Quote:
Originally Posted by Aliantha
So do you not agree that there is a segment of society who live poorly because they've made bad decision - sometimes by way of stupidity - or simply because they don't try very hard to improve their lot in life?
While I agree that in some ways and from some perspectives, the distribution of wealth is inequitable, I just can't help but open my eyes to the fact that a lot of poor people needn't be poor.
Take Australia for example. There's really no reason why anyone should live below the poverty line considering we have a pretty good welfare system in place, and yet somehow there are people who can't get their shit together enough to use the help that's available to them.* I'm not saying our system is perfect, but it's a pretty good safety net for those who choose to take advantage of it.
*Issues of mental health come into this point, along with alcoholism and other addictive behaviours. Those are social problems which I believe we are all responsible for in some ways, but not all.
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Well see, I would say addictive behaviors are personal responsibilty. yes, addictions are real, it is a real disease. And some people really do have serious problems dealing with their addictions. I know, I was sober for over 15 years. Now I drink wine and beer, but I rarely have more than 1 or 2 at a time. I couldn't have done that years ago when I got sober, but now I can, because I've learned how to curb that impulse.
The mental health system in this country is horrible. Reagan deregulated the system when he was president, and a whole lot of people ended up on the street. It is almost impossible to help someone who doesn't think they need help (and when do they ever?), unless they are an obvious danger. Hell, that guy in VA a few years ago who shot a whole bunch of people at a University had been on the radar for YEARS. People knew he was dangerous, yet he was still out in public and managed to buy a gun and ammunition. He should have been locked away and on medication.
You are lucky because Australia also has a pretty damn good health care system, from what I've heard and read. Here, health insurance has become so friggin' expensive many, many people can't afford it, and while we do have medicaid for poor people, many doctors won't take medicaid. I believe those costs have contributed to the cycle of poverty. Everything is connected.
The education system here sucks for poor people. It really is not equal in any sense. That contributes a LOT to poverty. And violence. There is a lot of violence and crime in poor neighborhoods. That also contributes to the cycle. Can people overcome that? Yes, but it is really unrealistic to think that all or most or even many poor people could overcome poverty in the system we have in place here. There just aren't enough jobs that pay well, and college is getting more expensive. And many skilled labor jobs now go to illegals, not Americans or legal immigrants, because they work for a lot less and don't complain, because they are illegal. In fact, that is happening now in white collar jobs as well. And the pay is getting worse for most people, unless you happen to be at the top.
Some people do work their ass off, and are good workers, but still have to work more than one job just to survive. It's obscene that a corporation can lay people off and cut benefits of other workers while paying lavish salaries and bonuses to the people at the top, even while losing money. That is happening more and more in this country. And in Australia, I have to wonder what the difference is in compensation rates.
"American executive compensation rates are quite different from those of the rest of the developed world. In Japan a typical executive makes eleven times what a typical worker brings home; in Britain, 22 times. In America," it is almost 500 times, probably more now, because the link is from 2006.
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/executivepay.html (click on the icon of facts and figures.)
Do some people make stupid decisions and end up in bad situations? Yes. Look at what happened with the housing market here. Do rich pricks cause more damage than people making stupid mistakes? Yes, look at the world economy.
I would ask you to read Jonathan Kozol to better understand how it really works in this country. Here are links to information about him and his books:
http://www.learntoquestion.com/seeva...E/homepage.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonath...l_b_63622.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Kozol