3 ends up costing a poor person over $20 after traveling expenses. It is sad, but I guess in this instance there is a no win situation for the economically challenged. Maybe there will be some type of change that better provide for the needs of the less fortunate people in the world.
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