If you don’t understand how people fall into poverty, you’re probably a sociopath

The Guardian & Observer ^ | January 24, 2015 | Lucy Mangan

[2ndDivisionVet]

Why don’t abused women just leave their partners? Why don’t poor people just spend less? Why do people in positions of power ask so many stupid questions?

‘Inequality has become a challenge to us as moral beings’

Last week, I took part in a comedy night to raise money for the charity Refuge, which supports women and children who have experienced domestic violence. It was a great night: partly because it raised several thousands of pounds for the cause; partly because it was sponsored by Benefit cosmetics, and the idea of a benefit being sponsored by Benefit pleased me greatly; and partly because standup comedian Bridget Christie finished her act with a plea for all laydeez to stop waxing, spraying, deodorising, strimming and surgically trimming their – well, let’s call it “that part of ourselves historically judged to be the seat of all our femininity and womanly powers” – and instead celebrate our individuality by thinking of those parts as “unique, special – like snowflakes. Made of gammon”, which was both a new thought and a new image, neither of which has left my mind since.

Less uplifting, however, was the number of times I heard, when I mentioned Refuge to people, some variant of: “But what I don’t understand is – why don’t these women just leave?”(continued)

[BenLurkin]

“that part of ourselves historically judged to be the seat of all our femininity and womanly powers”

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle?

[cripplecreek]

Obama doesn’t seem to get it at all.

[DesertRhino]

“standup comedian Bridget Christie finished her act with a plea for all laydeez to stop waxing, spraying, deodorising, strimming and surgically trimming their – well, let’s call it “that part of ourselves historically judged to be the seat of all our femininity and womanly powers” – and instead celebrate our individuality by thinking of those parts as “unique, special – like snowflakes”

And this was the “uplifting” part?

[Incorrigible]

In short:

‘Life’s hard. It’s even harder when you’re stupid.’
— John Wayne

Not that everyone who is poor is stupid, but if you make a very poor decision and compound it with even more poor decisions, pretty soon you’re going to become codependent on those that enable those poor decisions.

[TBP]

Why don’t abused women just leave their partners? Why don’t poor people just spend less?

Good questions.

‘Inequality has become a challenge to us as moral beings’

No, it hasn't. What lefties refuse to understand is that "income inequality" is a product of a system with great economic mobility and high economic opportunity.

[2ndDivisionVet]

What would society look like if there were no free giveaways and welfare?

[BenLurkin]

Apparently she thinks that her “lady part” will have more femininity if it smells.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I read the article.

From what I can tell the author is an idiot who thinks poor people are morons.

[relictele]

This article reads like the companion piece to Kristof’s sob story demanding ‘empathy’ for complete strangers from complete strangers.

As with social justice, when lefties talk about empathy they merely mean cold hard cash - yours but never theirs, of course.

[ClearCase_guy]

I work with a woman who has a terrible life -- multiple problems. She says she lives under a cloud and always has. She calls herself the unluckiest person in the world -- everything always goes wrong for her.

I see her make stupid decisions on a daily basis. She's just an idiot, plain and simple.

But she considers herself far above average in intelligence. Most of her stupid decisions come from her "trusting her instincts". She refuses to listen to anyone else who gives her advice.

[sten]

for many people, they do not qualify for jobs that exist.

why don’t they qualify?

for many, the reasons stretch back to high school when they were too busy getting stoned to absorb the basic education. due to that negligence, they failed to get into college... which led them on a path to where they are today.

couple that with a victim based mentality, and you have someone that is fundamentally unable to pull themselves out of the depths to push for higher education or at least a better career.. especially after they start committing crimes

[yldstrk]

you shouldn’t have posted that

[RightGeek]

Sounds like a laugh riot

[mylife]

“like snowflakes. Made of gammon”

Okeyyyyy dokeyyy

[Vigilanteman]

Let me guess: She’s an Obama voter. Now what do I win?

[mrsmith]

“...the author is an idiot who thinks poor people are morons.”

Agreed. The title of her screed should be:
“ I don’t understand how people fall into poverty, I’m probably a sociopath!”
There is a large amount of sociopathy inherent in redistributionism. And little appreciation of irony.

[stevem]

I can understand it, sometimes, through no fault of the poverty-stricken. Other times it's through bad decisions. I can even understand why Democrats, liberal Republicans and non-affiliated liberals want to keep them that way.

I've been in and out of poverty a couple of times in my life.

The part I can't figure is why someone without two nickels to rub together doesn't struggle with every waking moment to change that status, even though such people need to overcome Democrats, liberal Republicans and non-affiliated liberals with every step.

[equaviator]

I think part of it is that they’re not good shoppers. They pay too much for everything when it’s not that hard to establish a shopping route(s) that makes it possible to not pay full price for almost anythink.